A MAN has told how he was given a second chance at life after a double transplant cured him of diabetes.
Barry Smith discovered his kidneys were failing at a routine check-up and endured gruelling dialysis sessions three times a week.
The dad-of-two, who has lived with Type 1 diabetes since the age of 11, was given a kidney and a pancreas, meaning that he no longer has to inject insulin or worry about monitoring his blood sugar levels round the clock.
Barry, 41, said: “Doctors confirmed my kidney function had dropped to around 9% and I knew it was inevitable that I’d need a transplant at some point as both organs were failing.
“The pros of having a pancreas transplant at the same time outweighed the risks as I knew getting one would mean my diabetes, which I had lived with for so long, would be gone."
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that originates when cells that make insulin are destroyed by the immune system. The condition is managed by monitoring blood glucose levels and daily injections or an insulin pump.
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He added: “It’s not just my life that’s changed since the operation, it’s the lives of everyone around me. I’ve been given a new start and I realise I got really lucky.
"I could have lost my life, but instead I was given a second chance.”
After his surgery, Barry, from Newarthill in North Lanarkshire, took up golf to help him stay fit and active.
After meeting a fellow golf enthusiast on Facebook, he set himself the challenge of playing every course in Scotland and to mark World Kidney Day, the Royal Mail deputy manager wants to raise vital funds for Kidney Research UK.
Barry, whose golf handicap is now an impressive 6.9, explained: "I’ve flirted with golf on and off my whole life but I put my clubs away when I was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 32 as I didn’t have the energy to play anymore.
"But after my double transplant, I was looking for a way to keep fit. I bought an exercise bike, but it very quickly just became something for me to hang my clothes on. Then my son Scott, who was 21 at the time, bought a set of golf clubs and pushed me to get back into it.
“My family said I was mad when I set this challenge, but they’re very supportive.
“There are 580 courses and I’ve played 214 for far, so I’ve only got 366 to go!”
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Barry’s says he hopes to make other people realise the importance of looking after their health through his endeavour.
He added: “It’s not just about golf, it’s about human connection.
“You walk miles around a golf course but you don’t think of it as exercise. It's about trying to inspire people to do whatever is needed to help them manage their condition.
“I hope that when people see me walking around a golf course in my Kidney Research UK t-shirt, they might feel inspired to contribute to the charity or to come over and chat. I've been given a new lease of life since my transplant, and I want others to have that same sense of wellbeing."
As well as supporting the charity’s fundraising, Barry is keen that people take the opportunity to sign up for Kidney Research UK’s free Kidney Kit, which is filled with recipes and accessible exercises tailored to patients’ needs.
Brogan Ritchie, community fundraising manager at Kidney Research UK, said: “We love Barry’s positive, can-do attitude – his challenge is inspiring to us all. Being a kidney patient is tough and sometimes scary, but our funded research has shown the difference exercise can make to your physical and mental health, whether you are playing 580 golf courses or following a simple tailored workout. Our Kidney Kit is just one way people can benefit from the scientific work we fund every year.”
To donate, visit https://donate.givetap.co.uk/f/kidney-research-uk/fundraise-for-us/golfing-memories
To sign up for a free Kidney Kit, visit: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/kidney-kit
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