Raelene Pfeiffer’s massive gift to diabetes research

Raelene was diagnosed at 18 years old, while her father, sister, both of her children and her granddaughter also live with type 1.

“They used to say it would skip a generation, but that’s not true in our family,” Raelene says.

“My father was diagnosed when he was 16 and I can remember as a young girl watching him in the laundry with a Bunsen burner, testing his urine in a test tube.

“I was always fascinated by the bright blue, which meant he didn’t have any sugar in his urine.

“I remember him boiling his syringes and things like that.

“When I was 18, I couldn’t quench my thirst, so I went to the doctor.

“The doctor said I needed to go straight to hospital, and I said, ‘well I can’t do that, it’s my boyfriend’s 21st birthday party tomorrow.’

“He said, ‘as long as you don’t eat anything sweet, and you come in first thing on Sunday.’

“That’s how I remember the date that I was diagnosed.”

Raelene’s younger sister was diagnosed a week before her 20th birthday, and her daughter had started on insulin by the time she was five.

“My daughter was diagnosed with pre-diabetes when she was four,” Raelene explains.

“She started on insulin a year later and I believe it was the stress of starting school.

“At that time, we were still boiling syringes.”

Raelene received her first Kellion medal in 2017. Having lived with diabetes for over 50 years, she has seen technology transform diabetes care.

“(Using a pump) gives me the freedom to do what I want, when I want,” she says.

“I have been using pumps for almost 20 years, I just got a new pump two or three weeks ago and I’m loving it.

“One day I had 100 percent within range.

“When I first went on a pump I had to learn the carb contents of foods – I had been working in portions and exchanges.

“It was like a whole new diagnosis almost.

“Now I could never go back – if someone suggests you go somewhere or do something, you have the freedom to do that.

“It means that it isn’t so demanding on you, and you are not so conscious of your diabetes.”

Initially, Raelene had intended to leave a gift to Diabetes Victoria in her will, until an unexpected windfall prompted her to donate sooner.

“I have been a member of Diabetes Victoria for many years,” she says.

“I've had a big income from the sale of three blocks of land – two farms and another block.

“I decided to donate now so that I get the benefit of the tax deduction from my donations.”

Raelene encourages anyone who is considering leaving a gift in will to donate sooner, if they can.

“I’m not planning on going anywhere for 10 years,” she laughs.

“Diabetes Victoria will get the benefit of that money now and by giving to research, I feel I’m helping a lot of people and not just a few.

“I could have given it all to my children and they would have enjoyed it, but this will hopefully improve diabetes treatments or cure
diabetes for the next generation.”