A WORD FROM US

Welcome to the first edition of Diabetes Matters for 2023.

At Diabetes WA, we know that everyone’s experience of diabetes is unique. While we’ve been developing our new Diabetes Clinic (see page 3), we’ve had front of mind that you are the expert in your own life – it’s your diabetes journey and we’re grateful to be able to offer you the support you need, when you need it. Support and advice from health professionals is important for diabetes management but, as you’ll see this issue, making connections with your peers can be every bit as powerful.

Living with diabetes shouldn’t feel like something you have to deal with alone. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with diabetes for most of your life, finding support or understanding from someone who knows what it’s like to walk in your shoes can make a massive difference.

I’m really proud of the level of support Diabetes WA can offer West Australians living with diabetes — from our awardnominated Telehealth service to our programs and workshops including DESMOND (see page 16).

One of the most vital things in our programs is the opportunity they provide for connection and self education. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when participants bond over sharing their own stories and experiences.

Recently, I was chatting to some participants in one of our programs for people living with type 1 diabetes and they told me that the session was the first time they had ever met “other blokes” going through the same thing. It reminded me how people often don’t talk openly about their health, but how meaningful it can be when the chance presents itself.

You’ll see in our main feature (page 8) how isolated people such as Emily Vuong can feel when dealing with diabetes, particularly during those awkward teenage years when the condition can feel like a weakness or even something shameful. For Emily, and for many others of her generation, finding a virtual community of peers has been transformative. She has enjoyed the sharing of experiences, as well as the chance to swap tips and increase her education around diabetes.

Another gentleman I met at that type 1 program said he had been living with diabetes for 40 years but this was the first time he had received any formal education. He told me he wished he had attended a program like ours years ago as he could see the difference it would have made to his journey. Yes, the contact with health professionals was helpful to him, but so was the chance to learn from other people in the same boat.

Attending a similar program for people with type 2 diabetes, I was really touched watching participants connect both inside the room and during the breaks. Our credentialled diabetes educators tell me this is something they see a lot — those points of connection between education sessions can be just as important as the content they provide.

I could see that the sharing of stories, tips and questions that they asked each other in this safe space was clearly so beneficial for them all. Contact details were shared and future catch ups were planned. And, of course, it’s not just people living with diabetes who benefit from this chance to meet others. Our sessions have always been welcoming of family members and carers, because we know they also benefit from the opportunity to hear the experiences of others and to pick up a few tips along the way.

The best person to know the kind of support you need is you. That’s why we’re so proud to offer a range of programs and services that will allow you to make the connections you need. Whether it’s a connection to support from health professionals, a connection to peer support and or enabling family and friends to be more informed about your diabetes journey, we are here for you.

If you haven’t checked out our programs and services — including our new Diabetes WA Clinic — I encourage you to do so. If you’re looking for ways to make connections with other people on their own diabetes journey, I hope this issue will give you the information and inspiration you need!

Melanie Gates Diabetes WA CEO