Diabetes Care

Hauora Kaimahi IN THE DEEP SOUTH

We continue our travels around Aotearoa New Zealand, meeting each region’s diabetes community coordinator. In this issue, we meet Theresa Cherry, our hauora kaimahi for the Southland region.

Theresa Cherry

When we spoke with Theresa Cherry, she had just come in the door and was taking off her lab coat. When not working for Diabetes NZ, she works part-time as a laboratory technician at Southland Hospital. ‘Having two roles, it’s all go, go, go, but that’s ok. It’s just nice to sit down for five minutes.’

When Theresa joined Diabetes NZ, Te Whatu Ora Southern allowed her to drop her hours so that she could work between the two.

Theresa started in her role in April 2022. ‘I really enjoy coming from the hospital side of things to now being out in the community.’ A bonus of working in both jobs is being able to meet people on the wards who require follow-on care in the community. ‘I can meet and chat with them, establish a relationship, and move it forward into my other role.’

Two of Theresa’s workmates made her aware of the job vacancy as they reckoned it had her name all over it. It was advertised as needing an understanding of both Māori and Pasifika frameworks, so having spent the last four years completing her diploma in Te Reo Māori through Te Wānanga O Aotearoa, her interest was sparked. Before starting her te reo journey, Theresa and her husband regularly wove wahakura (in-bed bassinettes) and were contracted by Te Whatu Ora. Her partner, Jason (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa), wanted to become a weaving tutor but realised he needed more reo, so they both took on the challenge four years ago, engaging themselves in te ao Māori.

‘We made amazing friendships and relationships over the years. The next step is full immersion, but that will require a lot of focus and I’m a bit too busy for that at the moment.’ Theresa also has a new mokopuna in the whānau to spend time with.

Theresa and Jason are supported by their kids Braedon, Kayson, Macaela and Jordan at their parents' Diploma in Te Reo graduation.

ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY

Theresa’s work as hauora kaimahi covers the broad Southland region. The majority of people she visits are in Invercargill, but she also visits people rurally, including where she grew up, in Te Anau. ‘Because I’m working between two roles, it’s almost a break. It’s a change of scenery all the time. I get the best of both worlds and don’t have a chance to get bored.’

She says that, for a number of reasons, some people aren’t always up to seeing her in person, so she will make it work for them by phoning, texting, or Zoom-calling.

For Theresa, an average day will have her checking her emails for referrals, contacting existing cases, then spending the rest of the time out in the community, engaging with patients. ‘I’ve taken people to the gym and even out for a walk, as some need more one-on-one support than others.’ She will also help patients make plans around what they want to work on with their diabetes. ‘The other day, a man needed meal ideas, so we did some cooking together and I showed him a couple of quick and easy meals.’ Theresa enjoys building the relationships in a comfortable environment, saying that people then open up and that allows her to dig a little deeper.

‘I can take people to their appointments, and because of my background I’m able to provide blood testing at home, which is a wee bit of an added extra.’ Not everyone has transport, and she sometimes meets people with anxiety, so being able to come into someone’s home helps put them at ease.

DIABETES ACTION MONTH

Theresa had a busy few weeks in November as Diabetes Action Month was launched throughout the country. There were a number of local pop-up events outside supermarkets and shopping centres where people could get their blood glucose tested. There were also community walks hosted in the beautiful Queen’s Park in central Invercargill. This was an excellent way to introduce herself to the community.

IN THE NEW YEAR

This year, Theresa will be facilitating the Diabetes SelfManagement Education programme (DSME). Held nationwide, it is a free, six-week programme where people living with type 2 can learn more about their diabetes, as well as build relationships with others in a group. ‘Hopefully, we will be able to start up walking and coffee groups, and I’ll pop in from time to time.’

These DSMEs are run alongside clinicians. ‘In nutrition week, there will be a dietitian who can answer all the nitty gritty questions.’

Theresa says she already has a collection of people wanting to do this course. She just needs to figure out what time of day suits the various participants.

AND ONWARD

Going forward, Theresa says it would be amazing to get more support for people with diabetes in the community, because there is such a growing need. ‘My role is only 20 hours, so there is a need for more hours or even another one of me, because Southland is such a huge area to cover.’

She hopes for more awareness of diabetes in the general community as well. ‘I would like to see the word spread and more education available, because diabetes is everywhere.’

Theresa says the desire for education goes for her too, as her learning curve since starting her job this year has been steep. ‘I’m soaking it up and enjoying the new knowledge.’