The Bairnsdale and District Diabetes Support Group held its first meeting for 2024 on February 20 in the Rivers room at the Bairnsdale RSL.
Convener, Brigitte Gibson, welcomed everyone and then introduced Pat and Barry Sutton, long-time group members, to speak on their experiences with diabetes over 55 years.
Barry said their story started in 1969 while living near Swifts Creek, when their active five-year-old son Steven started to be listless and not his usual self.
After a couple of visits to doctors at Omeo, Swifts Creek and Bairnsdale, doctors found nothing wrong.
Then at Christmas, Steve became worse and they were so concerned that they contacted the duty doctor at the Bairnsdale clinic – Dr Frank Mallat – who said that he thought he knew what the problem was but would have to have blood tests done.
To do the tests Nick Gottschalk, then working at the Bairnsdale hospital, was called back from his holidays.
By mid-afternoon the Suttons were told the results “your son has type one diabetes”.
They were told their son was very ill and needed to be admitted immediately to hospital and could not be done at Bairnsdale Hospital, so the doctor had made arrangements with the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne and they were to go there immediately.
They were handed an envelope which would gain them admittance to any hospital on the way if required.
With minimal preparations they left Bairnsdale by car at 5.15pm and arrived at the RCH at 11pm.
Their doctor was John Court, a world renowned diabetes specialist.
They started on a steep learning curve on diabetes care – diet, injections, exercise routines, liver stimulant, etc.
Barry had to brush up on his injecting technique used on his sheep, to injecting an orange in preparation for his son. Barry recalled the first he gave one – this was his beloved son and not an orange or a sheep, and he was very nervous.
After three days they had their son back to normal and 10 days later was discharged. Back home the whole family became involved with Steven in the diabetic routine including a good healthy diet.
Steven is now a father of three and grandfather of twins.
Each year Diabetes Australia presents the Kellion Victory Medal to those who have lived with type one or type two diabetes for 50 years or more.
It recognises the achievement of living a fulfilling life with diabetes.
Steve received his award in 2022 and is among a select group of people who have received this award.
“Giving a five-year-old an injection was very hard with lots of tears at times,” Pat said.
“Injections were one daily with a twice daily urine test. The first injection was with a glass syringe with a needle that seemed to be blunt and the size of a darning needle. After a few years the came to use the single use syringe and gradually got to the modern blue, then red, to the latest technology the display pen which records the last dose, is re-useable and has refills.”
Pat bought with her a sample of each type of needle used over the years and passed them around to allow members to see the actual items.
Following the presentation members were provided with a series of quiz questions to check their knowledge of diabetes.
Marj Goodwin, on behalf of the group, presented Barry and Pat with a small gift in appreciation of their interesting presentation which was relevant to all present.
The next meeting of the group will be on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
