The Inaugural Summit for Young Adults with Diabetes (ISYAD) was an absolute success. I will never forget the feeling of being totally surrounded by young people with diabetes. There was such an overwhelming feeling of support and heaps of people with stories to listen to. 
 
The highlight of the day, for me, was the speech given by the Cindy & Kim from Ballarat. They shared their experience of knowing each other as workmates for some time before discovering that they both had diabetes. This formed the foundation for a very positive friendship and I was so happy to hear about this. I think it's just about caring; if we care, we can help each other. 
 
Dr Janine Stennett rocked up with a good attitude to share - 'get positive' and 'set goals'. Her presentation was very well received with lots of questions from the audience afterwards. 
 
Prof. Len Harrison laid out the truth about cure research - so far, all the treatments (islet cell transplants etc) need immune suppression. However, the spotlight is now on a new way of preventing type 1 diabetes, in people who are at risk. It seems that by inhaling small doses of insulin, people who would normally be predicted to develop type 1 might be free of it for many extra years, maybe indefinitely. The trick is in detecting who's susceptible, and Melbourne researchers have been leading the world in this area. 
 
Dr. Peter Colman spun us out with new technology - pumps and glucose meters that work around the clock. I particularly liked the watch which is supposed to measure your sugar level!!! I'm hanging out for something like this it would make life so much easier. Dr Colman talked about the Minimed pump which sounds impressive and is already starting to be used here in Australia (although it costs a fortune, about $7000).  It can't be too far off that continuous glucose sensors will hook up with the pump and whammo we'll be 'wired for life' - as good as a pancreas. 
 
Then it was workshops, and I could have gone on all day chatting and listening and learning. Finally dinner with guest speaker David Parkin (Carlton Coach) attempting to turn us all into heroes with super levels of fitness and commitment. I think he had an important message about "choice" and "decision"; do we really choose what we want in life, or do we let other people influence and control us? You can choose to be healthy despite what other people are doing around you, and no matter how difficult your past has been. Good stuff. 

Big hugs and thank yous for Kate and the team from DAV. Must have taken a lot of effort to make this happen. Well done everyone. 

View the ISYAD 98 programme.