Mulwaree High student Daniel Hopkins, 12, came first at the Mulwaree High Cross Country carnival and also fourth in the District championships. He was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on April 11, and also recently came seventh at the South Coast Regional championships.

Dad Andrew said that even though Daniel has diabetes, it doesn’t stop him from participating in all forms of sport. He also plays soccer for local club MBK.

“We have to test Daniel at least four times a day with his testing pen,” he said.

The pen injects a small sharp needle in to the tip of his fore-finger to get a drop of blood.

He then wipes the blood onto a small paper strip and puts it in a digital reader to get his blood sugar level (BSL). Mr Hopkins said that before Daniel competes, they have to check his levels up to 10 or 15 times, otherwise his levels are all over the place.

“One of the other students who also has diabetes at the cross country carnival collapsed and had to be taken to hospital, because the teachers didn’t know enough about his condition,” he said.

“On the day of competition, I have to get up at 3am to check Daniel’s levels, and then at breakfast time and several times more throughout the day. We regularly have to boost his sugar level before he competes, and when he’s playing soccer, for instance, we test him at the half time break and also at the end of the game. We even have to do it if he has double PE at school that day.”

They first knew something was wrong when Daniel started going to the bathroom a lot more throughout the day. He was also drinking a lot more and becoming fatigued a lot quicker of a night.

The thing that really gets both Andrew and Daniel angry is that there is no specialist diabetes support network for children here in Goulburn.

“I think that’s shocking, and there is only one specialist for adults in Goulburn, Mary Walker, who is run off her feet,” Mr Hopkins said.

“We definitely need more diabetes specialists here and across the Southern Tablelands as a whole.”

There is however a Diabetes Support Group for adults in Goulburn, run by Garry Easterby that meets on the first Thursday of every month at the Soldiers Club.

For more information on the group, call Mr Easterby on 4823 6361, or visit the Diabetes Australia website at www.diabetesaustralia.com.au for tips and information on the condition.