Insulin, kids and the World Cup - Steve Renouf redefines victory

When nine-year-old Steve Renouf started kicking a footy across the fields of his small Central Queensland town, he never imagined that he would one day score the winning try in a World Cup match. He never imagined that he would develop type 1 diabetes. And it never crossed his mind that he would rise to the challenge of caring for three children with diabetes.

Steve was 17 years old when he signed with the Brisbane Broncos in 1987. The young footballer showed much talent, and his future looked promising. However, at age 23, he suddenly felt seriously ill. Steve recalls that he put off going to the doctor, because he was afraid to find out what was wrong with him.

'I had been losing weight quite rapidly, I was always going to the toilet and though it was the start of pre-season, I had no energy, I couldn’t lift anything in the gym,' Steve said.

Finally he went the doctor. When the doctor told him he had type 1 diabetes, Steve was actually relieved.

'It could have been much worse. Diabetes is not all doom and gloom, you can live with it.'

Having type 1 diabetes for most of his professional football career, Steve not only lived with diabetes - he excelled with it. He went on to create his legend which put him in the top 10 tryscorers of all time in the National Rugby League premiership competition. He also made the Queensland State of Origin team in 1991 before progressing to the Australian side in 1992, a year that saw him make the winning try in the World Cup. He signed with English team Wigan in 1999 and was selected in both its 2000-2001 dream teams before he retired in 2002.

To achieve all this, Steve had to adopt a routine of four insulin injections a day, regular blood glucose level checks and testing his blood before each game and at half time.

'I also carried carbohydrates, and things like a Gatorade so I could treat hypos,' he said.

'In all my time of having diabetes I have never had a bad hypo where I’ve needed to be hospitalised, or passed out and needed medical attention… and I pride myself on that.'

While good control was important, he knew perfection at all times would not be possible.

'Most challenging part was probably the travel, because we were travelling around overseas a lot.'

'There were times when my diabetes control wasn’t always perfect, but as long as that didn’t go on for too long, I didn’t give myself a hard time about it.'

Being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes had come as a shock to Steve, as he had not known of any history of the disease in his family. Looking to his future, Steve hoped that his own five children would be spared the disease.

Steve remembers the sad day that he and wife Elissa were told that their second-youngest son, Charlie, had developed type 1 diabetes. He was just three years old.

'It was devastating' Steve said, 'it really was.'

Not long after, the family received another blow. Their son Billy also developed the disease at eight years old – and their son Freddie at two years old.

'That was probably one of my biggest fears, that one of my kids would get it.'

Steve says Elissa does a great job of looking after the kid’s diabetes, as well as caring for their other children Sunita and Sam.

'She’s made herself very knowledgeable on diabetes. The more you know about the disease, the easier it gets,' he said.

Steve’s advice to parents of children with diabetes is to seek good information and get help from a good team of health professionals.

'You will have your ups and downs. But just always remember that the things you do for them now will make it easier for them in the future.'

Steve is now working full-time for the Get Active Queensland Schools Program teaching physical activity skills.

'We visit schools throughout the state to promote physical activity as something that’s fun and healthy for them.'

He says it’s good to educate people about diabetes to help them understand.

'I always made sure my team mates were aware of the disease and what to look out for.'

His advice to anyone with diabetes is simply this: 'Never think that it can stop you from achieving your goals. Just look after it, and you can achieve anything. I looked after it… I knew I had to if I wanted to keep playing football.'