She has what it takes to win MasterChef Australia. But Sarah Tiong has found the competition particularly challenging – in more ways than one.
Sarah, 25, has diabetes – a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin. The disease affects about 2.4 million Australians.
The 25-year-old fan favourite admits to TV WEEK that her long battle with diabetes has added extra pressure.
“It’s a huge adjustment for me,” the risk consultant explains of taking up her spot in the competition.
“The fact that I’m stressed all the time, because I’m in this constant pressure situation, means my sugars are generally running high.
“I need to take more insulin and test my blood more than usual.”
A couple of years ago, Sarah was rushed to hospital after suffering pain in her pancreas that she describes as “disabling”.
“I started getting stabbing pain,” she explains.
“One day it just got too much, so I went to the GP and he said, ‘You need to get to the hospital immediately.’ It took a lot of work to get me to a healthy point again.”
Sarah realised something wasn’t quite right with her when she was 11.
“I was quite lethargic at school,” she recalls. “I couldn’t focus a lot and was feeling really ill often.”
Sarah’s mum Christine and older brother Johnathan, 32, also have diabetes and have to manage it.
“I’m a bit of an unusual case, though,” Sarah explains. “I’m extraordinarily insulin-resistant. It’s taken years to get the medication right.
“Growing up and having the passion to cook and wanting to explore different flavours was quite dangerous. I had to be cautious.”
Christine is happy to see her daughter doing what she loves.
Christine says seeing her daughter so ill was heartbreaking.
“It scared me,” the 59-year-old says. “I’d been very casual about the whole thing, because I’m a diabetic and thought, ‘What’s the big problem?’
“For me and Johnathan, we give ourselves a jab and we’re fine, but not Sarah.”
Though she’s done well on the reality show, Sarah admits MasterChef’s “Sweet Week” was difficult for her.
“There were moments I couldn’t taste [dishes],” she reveals. “I either had to refuse, or taste a little bit but not swallow.”
The mother and daughter have always been close.
Fortunately for Sarah, there was always a nurse on set to come to her aid.
“There were also times I had to ask another contestant to help out,” she says.
“There were ways around it, but tasting was a whole different ball game.”
These days, Sarah is required to take insulin injections to replace the insulin her body doesn’t produce.
She has a minimum of four or five shots a day. She also has to watch what she eats.
“I have to make sure the food I’m cooking is healthy, nutritious and balanced,” she explains.
“It can’t be too sweet, and I also try to reduce the carbs I eat.”
Sarah has been lucky in that her mum has always been there for help and support.
“We’re the best of friends,” she says. “We have such a tight-knit, positive relationship – she’s always been the calming factor in my life.”
