Stepping out for diabetes support

AN average of seven people in Australia are diagnosed with type one diabetes each day, according to the most recent stats by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

This Sunday 15 October people are invited to participate in a local walk to raise money towards finding a cure for the disease through the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF, Australia.

One Walk is a nationwide campaign aiming to raise a total of $1.2 million.

Natalie Buckley was diagnosed with type one diabetes at eight-years-old.

“Looking back on that day, I remember finding Natalie laying on the bathroom floor, completely drained of energy,” said Natalie’s mum, Amanda Buckley.

“It was a far cry from the lively girl we knew.

“Natalie was so young, and she didn’t understand why this was happening to her. Initially, she refused to handle her own management of the condition.

“I stepped in and handled her insulin injections, but as time went on, it weighed heavily on my husband, Michael, seeing the stress I was under.

“She began with one injection a week and gradually assumed more responsibility. It was about coming to terms with the reality of facing this condition every single day.”

There is currently no cure for type one diabetes, only treatment to manage the condition like insulin injections.

“Our greatest aspiration is to discover a cure or a more user-friendly method to manage T1D,” said Ms Buckley.

“Natalie isn’t fond of injections or alternative treatments, so finding a simpler way to deal with this condition would be a game-changer.

“Our greatest aspiration is to discover a cure for T1D. While we it’s difficult in hard times to stop yourself from being sceptical, we still believe that a cure may eventually become a reality.”

One Walk in Bendigo will start at 10am at Lake Weeroona and there will be a coffee cart, sausage sizzle, and children’s activities.

Registration details can be found here bit.ly/3tqB5wY.