‘Minority’ diabetics get more support

The Albury-Wodonga Diabetes Support Group has introduced the informal get-togethers with the first event attracting about 15 diabetics on Saturday afternoon.

Among the participants was Jacqui Bullivant who has suffered from type 1 diabetes for more than 40 years.

“Growing up with diabetes, I felt I was different to my friends and apart from telling my best friends, I kept it to myself so that others would not think I was unusual,” she said.

“It is only recently that I am becoming more open about it.

“Only last year I started to attend meetings held by the local diabetes group.

“At first I was reluctant because there are so many more type 2 diabetics and it seemed the information would often not be relevant.

“However, as there are now more type 1 diabetics and it is occurring in more people later in life, there is a growing group of type 1s here on the Border.”

Type 1 represents 10 to 15 per cent of cases of diabetes, and in Albury-Wodonga alone, there are more than 500 people of all ages diagnosed with the condition.

Liz Hare from the support group said type 1 sufferers were often the “forgotten minority” and it was important for them to get together on occasions.

“The emphasis is on type 2 and we felt it was time that type 1 got together to share their experiences and stories,” she said.

The next type 1 gathering will be in late May. For details phone Ms Hare, (02) 6021 8668.