Kim Martin with his daughter, Athalie Martin, outside Government House.
On July 16, 2025, Diabetes WA was honoured to present 23 West Australians with a Kellion Victory Medal. This annual award recognises the significant achievement of living with diabetes for more than 50 years. Taking place in the ballroom at Government House, it was an opportunity to meet people living with diabetes and their families, hear their stories and celebrate their many achievements.
One Kellion Medallist, Kim Martin, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 70 years, has kindly allowed us to share his story here.
“I was born in Albany in 1950, and after moving to Perth I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of five, shortly after contracting mumps. My mum noticed the signs and took me to our GP, Dr Knight, who referred me to Princess Margaret Hospital. That began my lifelong journey.
Treatment in the 1950s was a world away from today. I started with one daily injection using a glass syringe, filled by my father. Since then, I’ve lived through every stage of diabetes management – syringes, pens, testing for blood glucose in tubes, early insulin pumps and now pumps with continuous glucose monitoring.
I had a full and active childhood. My parents never held me back. I played every sport I could, and apart from the odd hypo – including one when I accidently punched my GP, Dr Dador – I managed fairly well.
I studied at Rosalie Primary School and Hollywood High School, later graduating in mechanical engineering from Curtin University. I worked in both the public and private sectors, and travelled extensively through Europe, Africa and North America – amazingly with my porcine insulin packed under a truck seat for six months in Africa!
The worst hypo I ever had was in 2016 in Tenerife, after a long flight. I misjudged a correction dose and passed out. Thankfully, my wife Andrea knew exactly what to do and took care of me – surrounded, ironically, by a group of nurses and even a cardiologist who didn’t quite know how to help.
So, I want to thank Andrea, who I’ve been married to for 45 years, my late parents, my daughters, and all the medical professionals who’ve helped me over the years.
Diabetes hasn’t stopped me from living a full life – and with support, it doesn’t have to stop anyone else either.”
The Kellion Victory Medals are administered by Diabetes Australia – find out more about applying for a medal here.
