By Kirra Livingstone
AS you would already know, I’m one of the journalists at Glasshouse Country and Maleny News, and have been the dedicated sports reporter for nearly two and a half years.
But what you may not know is that I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the start of the year. On February 22, 2024, I got a phone at 9:30pm in bed, watching Netflix with my partner, and was delivered news that would change my life.
Following a blood test that I took in the morning on my way to work, the Pathology Clinic saw that my blood sugar was 22.
For a normal person, it should be between 4-8.
The doctor informed me over the phone that I had type 1 diabetes.
I admit I didn’t really know what this meant at the time, what would change, how sick I was, that it is a auto immune disease.
All I really knew about type 1 diabetes, was that diabetics eat jelly beans.
In the matter of eight hours before being discharged from the hospital, I took a crash course in everything you need to know about diabetes, how to manage it, how to inject insulin, and what I should and shouldn’t eat.
It was a real shock to the system, and I was definitely scared of what the future held, but I have been lucky enough to have a supportive medical and emotional network in the last eight months.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune condition, where the body is unable to produce its own insulin, which is what controls the blood sugar in our bodies.
I have never really been one to fundraise or volunteer. But from working at Glasshouse Country and Maleny News, we have covered countless stories of community stalwarts raising money for worthy causes and helping out community groups.
On March 30 next year (which is also my birthday), myself and my partner have decided to take part and raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk.
JDRF is one of the leading organisations in Australia that raises money for, and conducts research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
There will be 37 One Walks happening in March across Australia with people who have or know someone with type 1 diabetes coming together for a 3-5km walk.
This walk raises awareness for the cause, and helps raise much needed funds to find a cure.
If you would like to donate, you can donate to my personal page, or to my fundraising team. https://walk.jdrf.org. au/s/25034/32587