This is a quick explanation about why I am doing this.. but first I would like to explain about Type 1 diabetes and the clinic that helps over 390 children across the Hunter and New England area. Type 1 diabetes or T1 as we call it is a disease that is diagnosed because the pancreas no longer produces insulin to keep the body working correctly. T 1 diabetes is mainly known as the ‘childhood diabetes’ because it is mainly gene related and is not acquainted with overeating, non exercise or laziness… It can also appear when a child has an infection of some kind which then attacks the endocrine system. T1 diabetes is not the child’s nor parents fault!
The diabetes clinic operates twice a week at JHH and also services Taree, Muswellbrook and Armidale clinics as well. We have 3 consultants who specialise in Diabetes and Endocrinology, 1.5 educators for diabetes, 1 educator for endocrine and most importantly a social worker. I have been told that this is the best team in the country and it should be seeing that Newcastle and the Hunter Region have the highest incidence of Type 1 diabetes in the country.
I first came into contact with the T1 team back in 2004 when pregnant with my first child I decided to participate in a world wide study of diabetes babies born from T1 parents. To participate in this study the team took the cord blood on delivery and tested it for the diabetes gene… those that were high risk were only accepted into the study. I knew then that my diabetes and my husband’s diabetes were going to genetically increase the chances of Jessica being diagnosed with this disease but it was only a question of when. Through this time I got to know Associate Professor Trish Crock who heads the paediatric diabetes team. I remember very clearly the days leading up to Jessica’s diagnoses. We attended a check up with Dr Trish quarterly and on one particular visit I conveyed my thoughts on Jessica drinking a lot through the night.. not all the time but mostly. She was then sent for a Glucose Tolerance Test on the following Thursday which she passed with flying colours then on the Saturday she wasn’t feeling well, I had to work in the afternoon and I said to my husband just before dinner that I will take Jessica to the dr’s on the Monday. My husband Ian and I then sat down to do our blood tests and Jessica pipes up and said that she wanted one too – so we gave her one. That was the blood test that then told us that Jessica did in fact have diabetes but only just. She was only 3 years and 2 months old. We believe that the GTT that she had done just days before together with a virus that she was in the process of getting was enough to trigger the diabetes. I remember the day so well…. 28 July 2007 . It was the day before my parents 40th wedding anniversary. They were away at the time and I never told them for 4 days as I didn’t want to ruin their trip.
This was the start of our new lives. I also had a 4 month old as well so now I felt like I was caring for 2 babies. When a patient is diagnosed with diabetes they run a lot of other blood tests as well and one of these was for coeliac disease – only 5% of diabetes patients get coeliac disease which is a wheat free / gluten free diet. Well you guessed it, coeliac disease came back positive so in the following October Jessica had a small bowel biopsy done and this confirmed the blood tests taken mid year.
In November last year Charlotte my youngest daughter then aged 2 1/2 was diagnosed with ‘Hashimoto’s Disease’ or Thyroid problems. Thyroid is part of the endocrine area and perhaps this is the first step to her being diagnosed with diabetes. She may not get it but her chances are really high.
So that is my story.
Every year the diabetes clinic organises a Christmas party for the T1 kids and their families. This is a day when everyone can get out there, meet other people in the same predicament and forget about the problems that they have had that year. It is the only time when the whole clinic can get together – all the areas are brought together as one for a day to be enjoyed.
Last year we only just managed to get the Christmas Party organised due to lack of funds. These were because of some parents that did fundraise had their children transition to the adult clinic, the government put a ban on pharmaceutical companies donating money and also because of the financial climate that hit us in 2009. Because of these reasons and many more Sonia Hornery has kindly donated her office, food and drinks and has asked me to organise a ‘Cocktail Party’ to help raise money so the Christmas party this year can take place. I am truly thankful to Sonia for allowing us to do this.
Please come along and listen to our fantastic speak who has dedicated his time and efforts to the fundraising for diabetes... and help the children have a fantastic Christmas Party!!