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Episode 15: Nothing’s Going to Stop Me with Anna Todhunter
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In this inspiring episode of Type 1 Club, we sit down with Anna Todhunter, who shares her powerful story of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 17—right in the middle of Year 12. Just as she was preparing to launch into adult life, her world shifted.
With honesty and warmth, Anna takes us through those early days of grappling with a life-changing diagnosis while trying to finish school and stay focused on her future. Refusing to let T1D define her, she embraced a “nothing’s going to stop me” attitude—and just four months later, she moved overseas to chase her dreams.
But as Anna candidly reveals, while diabetes might not have stopped her, it did slow her down—just a little. In this episode, we talk about:
- The shock of a late-teen diagnosis
- Adjusting to T1D in the high-pressure final year of school
- What it’s like to take your new condition across the world
- The mental, emotional, and practical hurdles of doing life with diabetes
- And how staying positive doesn’t mean it’s always easy
Anna’s story is a refreshing and real reminder that resilience doesn’t mean pretending everything’s fine—it means adapting, growing, and moving forward even when it’s hard.
Connect with Our Guest:
- on Instagram
Further Resources:
Type 1 Foundation Website
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Join the Facebook Group
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Transcript
Disclaimer and Introduction
00:00:00
Speaker
The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
00:00:14
Speaker
Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.
00:00:23
Speaker
Welcome to the Type 1 Club. Whether you're a parent grappling with a new diagnosis, a caregiver seeking guidance, or simply someone wanting to learn more about Type 1 diabetes, this podcast is for you.
00:00:36
Speaker
Together, let's dispel myths, break down barriers and build a community of understanding and resilience.
Meet the Host and Guest
00:00:43
Speaker
Join us as we embark on this journey together, because with knowledge, compassion and support, no one should ever feel alone in managing type 1 diabetes.
00:00:54
Speaker
Welcome to the Type 1 Club.
00:00:59
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Type 1 Club. I'm your host, Jackie Kidman. I'm a mum to Harvey who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June 2022 at the age of seven.
00:01:10
Speaker
I'm happy to be back with you guys this week. And today I have a guest with me who is Anna Todd-Hunter. Hi, Anna. Welcome to the podcast. Hi, thank you for having me. We're going to jump straight into it because time is precious and we want to make sure we get we get lots out of this this episode for everybody and for for us too.
Diagnosis Story and Hospital Experience
00:01:29
Speaker
So Anna, can you just introduce yourself to the Type 1 Club um and share a little bit about what you recall of your diagnosis story? Yeah, sure. hi everyone. My name's Anna. I am 23 years old and I'm a primary school teacher from Sydney.
00:01:44
Speaker
I was diagnosed when I was 17 years old and I was actually my final year of high school. I was in year 12, just about to sit my HSC trial exams. And I had been getting progressively sicker for a few months.
00:01:57
Speaker
And I really, i didn't know what was happening with my body. I just knew something was really, really off. And I went to the doctor a couple of times and They kind of didn't look at me as a whole. it was like, I have some cramping and they're like oh, maybe it's because of your period.
00:02:10
Speaker
And I was like, I'm having this issue. They're like, oh, maybe it's because of this. They didn't really look at me in a holistic way and kind of add the dots together. um And then there came a point where I was going to the toilet so many times during the night and during the day. i was falling asleep at school.
00:02:28
Speaker
I had glucose in my eyes because my glucose levels were so high. And so, yeah, I was at school and I was trying to concentrate on ah the board and then suddenly it went blurry and I fully went to Specsavers.
00:02:40
Speaker
I've never heard that of glucose in the eyes. Yeah. And so I went to Specsavers and they missed it. They gave me glasses And I was like, well, it's not working.
00:02:54
Speaker
And then it kept happening and i was kind of freaking out because I'm like, oh my goodness, I don't know why this is happening. I can't see. I'm falling asleep at school. I lost a ton of weight. I was chugging down water, going to the bathroom. Like I just knew something was really off with my body.
00:03:07
Speaker
And so on the final day of term two, I was like telling my mom I have to go back to the doctor because something's not right. And the doctor was like, you know what, Anna, you've come in a few times, you're presenting symptoms.
00:03:20
Speaker
um for type 1 diabetes, but because you're so bubbly and energetic, it doesn't seem to me like you have type 1, but just, you know, to make sure we are going to test you.
00:03:31
Speaker
And I was like, in my head, I didn't think I had diabetes. I was kind of just like, they're just doing routine testing. And then i got the test done and then my doctor started doing that, walking up and down the corridor between the nurse's office and her office And I said to my mom, I was like, oh, my goodness, like, what if I actually do have diabetes?
00:03:50
Speaker
And she was really positive. She was like, you know, we'll manage it. It'll be OK. But it had never really occurred to me. And this was the first time that I started to think, what if this is actually going to be my reality? And then anyway, the doctor called me in and she said, Anna, I'm going to have to eat my words.
00:04:05
Speaker
You have to go to the hospital right now because you're very, very sick. And I said, well, like what does that mean for me? What does that mean? She's like, look, I can't diagnose you, but I think you could have type 1 diabetes because we've tested your blood sugar and it's just reading high. Like, we can't actually read the number.
00:04:22
Speaker
And so then I went straight to the hospital. It was like a whirlwind. It was meant it was a Friday night, end of the term. i was meant to go to parties that weekend. i was meant to have a great time and i ended up in the ICU.
00:04:32
Speaker
And, yeah, the doctor told me that I had what they suspected to be type 1 diabetes. um They couldn't tell me how I got it. They said you might have had a cold or a bug and then your immune system fought off your insulin producing cells as well.
00:04:47
Speaker
And so, yeah, I spent a week in the hospital, three nights in ICU you and I was learning and I had a phobia of needles. I went in with a phobia of needles and then I left without one. Good news story.
00:04:59
Speaker
Yeah. Something positive there. Yeah. And then, yeah, they send you home after being in hospital and I'm in that awkward stage at 17 where I'm not young enough, you know, to be treated like a child with a big diagnosis, but I'm also not old enough really to be treated like an adult
Misconceptions and Support Systems
00:05:16
Speaker
either. So it was a bit like an awkward stage where my parents were like, well, what do we do now? You know, they've given us all this information. We don't know what to do Anyway, we got in contact with um a great clinic at Westmead Hospital. They have a young adult clinic out that way where they have and diabetes educator. You can see your endocrinologist and a dietician all in one.
00:05:36
Speaker
And they really set me up. um for success, I would say, with my diabetes. Wow, that's that's incredible. I'm sure you've told that story a few times and it gets easier. i mean, you've said like words that I can, you know, like a whirlwind. I'm sure your mum was probably thinking the same thing as she was kind of going through.
00:05:57
Speaker
Had you had anyone in your, like are you aware what about type 1 diabetes? Had anyone in your family or in life that you could... sort of understand a little bit of what you were walking into next?
00:06:13
Speaker
Yeah, well, you know, we'd learnt at school that if you have diabetes, that means you're eating poorly and um it's not good for your health. And if you eat too much sugar, you're going to get diabetes.
00:06:23
Speaker
um So that was kind of my understanding of it. This is where language is really important, isn't it? That sort of stigma of well, you've got type 1 diabetes, so it's obviously because you haven't been looking after yourself and you've been eating really badly and all that sort of stuff, but not actually understanding that, no, no, that's a different type of diabetes. That's type 2.
00:06:43
Speaker
So we quite often now, like in the type 1 world, we're very, like we're getting more and more strict on making sure we're not just saying diabetes. It's type 1 diabetes because they are different.
00:06:56
Speaker
Yeah. And like you said, you just, your body had a virus and for whatever reason it attacked the pancreas. So, you know, that's, that's, you'll never get to the, we'll never get to the bottom of exactly when and how and why and all that sort of stuff. But that's just what happened.
00:07:14
Speaker
So that must've been quite frustrating going back and saying, like having to tell people then if that's what you'd learned at school. Yeah. And I went to an all girls school. as well. So there's, you know, that stigma around food and body image, especially at that age at 17. And so, yeah, I didn't really understand it.
00:07:30
Speaker
One of my best friends was diagnosed five months before me. No way. I know. it was great, like wild, absolutely wild. It makes me think that at the time when she was diagnosed, I should have made more of an effort to understand it. because when i Don't worry, I feel the same way with my friends that had kids that would I was like, God, I really should have I should have dropped off meals and I should have, you know, i like I should have been more supportive yeah for them. Yeah.
00:07:57
Speaker
Yeah. So that was, you know, it was really lovely because she came to the hospital when I was in the hospital and it was just really lovely to have someone who had been in that position and who understood exactly, because I always tell everyone, unless you live with someone who has type one diabetes or unless you yourself have type one diabetes, you're you truly can't understand what it's like.
00:08:17
Speaker
Like you you can be sympathetic towards it, but you really you really have no idea. And so to have someone who had that lived experience, who was so close to me already, i really treasure that like to this day.
00:08:30
Speaker
Like if I'm having a bad day, I'll just text her and be like, oh, my gosh, like I can't believe like I bolus the same as I did yesterday for the same food and I'm high. And she'll be like, yep, that's diabetes. so I know. Yeah.
00:08:43
Speaker
It is really nice, I think, to have that connection. Like even me as a type 1 mum, I have, you know, like a group now. I've kind of got a little cluster of mums that I can have a little bit of a whinge to. and they and they can also come to me. And I just feel like, oh,
00:08:58
Speaker
no one else gets it like you do and like you said unless you're living with it or you've got someone that you're you know you're supporting and I have heard as well people that have like siblings that are diagnosed yeah that they're like oh you know like it's kind of like nice to have you know someone else around them yeah the only one yeah yeah so then you had you had this friend and you're still friends with her to this day yeah yeah still really good friends so it's excellent I remember um when I got my insulin, because I started out on pens for the first seven months and she was on pens as well because she was only fairly newly diagnosed.
00:09:31
Speaker
And we'd go
Balancing Life and Diabetes Management
00:09:32
Speaker
to like English class together in year 12. We both have our orange Novo Rapid insulin pens there. And especially, yeah an all-girl school 17-year-old girl. It was just reassuring to be able to have someone because everyone who doesn't understand it thinks it's weird. Ooh, your insulin smells. You get random comments like that, which are, you know, not great for the self-esteem.
00:09:51
Speaker
or, you know, accepting this new diagnosis. So to have someone who, and it is quite an invisible disease as well. So to just see someone who was, you know, carrying the same medicine as you, having to do the same things as you and tracking their blood sugars.
00:10:04
Speaker
Like she had her Dexcom and I didn't have any sensors at that stage. So I thought it was really cool that I could, you know, look at this technology before I got it. So yeah, it's been, there's been lots of perks. So a good friend then. and then, so you're both then navigating this kind of teenage life and then finishing school.
00:10:22
Speaker
How, being sick anyway, like you know like being in ICU and, you know, all that sort stuff, and then trying to get back into school life. But then you've got, you're finishing year 12. How was that?
00:10:32
Speaker
Extremely difficult. I was always a very diligent student and I had a pretty cruisy childhood, um carefree childhood. So to have something as heavy as type 1 diabetes kind of thrust upon me in my final year of school when I was quite academic was great.
00:10:49
Speaker
mentally very intense and tough. I think at first I was like, oh, you know, i can handle that. was super positive. And then obviously the complexities of type 1 diabetes kind of started to evolve as the months went on.
00:11:04
Speaker
And then that on top of trying to do your best plus having friendship issues for certain reasons, it was a lot. And i I took a lot of days off school because I needed, i didn't have the mental capacity to like learn a new way of living whilst trying to do my best academically and socially and shout for myself and every other aspect as well.
00:11:25
Speaker
And i remember being like, Oh, it's so frustrating that I have to, you know, take these days off because I need to, you know, get my blood sugars in check or I need to catch up on an assignment because I've been at appointments. And I think what I just learned was that type one diabetes doesn't stop you. Like you can, I still, you know, had great results and,
00:11:45
Speaker
If anything, it just helps build your resilience, but also to recognise that it is difficult and it is tough and how important it is to have a support system around you who are, yeah, willing to help you through those hard moments because that's going to be for the rest of your life.
Gap Year and COVID Challenges
00:12:02
Speaker
And I think for me, the sooner I was just like, you know what, this is my life and I accepted it, I was able to really take it on board and just try my best each day. Each day is a new day.
00:12:16
Speaker
Get up, try your best. If it's not the best, try again tomorrow. So yeah, it was hard. How did you build that support system around you? Yeah, so I have a very supportive family. I'm very lucky. Both my parents were super into understanding type 1 diabetes. Like they did a lot of research. I remember when we came home and we were trying to understand carb counting, my dad got an Excel sheet out and was like logging all my food and how many carbs because he is the main cook in the family.
00:12:43
Speaker
and um And the dietician said something like, oh, like, you know, we don't really need that. That's a bit too far. And he was a bit cut. He was a bit like, oh, like, ah I'm trying to you know, support her. So um my parents, yeah, in their research, and then i have a twin sister as well and a younger brother.
00:13:00
Speaker
And so I think it was a learning curve for all of us. And I'm a bit, i don't know, I would describe myself as a bit more extroverted and intense. And my sister is like the opposite of that. She's more calm and easygoing.
00:13:12
Speaker
And so in the stressful moments, she is very good, especially I panic a bit when I go low because I don't like to be low in public because it's just annoying. um And she's very like, you know, it's okay. Take your time, have the juice, wait the time, and then we'll move on.
00:13:28
Speaker
And so, yeah, having that and then having friends who are willing to learn also about type 1 diabetes and accept it as well. Because I think that's also important that other people accept not just you, but also your diagnosis and all the other things that it's going to carry. And, you know, people won't accept that. And people do find it difficult. And you might, and I found friends who I thought were some of my closest friends, like they couldn't handle it.
00:13:50
Speaker
And they were like, you know what, I can't be here to support you. And it was disappointing and upsetting at the time. But a great learning experience to, you know, build um my support network um of really good people around me.
00:14:04
Speaker
So then you finished year 12. Did you go straight to uni or did you take a break or I intended to take a gap year. So I was diagnosed in April and then at the end of November, early December, I flew over to the UK and I was like, you know what?
00:14:22
Speaker
Because I'd always wanted to do a gap year, work in a boarding school in the UK after I'd finished um high school and I thought diabetes isn't going to stop me I've got this I'm off and I've been on the pump for I think four weeks so then you've just been on a pump for four weeks which we'll go more into that and you're going on your own ah No, so I travelled over with my family and then my sister went to one boarding school. I went to another boarding school and then my parents and brother came back to Australia. So they dropped us off and then they came back home.
00:14:51
Speaker
So they just they just basically took you there, left you there. and then so you state So you theoretically are on your own. Yes. Yes, I was. yeah Okay. Right. Oh, my gosh. Okay. Tell me more. Tell me more.
00:15:02
Speaker
Pretty much against, like, my mother was not happy about it. She was, yeah, mortified, I think. Oh, my gosh. I can't. i'm just trying to think about like that whole process of you hadn't.
00:15:14
Speaker
Were you on a CGM? Yes, I was on a CGM. So she could almost follow you from distance. Was that an option? Yes, I think that was an option. I think so. Which kind of maybe would that alleviate some of the her stress or make it even worse?
00:15:31
Speaker
and No, I think it alleviated her stress. And the school I was at, it was a boarding school. And they'd had diabetic children before and there were nurses who lived at the school. So there were elements of it that I think eased the burden a little bit for her and me.
00:15:46
Speaker
But, yeah, now when I look back, I think I can't believe I did that. Like... What was I thinking? And yes, I did have a high HbA1c when I got back to Australia. and My doctor was like, ah, Anna.
00:15:59
Speaker
But you're on a pump. So you're learning all everything about the pump? Yeah, I didn't know how it worked. But I didn't understand it. So I was having trouble going You knew your dad in his Excel spreadsheet with all of his. know. should have asked him to email one through.
00:16:14
Speaker
um Yeah, it was um it was full on. It was intense. It was actually, so I went over, I finished high school in 2019. So I went over end of 2019, early 2020, and obviously COVID's about to hit.
00:16:32
Speaker
So i had intended to stay a whole year and and then ended up being there for about three, four months. So then I fly home. And at the time i was upset, really frustrated that my year plan hadn't worked out.
00:16:47
Speaker
But in hindsight, I'm kind of grateful in a way because my diabetes was wildly out of control. I didn't understand how to use the insulin pump. i didn't really understand diabetes still because I'd been in such a, you know, school work focus mode and then straight away moving countries that I hadn't taken really the time to get to know myself and my body and my patterns.
00:17:09
Speaker
And so over that COVID period, because I was at home, i was able to do that. On one side, it's upsetting because something that you've planned hasn't worked out.
Traveling with Diabetes
00:17:17
Speaker
But on the other side, it's like, I was able to get my diabetes in check, understand how the pump worked. I remember when I was in the UK, I was like going on runs and I was dropping low all the time and then I would spike and I would bolus.
00:17:31
Speaker
But then if I start dropping again, i would unplug my pump thinking that it's going to stop delivering the bolus, not understanding that it's already delivered the bolus, like it's already in me.
00:17:43
Speaker
So i was I didn't understand how it worked properly. I was just unplugging my pump continuously, thinking that therefore it would stop giving me, like, my bolus. But that's not how it works. so And who are you checking back in with, like, to help you with any of that pump stuff?
00:17:58
Speaker
Like, are you checking back in with anyone in Australia yeah or anyone over there? are you just just doing your own thing, just figuring it, trying to figure it out? and I have been set up with an endocrinologist,
00:18:10
Speaker
over in the UK and a dietitian. And so I thought I would be okay, but they're actually, at that time, they weren't very knowledgeable when it came to the latest Medtronic insulin pump. And they were still, instead of changing my ratios, they were trying to get me to change my diet.
00:18:27
Speaker
And I was thinking, well, I can't change my diet because I'm at a school and I get what I'm given. And I'm finding it very difficult because yeah, it just wasn't really working. And then when I got home,
00:18:39
Speaker
my endocrinologist was like, what is going on here, Anna? You need to be doing this, this, and this. And within three months, my HB1C had just dropped like dramatically back into the normal range. And she had just the first thing she did was to change all my ratios.
00:18:52
Speaker
And me being stubborn, I had wanted to try and live with diabetes in a different country because i like to travel and I wanted to, I guess, prove to myself that I could do it with an English team.
00:19:06
Speaker
But I think that because it wasn't working, I should have stayed in contact with my endocrinologist in Australia and I should have checked in regularly with her.
00:19:19
Speaker
Don't ignore the four. The four early warning signs of type 1 diabetes. Excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, and extreme fatigue. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, don't wait.
00:19:34
Speaker
Get checked by a healthcare professional. Early detection and treatment are key to managing type 1 diabetes effectively.
00:19:44
Speaker
Yeah, and maybe the timing wasn't great to go on the pump when you were trying, yeah like when you were going there. Maybe it would have been better if you were like, because, I mean, diabetes, we talk about it as it's like like learning another language when you're first diagnosed.
00:19:58
Speaker
So regardless of, and then and then, you know, you add in, so that's when you do like MDI, and then when you add in like the pump, then you're like, um okay, then that's another layer of another language, you know, like you're adding kind of, you know.
00:20:10
Speaker
Yeah. French onto Italian or whatever. But so, yeah, you're trying to sort of do that. But then within those, you know, like you're still six months in, so you're still learning. yeah Potentially you could still be honeymooning. You know, like you just don't really know. Like it's there's so many things there.
00:20:26
Speaker
And for then to you to be there on your own to then be like, okay, you know, and of course you're a teenager and you just know everything. Yeah. So but And you can't be told. No. they Oh, yeah, I was so stubborn. I was like, this was my plan from the beginning. I'm going to do it. Diabetes doesn't stop me.
00:20:44
Speaker
And, yes, it doesn't, Anna. But when not handled correctly, it makes it very difficult. So it can slow you down. It totally can slow you down if you're not kind of, you know, leaning in on those appropriate kind of supports to help you to manage it yeah not correctly.
00:20:59
Speaker
So you mentioned that you love to travel. Yes. So that's good news that you it hasn't stopped you in the six years that you've been diagnosed. Is it coming up to your six-year anniversary?
00:21:10
Speaker
Yeah, it April april pro twelve Yes. Feels like a lifetime. yeah but Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it must it must be one of those funny things, though, because you've had a lifetime. You had 17 years without it.
00:21:24
Speaker
You've lived a life longer without diabetes than you have with it. Yeah. But yet it still feels like... Yeah, I don't really remember. It's crazy because this is so heavily my life now and so much of my mental capacity goes on to thinking about my diabetes and And I think it actually made my diagnosis harder in a way because I had a life in a way that I was mourning, a carefree life that I had lived for 17 years. So when I was first diagnosed, it was like, why why is this happening to me? Why is it all changing? And my sister gets to just live her life as normal and not have to do all this stuff.
00:22:00
Speaker
Whereas now, yeah, because I do it every day and it's just continuous. i Yeah, it's hard to imagine what life was like before. Yeah, we do talk about It's like an element of it's sort of that grieving the life that you had before.
00:22:14
Speaker
Yeah. So it's, you know, there is an element there of like going through that kind of grief, that trauma oh yeah yeah of what what once was. So tell me about your travels.
00:22:25
Speaker
What have you done and travelling and how have you gone around managing diabetes and particularly the airport security stuff? Well, i I've done quite a bit of Europe. I've done a little bit of Asia. I just went to Japan in the last holidays. I was travelling with some of my uni friends because we were celebrating the end of our university.
00:22:43
Speaker
time together and airport security I always find very intimidating and I think lots of type 1 diabetics feel the same and I also think lots of people who are there support type 1 diabetics feel the same and I think there's a lot of frustration um as a type 1 diabetic going into airport security because it's something that is I think is already stressful enough but then having people who are doing a job that where they don't understand your devices and your needs as a traveller, yeah, it's annoying and it just adds an extra layer of, ugh, like diabetes is making this element and this side of my life hard.
00:23:26
Speaker
It's like, oh, here we go again. And I also think the inconsistency of the security globally, even within Australia, in different states, the inconsistency of, I was like, what am I going to get? Am I going to get an aggressive person security guard? Am I going to get a chill one? Like what's the vibe going to be?
00:23:45
Speaker
um And I found, I'm like, I always am looking out for the best place and Singapore so far, they're consistent. You just tell them as soon as you get security, I'm a type one diabetic.
00:23:56
Speaker
I've got medical supplies in my bag. Here's my letter. They say, no worries, walk through, they give you a scan or a pat down and then you're on your way. And I've traveled through Singapore many times and it's always the same.
00:24:09
Speaker
Whereas every time I go to Sydney airport or Perth airport or wherever, it's always different depending on the person. And I think, you know, i think Diabetes Australia has tried to talk to the so security teams at the airports about, you know, these inconsistencies.
00:24:26
Speaker
But I really think from my experience, nothing's really changed.
Teaching and Diabetes
00:24:32
Speaker
And I think it's people's jobs, you know.
00:24:36
Speaker
yeah. And there are different devices. And I have people telling me, actually, you're wrong. You can go through this machine. And I have to say, no, I can't. And it's like, if I listen to that person, who knows, my insulin pump might combust, my sensor might stop working, and I'd be, you know, getting a 12-hour flight with gadgets that don't work.
00:24:56
Speaker
And I think it's it's really serious. And I think that people who are in that profession, you know, don't fully understand that. And the mental anxiety that it can cause ah diabetic travellers and their companions.
00:25:08
Speaker
So I was always really adamant traveling that I traveled with um either my sister or my parents because I didn't want to go through that alone. And my latest trip, I had to fly home by myself and i had people saying, you know, you can't do this, you can do this. And I just stood my ground because I've traveled so many times now.
00:25:27
Speaker
I know what I have to do to take care of myself and my body. And that they're like, we have to escalate this now because you're doing the wrong thing. And I'm like, fine, escalate it. That's fine. Do you just say, just can I talk to the supervisor? Like, to would you just, was that something you just say straight up? Yeah.
00:25:43
Speaker
Or so they'll say, you have to go through this machine. And I'll say, no, I can't. And they'll say, yes, you can. and then I'll say, okay, I'll just have a pat down then. And then they go, oh okay. And then if there's an issue, like that they had an issue with, um I took juice through.
00:25:57
Speaker
And because of my letter from my doctor, it didn't say food and drink. It just said food. There was an issue. And he was like, and then they were like, no, you just take insulin. You don't need juice.
00:26:09
Speaker
Like they're telling me what I need. And I was like, I have lived with this disease for six years. Go and get your supervisor and we'll chat about it. I was just like, oh, seriously. Anyway, the supervisor comes and goes, oh, yeah, that's fine.
00:26:21
Speaker
It's exhausting, isn't it? It's so frustrating because everybody you talk to has the same anxiety and we and i get ah get we understand the aspect of the security but, you know, it's the way that they sort of treat you like you're the criminal.
00:26:36
Speaker
It's like, okay, I'm just trying to, I have $10,000 machine that if it goes through that, there's the potential that also say that's going to cost me, like could cost me money.
00:26:47
Speaker
But it's also, yeah like you said, it's my life support. It's they just don't realise how serious it is. And that's where, yeah, there's a lot of work around the type one foundation do a lot of um work around that. And like you said, you mentioned like diabetes Australia arm and T1D and stuff like that, but,
00:27:03
Speaker
We just have to keep raising it. And unfortunately, like when you're when you're heading off to your holiday, the last thing you want to do is then send an email to say, this is what happened, you know, just so you know this is what happened.
00:27:14
Speaker
But I wonder whether we maybe make a campaign or something where we just draft these automatic emails and then you just pop pop in, you know. Like a supervisor was great, but the people who were doing that were unaware and they need to be trained because there's no point just training the supervisor.
00:27:28
Speaker
A hundred percent. And it can become quite tense. Like I remember my dad said to one of the security guys, and I was an adult, and he said, seriously, you work at an airport where you see thousands of type 1 diabetics go through your machines. How do you not know what they can and can't do?
00:27:43
Speaker
He's like, she's not the first diabetic you've seen. What are you doing? And he got really like aggravated by that comment. And if I was a child, like i would find that intimidating. I find it really, have to really focus on like when I go through, i try and get to the airport a little bit early.
00:28:01
Speaker
And then so I can just kind of go, you know what, we'll wait. Yep. You just get the supervisor. We're happy to wait. We're in no hurry. you You know, like so that time is not an issue, but I can sense, you know, I can.
00:28:11
Speaker
I'm trying to sit sort of lower my heart rate and, you know, and regulate my nervous system because I know exactly what Harvey's going through as well. He's getting he's getting nervous about it, and which I find is that real struggle because we, we you know, as parents, we're fighting so hard for our kids, and we but we also don't want them to see that this is a barrier for them, you know, that they shouldn't we shouldn't go on a plane, we shouldn't travel, and when they're on their own, they have the confidence to,
00:28:40
Speaker
And they've walked through those things so many times they have the confidence to on their own, which it sounds like what your parents have helped you to do. You know, they've modelled that sort of behaviour and then you've got you've had more confidence to kind of say, no, I know, you know, this is that, you know, which I think is is incredible. Yeah.
00:28:58
Speaker
But very frustrating. I get that. I get that. Yes. But, yeah, that's something I guess we'll continue to work on, which is amazing. saying Yeah. And then one last thing I want to sort of check in with you is now you're a teacher.
00:29:11
Speaker
How do You're a primary school teacher. What age group are you teaching? Because I'm a new grad, I'm kind of getting experience across K-6. So i'm I'm popping into different classrooms and doing teaching across K-6 at the moment.
00:29:25
Speaker
What does that mean? ka Oh, kindergarten to year six. Sorry. Sorry. I was like, K to six. It took me a little while to get there. Yeah, kindergarten year six. The cogs take a bit of time to turn in my brain sometimes. No, that's okay. Kinder to six. So in Sydney, I think, wait so in it in Melbourne where I am, we call it, ah well, it's known as prep.
00:29:45
Speaker
Okay. is kinder the year before school? keen to No, kindergarten is the first year of school. First year of school, yeah. It's quite different. Yeah. prep, that's prep or now in in Melbourne, in Victoria, it's called foundation. Oh, okay.
00:29:59
Speaker
you would say F to six. Oh, there you go. Okay. Right. Yes. Okay. So how do you go with your day-to-day? actually think that being a teacher is a great career to have when you have diabetes because it's very structured.
00:30:16
Speaker
You have set eating times and you you have a timetable. which I currently don't really have because I'm across the grades. But when I have my own class, I will have a timetable and i will have the same lessons each week.
00:30:31
Speaker
And so I'll know when I'm doing sport. I'll know if I'm doing, you know, writing and we're sitting down. I can pack the same things for recess and lunch every day. So I know how much I need to bowl this for. So it has its perks in that aspect.
00:30:46
Speaker
And also you come across so many curious children who see your insulin pump, who hear your insulin pump, who see your sensor. And it's honestly just such a great opportunity to really spread that awareness for diabetes.
00:31:01
Speaker
And with the little ones, I found reading storybook about, um it's a Caillou book called Emma's Extra Snacks. It's really um helpful to help them understand why Miss Todd Hunter might be having a juice box during class or why I might be having some jelly beans.
00:31:18
Speaker
And I remember one time after I'd read the book, I was low and I was having some jelly beans and they're like, you're having your extra snacks because of your diabetes. And I like, yes, I am. So they're always really interested.
00:31:30
Speaker
They pick it up quite quickly. And so many children are so caring as well. And they always like to make connections like, my granddad has diabetes. um My dog has diabetes. um So you hear but some very funny comments. I'm like, I don't think it's the same, but great connection.
00:31:46
Speaker
And then, of course, there's those children who do have type 1 diabetes or who have siblings or parents with type 1 diabetes. And, you know, they always get excited because they go, oh, my goodness, is that a sensor? They know what's happening. And sometimes I'm like, if I'm explaining to a class more what it is, sometimes I get them up because, you know, they're always super excited to share um their relative's story.
00:32:11
Speaker
That's what happened today, actually. I had a boy in a class where was explaining my diabetes and his brother has diabetes. And so he was helping me explain it to the class. That's cool. I love that. Yeah. And it's just about really normalising type 1.
00:32:24
Speaker
And even if they don't fully understand it, which they won't because they're sure their children um who don't have that much exposure to type 1, but just letting them know that it's there,
00:32:35
Speaker
that it's real but here is your teacher living her best life teaching you and I explained as I explained to them today you know like I live with this every day but I'm still here teaching and helping you with your work and doing playground supervision and life continues but yeah it's a great way of advocating for type one I think
Community and Advocacy
00:32:58
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah.
00:32:59
Speaker
Yeah. And so then, then when, you know, someone that they know, you know, or they see a c sensor or they, and they say like, oh, my teachers, where's one of them? And I find that just, just to create that normality of it. I love that.
00:33:10
Speaker
I do find that when I do find school holidays are probably my most stressful time. Yeah. and Not only because the kids are home, but um but because of the routine. Like I totally get that. Like you eat the same time. They yeah pretty much, Harvey pretty much has the same thing. And I know exactly when he's eating, when he's not, you know, whereas when he's home all day, you know, and the exercise activity is completely different.
00:33:34
Speaker
The eating routine is different. The time that we wake up, the time that we go to bed. Like, so it's just, it throws us out. And I just feel like I'm constantly like chasing things. ah little bit of yeah of those numbers but it's getting easier yeah I always say that diabetic diabetics thrive on routine and predictability so when that's all out of the window whether you're on school holidays or traveling overseas it makes things lot trickier um so yeah I found term time usually I'm
00:34:08
Speaker
you know, quite well controlled. Well, Anna, I've really loved hearing your story. Thank you so much for your time. um how do people follow along and hear a little bit more about your sort of journey?
00:34:21
Speaker
Yeah, so I have an Instagram account called annat.type1 and that's where I just share my journey about the highs and the lows, um no pun intended.
00:34:32
Speaker
you know, the advocacy that I try to do to try and spread, you know, the awareness about what's going on in my life. ah Amazing. You know, it's such important message that we all need to to sort of share and to allow for people to hear it. I think that's just, that's the main thing because otherwise it would just be a silent, invisible disease that we're all living, which sounds miserable, I'd say.
00:34:57
Speaker
So it's so much better with community around, I do say. And with Instagram, it's excellent. The diabetics that I've connected with, I'm like, oh, my goodness, there's like a whole side.
00:35:09
Speaker
It's like my For You page. It's just all diabetics. And I'm like, oh, my goodness, all these people all around the world who understand diabetes. It's great. um And my last and final question for you, you did mention a few, but I would love for you to share what's your hypotreatments.
00:35:23
Speaker
So I love the juice box because I just feel like that works faster. Do you have like apple, orange? you Apple and blackcurrant is my favourite. Oh, delicious. Apple and blackcurrant, yes.
00:35:36
Speaker
But i also I also love you can get these gluco bears that are done by the gluco. It's the same company that makes the jelly beans. Yes, I've seen them. and big Are they big ones? Yeah. Are they a big bear? Yeah.
00:35:50
Speaker
So they make these bears they're and The packaging's yellow for anyone who wants to have a look. And they just taste like normal bollies. But I swear just three of them and my blood sugar comes like straight up.
00:36:01
Speaker
Yeah, have to be careful that I don't have too many. So, yeah, some days I'm like I can't treat myself with those because I know I'll just eat like the whole packet. So, yeah yeah, got to be careful with those. But also glucose tablets are great.
00:36:14
Speaker
I like a variety because – you know, I'm going to live with this for a very long time. So, good ah you know, space it out a bit with the different types of treatments. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're the same. We kind of do different things at night to to during the day to, you know, physical activity, what we're doing, you know like when he's doing sport and all that sort of stuff, but we mix it all up because, yeah, you just got to keep it keep but kind of interesting, I guess, as well.
00:36:38
Speaker
Yeah, my hardest thing is trying to stop my 13-year-old from eating the snakes. I'm like, stop eating them. um Yeah, I think my brother got into my jelly beans once and I had like a whole stash and I had hardly had any and I went downstairs because I was low and they're like, yeah, they're all gone. And I'm like, oh, my goodness, James.
00:36:58
Speaker
I actually need these. Maybe it's something to do with the Jameses because that's my son's name. Oh, there you go. They're sugar addicts. They are. They sniff it out. Yes. Anna, thank you so much for your time.
00:37:11
Speaker
worries. I really do appreciate
Conclusion and Thanks
00:37:12
Speaker
everything you've shared. I think that it will be really valuable for ah type one community for um some of the stuff around being diagnosed as a teenager and the study stuff and particularly the travel stuff and how we're all just feeling the same i think that's just the the kind of the big messages and and also some of the big leaps that you kind of took on which i just think is amazing um and look maybe they didn't hit the mark in terms of like you know what what you wanted but you know you certainly set you up for success sort of down the path and um And I think that's just an amazing and incredible story. So thank you so much for your time. Thank you for having me.
00:37:49
Speaker
Thanks everybody for listening and we hope that you've enjoyed this episode. we look forward to bringing you another episode very soon on the Type One Club.
00:37:58
Speaker
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00:38:11
Speaker
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00:38:32
Speaker
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