Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Diabetes affects almost a million Australians, and an estimated 130,000 have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I recently met with 17-year-old Gemma Lavings, who is an outstanding and passionate advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and she wrote me a short speech about her experience living with type 1 diabetes, a speech I would like to share with the House today.

Gemma says: 'When I was 10 years old, my pancreas stopped working. I was ghostly white, with dark circles framing my eyes, and sickly skinny. From that day, my life changed forever. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. If I was born 100 years ago, I would not have lived to my 11th birthday. I am now happy, healthy and doing well at school, thanks to the technology that helps me manage my diabetes and keeps me alive. That's not to say it's easy. Type 1 diabetes affects every part of your body 24/7. It's a relentless disease I never get a break from, but I love my pump and my constant glucose monitor. It's given me freedom, independence and increased control over a condition that didn't seem controllable.'

'My outlook for the future,' says Gemma, 'is to see type 1 diabetics live healthier lives, regardless of their age or financial status, utilising new technologies for better health outcomes with the help of government support.' I really want to commend Gemma on her courage, and I thank her for being willing to share her story to raise awareness of this disease and its impact on young Australians.