https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/long-walk-to-diabetes-awareness/3575943 PAULENE Barham was just seven years old when her life took a dramatic change in course. Fatigued, lethargic and completely drained, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after she collapsed in a heap and could not be woken. The emotional challenge since has been daunting for the 59-year-old at times, but her determination to guide others through their own battles has been a catalyst for raising awareness in Mackay. Ms Barham's most significant effort came during her 100km Great Ocean Road walk last month, raising more than $3500 for the five-day hike. She said that ensuring she adhered to a healthy lifestyle was crucial to preventing symptoms from worsening. It also allows those with the condition to seamlessly live their lives unencumbered. "The complications of diabetes are things like heart disease and stroke, but it has always been instilled in me to exercise,” Ms Barham said.
"It is my hope that people will be more active and take control of their lives. "We all can be healthy by eating sensibly and exercising regularly, that is how I have lived my life and how I encourage others to live a life with diabetes.” Yesterday's World Diabetes Day was themed 'The Family and Diabetes,' addressing the impact diabetes has on the families of those affected. Ms Barham said denying her ailment in the past had caused frustration, wishing that she had been enrolled in a diabetes camp to surround herself with individuals undergoing the same turmoil as she was. She said the onus needed to be on the individual to own their diagnosis - alluding to her own misgivings as a teenager that was the wake-up call she needed. "I put so much expectation on my parents as a child to know what they were doing rather than me taking responsibility for myself and trying to be accountable with what I should and shouldn't be eating,” Ms Barham said. "I was 17 when I really felt like I took diabetes into my own hands. I had been out with friends drinking and suffered a hypo (hypoglycemia) which left me in a very serious coma. Mackay Base Hospital endocrinologist Dr Yoges Venugopalpraised Ms Barham's efforts in raising awareness and said the outlet for diabetes discussion was critical in early detection and worsening of the symptoms. "Education on the early signs of all types of diabetes is so important to allow for successful treatment and management planning. If left untreated, the results can be detrimental.”
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AuthorA selection of my general news content. My main round was health, however I frequently covered weather, crime, politics and general human interest. Archives
January 2020
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