According to the latest Diabetes MILES Study released in May 2012, over 1 million Australians are registered with diabetes on the National Diabetes Services Scheme, with many more not registered. About half of these adults with diabetes reported that they have never been offered structured diabetes education to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills they need to live with diabetes – potentially representing 500,000 people in Australia.
Danny Kirk, Diabetic Lifestyle Coach and a Type 1 diabetic for over 20 years is set to change this with the website DannyType1.com.au – an educational service offering a holistic program to reduce these alarming figures.
Danny was diagnosed with diabetes at age 21 and went from being a fit, sports obsessed young man to thinking he wouldn’t live past 30 – resulting in a downward 10 year spiral of sex, drugs and rock n roll. Now aged 41, Danny has turned his life around and is hoping to do the same for diabetics across Australia.
“Living with diabetes is not just about changing your eating habits and exercise regimen. There are so many emotions you experience – the highs, the lows and rock bottom, which over the past 20 years I have successfully hit all three. There needs to be more emotional support for newly diagnosed diabetics, as more and more are also suffering with depression as a result of their diagnosis,” said Danny Kirk.
Danny’s holistic program covers four key areas:
1. Emotional Diabetes Management
2. Stress and Diabetes Management
3. Movement (Exercise) and Diabetes Management
4. Nutrition and Diabetes Management
Danny is a qualified personal trainer and holds certificates in level 3 and level 4 in Fitness and Certified Beat-It Trainer (Diabetes Physical Activity Program). During Diabetes Awareness week (8-14 July), Danny talked with newly diagnosed diabetics at The Intuitive Well in Bondi Junction and The City of Botany Bay Library in Eastgardens.
