VITAL STATS
Name? Vanessa Locke
How old are you? I can’t believe it but 31
Where do you live? Adelaide
What do you do?
CEO of the Locke household, Mum to beautiful 8 month old Skyla Jean and freelance writer

Anything to declare? I probably eat more chocolate than someone who happens to have diabetes should.

MORE ABOUT YOU
Where were you born and raised? Born in sunny Queensland, raised in various suburbs of Adelaide
Favourite piece of music? The score to Titanic,makes me cry even in the supermarket
Sources of strength and inspiration? I find infinite strength in knowing that my life and the way I live it is my responsibility; it’s up to me. I am inspired by my ‘always trying new things’ mother my ‘what about this for an idea’ husband and anyone who has the courage to follow their own dream against the odds.
Goals for the next year? A brother or sister for Skyla? Continuing my work with RC and attracting fabulously paying writing gigs.
Greatest weaknesses? Chocolate, Baileys and spending money on more body moisteriser than I could ever need
If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
1. That in the near future, diabetes would be a condition we used to have
2. A cocktail is invented to celebrate the cure of diabetes and contains Baileys and chocolate
3. In lieu of a cure, our insulin pumps would automatically read our BSL and adjust the basal dose accordingly


ME AND THE BIG D
How long ago were you diagnosed with Diabetes? I just clocked up 21 years
What does a hypo feel like? It’s kinda like a dream when you open your mouth but can’t scream, you’re in your own vague, floaty world and feel like your mind and body separate.
Does everyone around you know about your D? It always seems to prise its way into conversations; I don’t mind people knowing
Has Diabetes changed anything about you? I can’t really remember myself without D but I do know it has strengthened my character, made me nutritionally aware and shaped some of my life choices. .
Are you a Person with Diabetes or a Diabetic? Call me whatever you like but don’t discriminate against me or call me late for happy hour.
Public injections - what's the etiquette? I feel that discretion is warranted but we shouldn’t have to retreat to a public toilet for the deed. Do it when it needs doing wherever you are.

Any wisdom to share? Life gets easier if you believe that things happen as they were meant to.