'Psychological supports needed for diabetics' says 'Thriveabetes' team

Organisers of the national 'Thriveabetes' diabetic conference have announced that this year's conference will take place in Laois.

The event is due to take place in Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise on October 5.

This is the first time in the conference's history that it will take place outside of Dublin.

Thriveabetes is a conference organised completely by volunteers living with or affected by type 1 diabetes, and seeks to inform, motivate, and inspire diabetics.

Event organiser Laura Cooke has lived with diabetes from the age of nine, which inspired her to become involved.

Pictured: Thriveabetes conference 2023.

The conference was first created by two people living with type 1 diabetes, Gráinne Flynn and Christine Meehan from Clare.

The pair met at a diabetic support group, and noticed the need for a national conference.

"After having my son in 2015, I suffered with post-natal depression, and this on top of my diabetes and motherhood meant that there was an extra job every single day.

"I just hit rock bottom, I needed to talk to someone else who was going through the same thing, and I've been involved with Thriveabetes ever since. There are so many benefits to how it helps people," Ms Cooke said.

"To take the first step is the biggest thing- once you come to one, you'll come to all of the conferences after."

"A lot of people think that you just take insulin injections and you're good to go, but that's not true at all," Ms Cooke explained.

"There's an awful lot of time, effort and calculations used every day- every time you eat or drink, you have to calculate how much you can have, how much insulin you need, how much activity you will do in the time before and after. 

"So many things have to be taken into account," she said.

Ms Cooke established the Laois Diabetes Support Group during the pandemic, and hails it as a huge success.

"We usually meet in the parish centre in Portlaoise, once every month or two," she said.

"We set up a Whatsapp group during Covid, and it was an absolute lifesaver. That group is still going, it has about thirty members. If you ever need a quick answer to a question about your sugars, or if you're stuck for a sensor, you'll get about five different answers with help. It's a really strong group."

"No person should feel isolated or alone while living with this long term condition or any other long term condition," Ms Cooke finished.

Thriveabetes includes an exhibition with many companies that provide diabetes devices to the community. Advanced registration is required to attend.