A simple message that really mattered

Between preparing my teenage daughter for a once-in-a-lifetime study trip to China, the intense pressure of quitting smoking, and having already been on a journey of weight loss, I was no stranger to a shake, salad or gym session. I also worked full time in an intense role, so I assumed my body was just reacting to the chaos of life.  

When the weight loss became impossible to ignore, I finally saw my GP. I feared the worst – an illness that would force me into a fight for my life. On a day already heavy with worry while my father was in the hospital, I received the news. Diabetes. 

Initially misdiagnosed as type 2, it took the expertise of specialists to confirm I had type 1. I was right about one thing: it was a fight I would have to take on every single day for the rest of my life. 

That was the moment that changed me forever.  

The early days were marked by confusion and fear. It wasn't until a health complication put me in hospital that I found the help I desperately needed. But it wasn’t from the doctors. When I got home, my neighbour came over to check on me. 

We had known each other for years, yet I had no idea that he lived with type 1 diabetes.  

When he learned of my diagnosis, he felt like he finally had a friend who understood his world. 

Over time, we talked about our fears, sometimes our confusion and sadness. He laughed when I told him that I cried in the supermarket trying to work out what I could eat! Because he remembered that same feeling. With a few words, one simple message, he fixed it. 

“Eat what you like. Just cover for it.”  

He explained that it wasn’t my job to change what I put in unless I wanted to. Instead, it was now my job to take on the role of pancreas. And yes, it can be hard, confusing and scary, but with time, knowledge and a friend, anything is possible. 

Years before, he had completed a course through Diabetes Victoria, called OzDAFNE.  that taught him exactly how to perform the role of pancreas. It piqued my interest; I had to find out more! 

Finding My Way 

Learning how to manage my health didn't just give me back my confidence; it gave me back my life. It replaced my fear with actions and confusion with a plan. This friendship shifted my entire mindset, helping me through the toughest transition I’ve ever faced.  

Messages That Matter 

I’m sharing this because sometimes the most important message isn't from a medical team. It’s a friend reaching out to say, “You got this". 

I wrote this blog in memory of Pete. He taught me the most valuable lesson of all: we are not defined by our diagnosis, but by how we support one another through it. 

If you are struggling today, please know that you don't have to be your own pancreas alone. Knowledge is power, but connection is everything. 

If you would like to leave a message that matters for someone who may need to hear it, pop it here. We will share it with our community.