The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

She’s been a diabetic for 21 years, but that hasn’t stopped Petra Haven from enjoying life to the fullest.

Speaking to Tribune Health for National Diabetes Month, the brand manager said she doesn’t let her disease control her. She lives her life as “normal” as possible with the understanding that there are some limits.

“I eat what I want, in moderation. I make sure I eat a balanced diet. I do everything I want. I exercise several times a week. I travel a lot and I have fun. There are some days where I am weak and/or tired, so on those days I take it easy,” she said.

Petra owns and manages the Chameleon Management Group, the brand management company which is responsible for the music artist Julien Believe and a few others. She is also the executive director for the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission. The former athlete, dancer, Junkanooer, lover of movies, mommy to her four-legged son Bruno, fan of fast cars, an avid shooter and tea drinker, said above all she would describe herself as “sunshine on a cloudy day”.

“I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes and it has had its ups and downs; pretty similar to riding a roller coaster. I started out taking four shots a day, visiting the doctor every three months. It became a routine for me, but I didn’t really like visiting the doctor so much, to get probed and poked and asked a billion questions. Eventually I moved from taking four shots with a needle to three shots with an insulin pen. The pen made it easier and more discreet to take my medication,” she said.

Petra said meeting Nurse Anita Cates at the Family Medicine Centre really changed the way she had been managing her diabetes and things have become much easier since then.

“I was a candidate for the insulin pump and she got me sorted and it’s been great ever since. My diabetes has been managed a lot better and I’m definitely happier now.”

What keeps her motivated is enjoying every moment of life. After all, she said, she has things to do, people to meet and places to go; she cannot let diabetes stop her.

“A lot of my colleagues, friends and family know that I have diabetes. I don’t hide the fact that I have diabetes. Because I’ve had diabetes for so long I’ve learned a lot along the way and I speak to anyone who will listen, particularly those recently diagnosed or younger persons,” she said.

Forming a good relationship with her doctor and healthcare team has also been key to making Petra’s life easier.

“I make sure I’ve built a good relationship with Family Medicine Centre and their team to ensure I can lend a hand where and whenever possible. I’m still learning because there is always something new happening or coming out regarding diabetes. I implore all Bahamians to build a good relationship with their health practitioners and ask questions when you don’t understand something,” she said.

She also encourages Bahamians to exercise daily, eat a balanced diet and always go for a check-up when they can.

At the upcoming ACE Diabetes Health Expo, to be held at the Baha Mar Convention Centre on November 30m Petra said she is looking forward to learning about any new procedures or new gadgets available for diabetes management. She is also eager to assist young diabetes patients with their journeys.

“The world of health is forever changing and it’s important to stay up-to-date with new features to be able to manage my diabetes better and with as much normalcy as I can. Another important part is meeting younger persons with diabetes so that I am able to share my experiences and knowledge with them. Having someone walk you through this, whether hand-in-hand or by sharing tidbits, helps emotionally and mentally,” she said.