Paul Austin

Diabetes UK Wellness Walk

So, where to start!

I have not completed any type of sponsored activity since those halcyon days of primary school, back in those days without social media and the massively worthwhile focus that today's world needs for fundraising.

I'm conscious everyone is busy at this time and fighting many financial and health related issues within their own worlds. I saw these wellness walks that Diabetes UK are hosting and just thought - why not!

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 25, so for the mathematically minded of you that's now 21 years ago. While i can sometimes be a bit blasé about the challenges it brings, this is a way of coping and normalising the condition. In reality, It is relentless on the body and mind each and every day. There is a constant need to check blood glucose levels, panic about hypo's (low blood glucose) which are awful, figure out what food relates to how much insulin, carry round a plethora of devices all day and generally be on edge for what may or may not happen with the body. 

Whilst i am very lucky to use an insulin pump at present I, like so many others, have been injecting insulin a minimum of 5 times a day, every day. Very roughly this would be 35,000 injections into my body at the absolute minimum, but more like 41,000 in reality. Without the invention of injectable insulin some 100 years ago, i would have passed away within months of a diagnosis. Even with this, long term effects of higher blood glucose levels can be frightening, with blindness, amputations and heart attacks within such fears. With 21 years on my body, its evidently taking its toll and will just continue to do so.

Now i don't want to write a gruelling monologue about how diabetes is the worst affliction ever, because its not. So many of my friends and family have been at the mercy of unrelenting health conditions that have and continue to devastate.

Having never done anything like this before i thought I’d give it a go. So, i'm putting this out there more as a way of raising awareness of my particular health condition, for funds and hopefully any subsequent ways to help others with extra Diabetes UK activities. I have had the pleasure of working with them on a professional level so can speak firsthand of the dedication and passion with which they can make a difference.

Thanks for reading. Also, if you don't sponsor then i will delete you off Facebook :)