A long association with Diabetes Victoria
Bendigo, here we come!
Recently, the team at Diabetes Victoria had the opportunity to take a road trip to Bendigo and visit one of our longest standing members, Jack, who joined Diabetes Victoria when it all began back in 1953.
Jack feels nothing but blessed
Jack’s father initially signed him up to a membership with Diabetes Victoria shortly after he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Over the many years since, Jack continued to keep up his membership and is now a life‑time member.
Jack and his wife Pat were very active in the local Bendigo area setting up a support group for those people in the area living with diabetes, they both continued to be involved for an incredible 45 years. Jack and Pat ventured in the early days of Jack’s diabetes to find out everything they could about how to manage his condition, which they then shared with others in the community as they produced brochures about managing diabetes for local doctor’s surgeries and chemists.
Although Jack gives a lot of credit to his wonderful wife, Pat, in jointly managing his diabetes, he did have some words of advice to living a long healthy life with the condition. The reason Jack remained a member of Diabetes Victoria for so long was to continue to learn and keep up with the changes in technology and management of diabetes. Jack and Pat have raised four children and later this year Jack is coming up to his 69th year since diagnosis. He received the 50- and 60-year Kellion Victory Medals.
When asked about his many years living with diabetes, Jack explained: “I’ve had a blessed life, with my wife Pat by my side. We have had a very active life; children and grandchildren, travelled overseas, been caravanning and been involved in the local community.”
Although it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, Jack and Pat did have some stories about complications, hypos and incidents that resulted in Jack spending an extended time in the hospital in the intensive care unit after a particularly bad fall.
Pat recalled the time she had to act quickly to get some lollies up to Jack on the roof of the house, where he was fixing a section and also suffering from a ‘hypo’. The wry laugh at these stories clearly belies the seriousness of the condition that they both have spent many, many years learning to manage effectively. Jack’s shared some words of wisdom on managing diabetes: “Most important thing is to learn as much as possible, follow the rules, you can’t relax out of your routine - it is a 24/7 regime, have a positive attitude and look after yourself,” he said.
