Lyn manages the many demands of living with type 2 diabetes

Lyn Macoustra, 78, is grateful to have a doctor in the family. What isn’t so ideal is that her son and daughter-in-law, the medico, live in Germany.

Lyn was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 20 years ago after experiencing the common symptoms of extreme thirst and frequent urination. It was through her GP’s diligent screening four years ago that she found out she had also developed chronic kidney disease.

“I’m grateful I can ask my daughter-in-law about managing both conditions,” Lyn said. She was discussing her health before representing people living with type 2 diabetes at Diabetes Australia’s “Take Five to do Five Health Checks” event at Parliament House.

Politicians were invited to have their HbA1c (diabetes), heart health, kidney function, blood pressure and cholesterol checked. The event was held to raise awareness among the nation’s decision makers about diabetes-related complications and the importance of regular health checks for people living with diabetes. 

“When you’re dealing with different specialists there’s a lot of information and a lot of different medications. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep track and be sure that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing,” she said.

One of the big worries in Lyn’s life is trying to get in to see doctors in a timely fashion. Lyn, who lives in Canberra, said it can take three weeks to get a GP appointment and months to schedule appointments with her specialists.    

She focuses on the things she can control, including living a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

“I try to exercise as much as possible. I walk most days and I’ve started aqua aerobics a couple of times a week. I really enjoy it and there’s a regular group of people who do it so I look forward to seeing them.”

Lyn contacted Diabetes Australia after the Parliamentary event to let us know how much she enjoyed attending it.

“Everyone was lovely and I learnt a lot about my health and new medications,” she said. “I hope the politicians know how lucky they were to have all those tests available in one space. They even got their results while they waited.

“That would take so much time for an ordinary person living with diabetes.”

‘That’s it. I’ve got enough!’

When Maire O’Callaghan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 30 years ago, she was an extreme needle-phobe.

“If I was visiting someone at a hospital and saw them getting an injection, I’d lose my vision and nearly faint. I’d have to sit down with my head between my knees,” Maire, whose name is pronounced Moira, said.

“It was a horrendous shock when I was first diagnosed with diabetes. The thought of multiple injections a day for the rest of my life was overwhelming.”

Maire and her husband, a doctor, were newly arrived in Australia from their native Ireland and had gone on holiday to Tasmania when she developed a raging thirst and frequent urination, especially at night. They were hiking during the day and drinking a lot of water, which seemed to explain Maire’s symptoms, but her husband’s concerns were validated as soon as they returned from holiday and Maire’s tests confirmed very high blood glucose levels and type 1 diabetes.

“I had no family history. It took me a little while but I got used to it and became philosophical. I have six siblings back in Ireland and I thought better me than them.”

Maire’s brother has since been diagnosed with the condition five years ago.

“I got on with the diabetes, but then I was diagnosed with thyroid disease. Then I developed lactose intolerance. Then six years ago I was diagnosed with kidney disease.

“I told God, ‘Right. That’s it. I’ve got enough now! No more’.”

Maire is President of the Friends of Ireland in Canberra and a volunteer Irish language teacher. She plays traditional Irish music on the concertina and tin whistle, and sings. She also works as a receptionist at a urologist. 

She recently made time in her busy life to represent people living with type 1 diabetes at Diabetes Australia’s “Take Five to do Five Health Checks” event at Parliament House.

Politicians were invited to have their HbA1c (diabetes), heart health, kidney function, blood pressure and cholesterol checked. The event was held to raise awareness among the nation’s decision makers about diabetes-related complications and the importance of regular health checks for people living with diabetes.

“Everything is free for people with diabetes back in Ireland,” Maire said.

“I once spent over $1,000 in a chemist shop buying my medications and insulin for a trip back to Ireland.

“It’s an expensive condition to manage, if you take into account the cost of specialists’ appointments and all the other costs.”