Hobart mum Deb Ludeke was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 1984 and has seen massive changes in the management of the condition. After many years relying on manual insulin injections, Deb now uses a Medtronic MiniMed 640G insulin pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology to monitor and adjust her blood glucose levels. Deb now has a level of freedom that she was unable to enjoy
whilst having to inject insulin, and has been such an outspoken positive role model for the technology that Medtronic made her their ambassador! As Deb became more involved with T1D fundraising through her previous endeavour, Kms4Kids, she saw that much of the focus from those fundraising was centred on the negative aspects of the condition. Deb wanted to promote a more positive focus – showing what people can achieve with the correct management and this exciting technology, rather than reinforcing things they can’t or shouldn’t do. Insulin pump therapy and CGM allows people to monitor their blood glucose levels more accurately than finger prick tests, and deliver insulin to the body more efficiently than manual injections. The freedom that this has created for Deb has seen her compete in many fun-runs, marathons, and even a crazy fundraising event where she ran from Launceston to Hobart! This would be incredibly difficult for a person with T1D to manage using manual injections, and Deb’s got no plans for slowing down any time soon. The everyday risks associated with T1D can be lowered by using these technologies -lows and highs are able to be detected much sooner, allowing the user to correct them more efficiently. The long term secondary risks of the condition can also be reduced through insulin pump therapy and CGM. The fear felt by patients and their families when being given a diagnosis of T1D is justified – it’s a serious condition that needs to be managed carefully. But with the advent of continually improving technology there’s exciting times ahead for those with T1D, and PACED wants to help by enabling people to access CGM and insulin pump therapy and by providing a more positive focus for type 1 diabetes education.
