ROdown Blog
Diabetes awareness week + chronic illness
Diabetes is an illness that affects many Australians. The 2005 Australian AusDiab Follow-up Study (Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study) showed that 1.7 million Australians have diabetes but that up to half of the cases of type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, people who have it can live an enjoyable life by learning about the disease and effectively managing it.
For more info about diabetes check out the myD website or the Diabetes Australia website.
Diabetes is a chronic illness, which means an illness that is permanent or lasts for a long time. Other examples of chronic illnesses include asthma, kidney disease, cancer, epilepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome.
These illnesses might seem quite different on the surface, but actually have quite a few commonalities in terms of the issues people might deal with in managing their illness. This might include the need to more closely monitor health or manage medication, dietary or other lifestyle changes, and coming to terms to potentially having to deal with these issues for a long time, if not forever.
So why not check out our fact sheet on Chronic illness to get some insight into what people experiencing chronic illness deal with, and how you might be a supportive friend or family member to them. I’m sure they’d appreciate it!
Do you, or someone you know, have a chronic illness you manage from day to day? How do you look after yourself, and what do you find helps you get through some of the day to day stuff other people don’t have to worry about?
Let us know what helps you (or your friend/family member) manage your chronic illness, and how other people might be able to help make your life that little bit easier or make you feel that bit more supported and understood.
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3 Comments
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Pink_miacat
almost 3 years ago
Reply ReportThought the article was gr8 and was relevant to lots of conditions. I'm a member of ChIPS which i s youth grp for young people with chronic illness. check out www.rch.org.au/chips
Awsome bunch of people.
Ophelia.L
almost 3 years ago
Reply ReportI dont really talk at all about my health issues, because when I was 9th grade til now, my dr has said Ive got something wrong with me.
Right now, I am not healthy at all.
Im still searching about what it means, because I hate making myself having illnesses, because my parents always try to make me to be this strong person, who should think healthy about herself, but how can someone think that? Its not easy. I just dont speak about it.
But I have issues with medications and drs. I cant swallow tablets and I just really hate drs, because they come up with these illnesses that we have and it puts an impact on me and its hard to talk about, because once upon a time, we all believed to be healthy kids when we grow up, but its like, life has its ups and downs and unfortunately -- it sucks!
Thats why I try to be so healthy as much as I can, but unfortunately, I know deep down, I am not. I guess I am fighter to live longer. :)
Becks
almost 3 years ago
Reply ReportLiving with a Chronic Illness is something I've had to come to terms with over the course of my life. I do not have Diabetes, but I'm Asthmatic and Allergic to tree nuts, peanuts, fish, seafood and soy products. With both of these chronic illnesses, I've had to manage and maintain my wellbeing quite dramatically over the years.
In regards to my Asthma, I've never known any different. I've always been an Asthmatic, so from an early age I learnt that wherever I went, my puffers/ inhalers have to come with me.
I only learnt about my Allergies a year or so ago. This occurred when I ate some muesli, and I ended up spending the day in my local hospital, because I had a severe reaction, and needed to have an antihistamine injection, and be monitored. Since this incident, I've had an allergy test done, and I now know exactly what foods I have to stay away from and I know how to stop a reaction from becoming too severe.
The worst part about being Asthmatic and having severe Allergies is that I have to constantly have to monitor myself and my lifestyle. I have to keep my Ventolin and Symbicort puffers with me at all times, and I also have to keep Phenergan tablets with me at all times. If I was to not have these medications with me, and I was to have an allergic reaction or asthma attack, then my health would be in real danger.
One thing I would really like to see is more awareness on Chronic Illnesses in general. I know when people find out that I'm Asthmatic or have severe Allergies, some people act really different around me. Like they try to keep me safe, which is nice, but sometimes it makes me feel quite isolated. If people knew more about what living with a Chronic Illness was like, then that would make things a little easier to accept and stuff.
Anyways, I'm going to stop here. I feel like I'm rambling a bit. Hahaha.
Becks