Sweet Talk Heroes
Barbara Holborow
Barbara Holborow had dreams but first, she had to conquer type 1 diabetes.
As a teenager, Barbara Holborow just wanted to be like everyone else. When she couldn’t be, she made the decision to conquer one of the greatest challenges of her life.
Today, after 65 years of living with diabetes, Barbara has achieved a successful career as a Children’s Court Magistrate, author, public speaker and has been honoured with the Order of Australia Medal and the Kellion award. She is one of the longest surviving Australians with type 1 diabetes.
Heartbreaking news
Barbara became ill in 1943, at 13 years of age. In those days, people didn’t really know what the symptoms of diabetes were. “First, I had chickenpox and I became very ill,” she recalls. “I was drinking copious amounts of water.” Her parents sent her to the countryside to recover, however her health didn’t improve, so Barbara was taken to see a doctor, who confirmed she had type 1 diabetes. “I had never seen my dad cry, but that night, he put his head in his arms, and cried, I felt so guilty, like it was my fault”, she remembers.
A defining moment
“At first I didn’t understand the implications. I really thought you’d have some medicine, you’d get over it, and they’d send you home. Little did I know that I was going to be having injections for the rest of my life.” Making sacrifices was difficult for Barbara. “I wanted to eat like everyone else and play games like other children. Then my grandmother said ‘You can sit there and cry for the rest of your life, or you can get up and just get on with it.’ It was tough love. So I made the choice to accept that I had to live with my condition. Since that day, I’ve never let my diabetes get between me and where I was going,” she says triumphantly.
Gaining the upper hand
“I had plans and dreams, and if I was going to be successful, I had to stay well,” says Barbara. “I eat regularly, and only foods that won’t interfere with my sugar levels. I’ve also learnt to relax and step back from stressful situations.” Managing diabetes has come a long way since Barbara was first diagnosed, when it was more primitive, difficult and painful than it is today.
Barbara’s advice
“It’s very important that your blood sugar levels are stable. You’ve got to be in control of your diabetes, and not let it control you,” Barbara says. “Stick to your diet, have proper doses of insulin, and test regularly. With the help of the Accu-Chek® Mobile, testing is so discreet, much easier, and faster, helping people to test more regularly if they need to. This will help keep their diabetes in control and ensure it doesn’t control them.”
Conquering diabetes
“I think my diabetes has made me the person I am. If I wasn’t a diabetic, I would be a very different person. And I believe I would not have achieved what I have achieved. I’ve had to conquer diabetes. And I’ve conquered it many times!”
As a teenager, Barbara Holborow just wanted to be like everyone else. When she couldn’t be, she made the decision to conquer one of the greatest challenges of her life.
Today, after 65 years of living with diabetes, Barbara has achieved a successful career as a Children’s Court Magistrate, author, public speaker and has been honoured with the Order of Australia Medal and the Kellion award. She is one of the longest surviving Australians with type 1 diabetes.
Heartbreaking news
Barbara became ill in 1943, at 13 years of age. In those days, people didn’t really know what the symptoms of diabetes were. “First, I had chickenpox and I became very ill,” she recalls. “I was drinking copious amounts of water.” Her parents sent her to the countryside to recover, however her health didn’t improve, so Barbara was taken to see a doctor, who confirmed she had type 1 diabetes. “I had never seen my dad cry, but that night, he put his head in his arms, and cried, I felt so guilty, like it was my fault”, she remembers.
A defining moment
“At first I didn’t understand the implications. I really thought you’d have some medicine, you’d get over it, and they’d send you home. Little did I know that I was going to be having injections for the rest of my life.” Making sacrifices was difficult for Barbara. “I wanted to eat like everyone else and play games like other children. Then my grandmother said ‘You can sit there and cry for the rest of your life, or you can get up and just get on with it.’ It was tough love. So I made the choice to accept that I had to live with my condition. Since that day, I’ve never let my diabetes get between me and where I was going,” she says triumphantly.
Gaining the upper hand
“I had plans and dreams, and if I was going to be successful, I had to stay well,” says Barbara. “I eat regularly, and only foods that won’t interfere with my sugar levels. I’ve also learnt to relax and step back from stressful situations.” Managing diabetes has come a long way since Barbara was first diagnosed, when it was more primitive, difficult and painful than it is today.
Barbara’s advice
“It’s very important that your blood sugar levels are stable. You’ve got to be in control of your diabetes, and not let it control you,” Barbara says. “Stick to your diet, have proper doses of insulin, and test regularly. With the help of the Accu-Chek® Mobile, testing is so discreet, much easier, and faster, helping people to test more regularly if they need to. This will help keep their diabetes in control and ensure it doesn’t control them.”
Conquering diabetes
“I think my diabetes has made me the person I am. If I wasn’t a diabetic, I would be a very different person. And I believe I would not have achieved what I have achieved. I’ve had to conquer diabetes. And I’ve conquered it many times!”
