A leading light in health who's "touched the lives of so many" clients across western NSW has received a prestigious award, capping off her long career.
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Lesley Wilcox's dedication to diabetes education often saw her going above and beyond.
This month the Marathon Health employee from Dubbo was named Diabetes Educator of the Year by the Australian Diabetes Educators Association.
It was a fitting end to a decades-long career, coming in Ms Wilcox's last week of work before retirement.
In the late 1980s the award recipient started assisting Jocelyn Jacques, an early diabetes educator, to provide children's diabetes outreach clinics in Dubbo.
They gave clinical support to young people with the complex condition, and their families, closer to home.
Ms Wilcox was the first clinical nurse consultant in NSW for patient education, and she said being involved in diabetes education seemed a "natural progression".
"The people who have inspired me to continue in the field of diabetes education have been the wonderful clients with diabetes and their families I have met along the way," she said.
"I feel strongly about how the progress in diabetes management has become more complex with the introduction of more medications and tools to support self-care.
"I believe in an overall client quality of life.
"I also look forward to having more resources being made available to looking at the effects of hypoglycaemia in individuals with Type 2 diabetes, especially in the area of flash glucose monitoring."
The health professional paid tribute to her family.
I would be lost without my husband Rob and girls Keira and Morgan, who have put up with long work hours and interruptions to shopping from aisle consultation.
- Diabetes Educator of the Year Lesley Wilcox
"I would be lost without my husband Rob and girls Keira and Morgan, who have put up with long work hours and interruptions to shopping from aisle consultation," Ms Wilcox said.
Marathon Health health and wellbeing services manager Shellie Burgess said the award was well-deserved recognition.
"She's had a positive impact on the wellbeing of so many people in the region and we are extremely sad to see her go," Ms Burgess said.
"A long-time advocate of diabetes prevention, understanding and education, Lesley has touched the lives of so many."
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