Real Stories Plain Text – If I Had Known

Dear Alan,

I’ve got some advice for you. When you came to Australia with your wife and six kids in the early 80s you had about $500 in your pocket. Getting started in a new country is tough. I know how busy life was. Getting your qualifications recognised, getting established, raising a family.

Then you were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

It is no surprise it wasn’t on the top of your list. But it should have been. Life gets in the way but you can’t put your health on backburner.

You tried your best. You did a pretty good job of managing it under the circumstances. You didn’t know what was going to happen. Diabetes is an insidious disease. It creeps up on you. Then something stops working. That’s what will happen to your kidneys. That’s why you eventually go on to dialysis. It’s why you’ll need a kidney transplant.

The good news is the transplant worked. You are healthy. Your family are healthy. Life is good.

But there were hard times… maybe they could have been avoided.

Make your diabetes a priority. Even with everything that is going on. Watch what you eat – that can make a big difference to your diabetes management and even prevent or delay some complications.

Staying healthy means more quality time with your family. It’s too important to ignore.

Yours sincerely,

Alan

Dear Julie,

I know you’ve just got the test results back. Type 2 diabetes. It’s a shock right?

Well I’ve got an important message for you.

It’s serious. This is your body. Don’t just think you’re going to take tablets and everything will be okay.

You can’t rely on your doctors – they will guide you, but you have to make changes for yourself.

It’s up to you.

Don’t think of this as the end though. It’s not. It’s the beginning. Now you know why you’ve felt so yuck for the last couple of months, why your feet have been tingling.

It’s important you get on top of diabetes before it gets on top of you. Make the changes. It’s worth it.

That’s the tough news.

The good news is you can do it. You are strong enough to make the changes.

I know because you did.

Love, Julie

Dear Cindy,

So you’ve just been diagnosed. You know the drill right?

Well, I’m here to tell you don’t. Not quite. That’s why I’m writing to you.

The thing is, you’ve got the will power but you need the right team around you.

I know you’ve been seeing Dr Smith for years, but I want you to know it is okay to change. I’m here to tell you it is okay to change.

It’s important to have the right support around you so you can get the information you need.

I know it feels wrong right? Switching doctors. But it’s okay. Different doctors can help you with different things and right now you need someone who is going to be able to support you in the changes you want to make.

Like I said, you’ve got the willpower. You just need that little bit of extra support.

Make a phone call today.

Build the team you need because you can do this.

Love, me

Dear Joseph,

Life is good right now. At 27, you are working in your dream job as an architect and you are surrounded by good family and friends.

You are enjoying life by eating whatever you want. Fried chicken or fish and a can of soft drink at the café for lunch.

Soon, you find yourself not exercising like you use to, instead you are sitting in an office for 12 hours a day. Making healthy eating choices are the last thing on your mind. But it shouldn’t be.

The weight will creep on.

Soon your life will be upended. An application for life insurance will reveal a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

You will be in shock, but not surprised. There is strong family history of diabetes, your mum and four aunts and uncles lived with diabetes.

Perhaps you should have known better, but here you are.

The diagnosis will transform your lifestyle, you will start to eat well and be more active.

But there will be some unexpected and lifelong complications with diabetes. Eleven cardiac stents, low kidney function and eye problems.

For now, you have the power to change the course of your life. Make a healthy life your priority.

It will be worth it in the end.

Trust me.

Regards,

Joseph

Dear Mohammed,

Mate, you’re a good bloke so I’ll tell you straight – type 2 diabetes isn’t a joke.

If you don’t take it seriously you’re going to have a stroke.

You think you’re too young for something bad to happen? I can tell you you’re not.

I had a stroke. I spent a month in hospital.

All I could think about was our kids. I want to be around for them.

The day to get serious is today.

Look after yourself. Eat properly. Exercise is a big one. Get moving.

It might seem tough but it’s nothing compared to a stroke.

And you know what else? It’s worth it.

I feel better today than I have in years.

What are you waiting for?

Yours,

Mohammed

Dear Philip,

I know there is no one around to teach you about what a healthy diet looks like; growing up on government rations didn’t help either.

The soft drink, the fast food, it just all tastes too good right now.

But you need to stop and think, it might be a quick and easy option now, but down the track your health will get worse.

Look to your Grandad and Granny. They are lean and strong having survived on a bush tucker diet. They can show you the way, if you let them.

By the time you are 30, you will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Little do you know of the health hardships ahead.

You have tried many times over the years to break bad eating habits, but it has been tough.

Life is busy with a growing family of six and working in government administration – health seems to always take a back seat.

But I’m here to remind you that it should be your number one priority.

Four heart attacks later. You can’t believe it. Things are bad. You will have to learn to walk again while in hospital.

It will be a shock and a struggle, but your willpower will get you through.

Philip

Diabetes Australia has been advised that Philip sadly passed away on Sunday 5th September 2021. We would like to pass on our condolences to all his family and friends across the country, particularly his Wadja Wadja, Bwgcolman, Mamu and Walmajarri families, and also his Bahai family across the world.

Proudly supported by AstraZeneca Australia in the form of an unrestricted grant for this campaign.