Life with T2
TAKING CONTROL After a serious stroke in 2006, Tiahuia Abraham forced herself to slow down and reduce stress, while staying active at the same time.
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arlier this year, Tiahuia Abraham took part in a diabetes selfmanagement course in New Plymouth – Your Life, Your Journey – run by Diabetes NZ in partnership with Pinnacle Midlands Health Network and Tui Ora Whānau Health and Wellbeing. It made her think back to life 20 years ago: ‘I was like a workaholic in those days. I didn't know I had diabetes or high blood pressure.’ She had a high-stress government job and was President of the Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association. She’d also been deeply involved in the Māori Women’s Welfare League for many years, eventually becoming National Area Representative for MWWL, the Aotea Kaunihera President, and Aotea’s coordinator for the National Kohanga Reo while in her role as a Welfare Officer for Māori Affairs. ‘When I think about how I worked, it's no wonder I had a stroke. It was just full on.’ She says she was lucky that, when she had the stroke, her granddaughter was with her and took her straight to the doctor. The stroke led to a loss of mobility on her left side and the discovery that she had type 2 diabetes. ‘Until then, I didn’t really even know what diabetes was.’
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DIABETES WELLNESS | Summer 2021
