Coast to Coast for Diabetes NZ

Hi :) we are three siblings - Tom, Emily and Finn - taking on the Coast to Coast Adventure Race next month. This is a race from the West to East coast of New Zealand’s South Island, covering 243km. Tom competed in 2021 as an individual which motivated us to now complete the event together as a team. It is a challenging event, both physically and mentally. Finn and I (Emily) are both Type 1 diabetics, which can be a challenge in itself at the best of times, let alone whilst racing across the country.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 12 years old, with Finn being diagnosed at a similar age just 3 years later. Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, where the bodies immune system kills off some of its insulin producing cells.Insulin is what allows your body to break down and use the sugar found in food, and without insulin, this sugar can cause a lot of damage. Finn and I now rely on multiple injections a day to provide us with the insulin that our bodies no longer make.

Before being diagnosed, diabetes was a disease of “eating too much sugary food, not exercising, and being unhealthy” - a stigma which is still sadly prevalent in society. It is not known what causes the body to start attacking itself and result in Type 1 diabetes. But it is not a disease which could have been prevented, and is a disease that is there for life. The physical effects of diabetes are obvious, but the mental burden is much more difficult to address. 78% of diabetics say their emotional wellbeing has been effected by diabetes and as it is such a common disease, society has come to accept it and not acknowledge the every day challenge that it is. Through the Coast to Coast we hope to build awareness of this disease and break this common public perception.

Diabetes NZ is a charity which provides diabetics with both information and support. It is a place where diabetics can connect with others and share their stories, as well as providing advocacy to make living with this disease that little bit easier. Diabetes is something that will forever be a challenge in our family's life and for many other families throughout New Zealand. Our bodies continue to do some pretty amazing things for us every single day, which we can often forget to be grateful for, and should never take for granted. We hope that through this event we can make a significant donation to Diabetes NZ, to continue to help other diabetics and their families throughout New Zealand. Thank you for taking the time to read our story.