Support for
children with
Type 1 Diabetes
The Diabetes Clinic at Tauranga Hospital has
ten new sets of digital weigh scales thanks to
Diabetes Help Tauranga. The scales will be used
to help families with children newly diagnosed
with Type 1 Diabetes to more easily calculate
how much carbohydrate is in each meal.
Apart from deciding 'what we want to eat' most of us eat whatever
food is available. Our bodies manage the complex job of turning
carbohydrate food into fuel, with the help of insulin. But for people
with Type 1 Diabetes, the scenario is very different as every meal
containing carbohydrate needs a corresponding injection of insulin
to make sure their sugar levels do not go too high or too low.
Type 1 Diabetes, as opposed to Type 2 Diabetes, is a serious
and potentially life threatening auto-immune condition. Type 1
is generally diagnosed in children or young adults although an
increasing number of older adults are also being diagnosed. The
cause of Type 1 Diabetes is not currently known, and the disease
is generally managed by testing blood sugar levels 8-10 times
daily and giving insulin by injection or by an insulin pump.
Sue Dean, Dietitian Diabetes Service Tauranga Hospital receives a set of new
scales from Alison Wilson, Board Member Diabetes Help Tauranga.
Diabetes Help Tauranga, a registered charity, has been supporting
people with diabetes in the Western Bay of Plenty for more than
25 years. For free confidential support and advice contact
07 571 3422.
Midwives, Mothers and Families: Partners for Life
A double celebration for
the Whakatāne Hospital
Midwifery team recently,
as the team celebrated
International Midwives Day
on 5 May.
This year’s theme focused on the
partnership between midwives, women
and their families. The team also
welcomed Sue Finch who returns to
Whakatāne Hospital after seven years
at Lakes DHB, taking on the role of
Clinical Midwifery Manager.
Sue started her career at the hospital
as a graduate Midwife; she then spent
many years working as a Lead Maternity
Carer (LMC) in the Eastern Bay.
Sue lives in Whakatāne and is looking
forward to working with the Midwifery
team focused on healthy outcomes for
women and their babies. And of course
she’s looking forward to a short trip to
work and not having to negotiate black
ice in the Rotomas in winter.
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Sue Finch (centre) and Margret Norris, Midwife Leader (standing left) marking International Midwives Day with
Whakatāne midwives.