At 19, Edna ‘Addie’ Miller developed the mumps after beginning work at the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service. After recovering, she began to tire easily, her legs ached and she was always thirsty. When she was told she had type 1 diabetes she says, “It didn’t mean much to me.”

Initially Edna only had one injection of insulin a week from her GP and was on a strict diet – she remembers morning tea meals consisting of dry biscuits – and she still remembers how thick the needles were and how they bruised her, making her cry.

Edna says she had five children and when her family was young, they lived on a dairy farm. She would help milk 140 cows in four bails using eight machines every day and she had to manage the churning of the milk, which was back-breaking.

She said that “many a time, I would chop wood for the fire, then do the housework and get food ready for dinner.”

At this time her blood glucose levels were optimal with a healthy diet and lots of exercise.

Eventually when the family had to leave the farm, Edna took a job in a department store selling make-up and life became more stressful. Her blood glucose levels were higher as she still didn’t know much about how to manage her diabetes.

“It was very hard coping with diabetes, working long hours as it was my only income to pay for my rent, my food and to care for my children.

However my children kept me going and kept me strong to deal with my diabetes for their sake,” Edna says.

Now everything has changed for the better in medicine, she says. “Listen to your doctors, take medication when prescribed, don’t mess around with them and not take them – you are foolish if you do,” Edna says.

Edna says she is most proud of her family, now with 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Her husband John is to thank she says, as he knows how to help treat her low and high blood glucose levels. “Our social life is good, I don’t worry about my diabetes, I just say to myself to do my testing, to be careful with my food intake, to get rest every day, to enjoy life and not waste time worrying about my health,” Edna explains .

In June 2014, Edna received a Kellion Victory Medal from Diabetes Australia – Vic for living a remarkable 70 years with diabetes.

The Kellion Victory Medal was named in honour of the late Mr Claude Kellion AM, a Sydney businessman who established a foundation to promote diabetes research after his son died aged 38 from diabetes complications. More than 1500 people have received Kellion Victory Medals across Australia since 1984.

Diabetes Australia – Vic is the leading charity and peak consumer body working to reduce the impact of diabetes.