Couple speak about shared diagnosis as data reveals Mount Gambier residents are more likely to have diabetes

Diabetes cost a South Australian an Air Force career, racing licence and his sight but as data reveals people in his community are disproportionately at risk, he’s speaking out.

It’s the fast growing chronic condition in the country and people living in a regional South Austrian city more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to the national average.

Stephen and Alice Saunders are among 7.5 per cent of Mount Gambier residents living with the crippling disease.

This is well above the national average of 4.9 per cent and the state average of 6.6 per cent, according to data from the National Diabetes Services Scheme.

Diabetes SA Health Services Team operation manager Maddie Freeman said many factors put regional Australians at risk.

Diabetes SA Health Services Team operation manager Maddie Freeman. Picture: Supplied

Ms Freeman said long “wait times for GP appointments, as well as allied health services like dietitians” and difficulty maintaining continuity of care contributed to higher rates of diabetes in regional centres like Mount Gambier.

“In regional and remote areas of South Australia, including Mount Gambier, risk factors tend to cluster,” she said.

As the alarming statistics come to light, Mr and Mrs Saunders have revealed the toll its taken on them.

Stephen Saunders is slowly going blind as his diabetes worsens. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Mr Saunders has Type 1 diabetes while his wife has Type 2.

With Type 1 the body attacks the cells in your pancreas, meaning you cannot produce insulin, whereas Type 2 diabetics become resistant to the normal effects of insulin and gradually loses the capacity to produce enough.

Like many diabetics, Mr Saunders also has other chronic illnesses including diabetic retinopathy and dupuytren’s disease.

He will eventually go blind and with the dupuytren’s disease causing his fingers to curl and lose sensitivity, learning to read braille will be almost impossible.

“It’s always in the back of your mind,” he said.

Stephen Saunders next to a bus he converted into a motor home. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“The thing that will kill me is not being able to drive – I’m a car enthusiast.”

Mr Saunders has been heavily involved in hill climb events, however he is no longer able hold a racing licence.

Though he is uncertain about his future, his wife has been a wall of support.

“I haven’t thought about what’s going to happen,” Mr Saunders said.

“I’ll be there,” was Mrs Saunders instant reply.

When he was diagnosed Mr Saunders could no longer service Royal Australian Air Force as an engineer and after a 13 year career moved to the private sector.

Now he’s retired with the loss of site reducing his career options.

“It has been very sad to watch Stephen lose his career that he absolutely adored and loved,” Mrs Saunders said.

Dr Liam Hua Specsavers Mount Gambier. Picture: Supplied

Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness and optometrist Dr Liam Hua said Specsavers data showed SA had the highest rate of people living with diabetes in comparison to other states.

“In regional Australia there’s a greater proportion of patients with diabetes compared to those metro districts,” Dr Hua said.

“One in three of those suffer with eye problems.”

Mr Saunders urged people to get regular check-ups and warned the longer diabetes went untreated the more likely a person was to develop complications like vision loss.

“The thing that worries me is the people that don’t know,” Mr Saunders said.

“They’re undiagnosed — the damage it does can have major side effects.”