Community members, family, mental health, social prescribing

Maxine McMahon is one of Australia’s long living Type One Diabetics – how she manages her health at age 86

FIVE QUESTIONS is where we ask members of the community to talk about how they stay HEALTHY. Maxine McMahon, who lives in the city CBD, is one of Australia’s longest living ‘Type One’ diabetics. She was diagnosed with diabetes at 22 and is now at 86. She shared this:

19 January 2024
5 Questions

1. What did you eat yesterday?

I had oats for breakfast, then Chinese noodles, chicken and vegetables for lunch and then my granddaughter who is a chef and lives with me, left me meat balls and vegetables for dinner and yoghurt for dessert. She’s an exceptional chef and worked in England for 13 years.

2. What exercise did you do yesterday?

I walked a lot as I always do.

3. When did you last see a primary health professional?

I often see the doctor because of my diabetes. I listen to the doctor and do exactly what they tell me I should do to stay healthy. I think that’s why I’m here. Occasionally I take too much insulin and have a hypo, or not enough insulin, either of which can result with me going to hospital – mostly St Vincents in Darlinghurst. But generally I if I have too much insulin, causing a hypo, I have a sweet drink and I feel fine.

4. What do you do to improve your mental health?

I like to keep a routine. I go to mass (St Mary’s Cathedral) every day, my daughter calls me at 6pm every day to check on me, I live with my granddaughter and I enjoy walking. Most of my friends have already passed away but I still have my sister in Newcastle. I keep my husband, Newton’s ashes with me. We met in Kindertgarden in St Mary’s and I married him when I was 18 and had two children. Lucky I only wanted two children because I was diagnosed with cancer when the children were young so I didn’t have more. We had a wonderful life together and we have six grandchildren. We travelled around the world. At first we were as poor as church mice. But Newton started selling Aston Martin’s and Rolls Royce’s and thing turned out very well for us.

5. What are your health goals for the next month?

I want to stay healthy and as independent as possible.

Read previous ‘FIVE QUESTIONS’ here