Living with a chronic condition like diabetes can make it difficult to engage in and enjoy physical activity.
For 33-year-old Lisa Black, who lives with type 1 diabetes and manages chronic fatigue, exercise isn't as straightforward as going for a jog or a bike ride.
"I try to exercise on the days I'm not working because I can get very tired and even though I reduce my insulin before exercise, I still need to check my blood sugar levels for highs and lows when I exercise so I don't feel comfortable with group sports," Ms Black said.
"Because I may need to stop and rest or eat something to balance my blood sugars, I feel more comfortable doing things with my friends like skating, they'll understand if I need to stop.
"I really enjoyed roller derby, but I can't do it anymore, there's a lot of stops and starts and it's hard on my feet because of my foot injury. I still haven't quite found the right physical activity for me."
Feeling like she might disrupt the game, Ms Black avoids competitive sports and because she can't control how her body might react to different activities she said she can't have the exercise routine she would like to.
This is where Perth's Physical Activity and Diabetes Institute (PPADI) can make a difference in the lives of people with diabetes.
Working in collaboration with Marian Brennan, an accredited exercise physiologist and credentialed diabetes educator, the newly formed PPADI will offer services to support the unique needs of people living with diabetes and associated health issues.
"We take a person-centred, non-judgemental approach with all clients and firmly believe that each person living with diabetes possess their own valuable experience and knowledge of their condition, which is fundamental to the success of their diabetes management," Ms Brennan said.
"Diabetes is a unique journey for each individual, and for that reason, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to physical activity and diabetes management - we get that."
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General manager of Growth and Innovation at Diabetes WA Sophie McGough said while we want to encourage people with diabetes to get moving and active, it's important to get the right advice when beginning an exercise program.
"The launch of this new dedicated diabetes and exercise service is incredibly exciting," she said.
"It means individually tailored, diabetes-specific expertise on physical activity is now within reach for all Western Australians living with diabetes, either in person or via telehealth for those living in remote or regional areas."
For more information about PPADI visit www.perthpadi.com