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| 01 Born 1938 & brought up Watford area. Father worked for brewery. Started school at 3 because advanced in reading & writing. | |
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| 02 Life normal until diabetes aged 9. GP, then hospital in St. Albans. Medical notes said diagnosis ’46, but discovered was ’47, from letter found years later. | |
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| 03 In hospital 3 weeks. Kept in bed: insulin dosage based on immobility, so had to be adjusted when left hospital. | |
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| 04 Nurse taught injections. Soluble insulin twice daily. Urine testing with Benedict’s solution. Food measure in carbohydrate units. (Later, calories & exchanges.) Weighed food, but later mother could judge without weighing. | |
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| 05 No deliberate hypo, but warnings of symptoms. Glucose water. At school came home for lunch. Sugar before sport. Teachers sympathetic. No problems with pupils | |
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| 06 Mother tested urine 3 times daily, kept strict diet, joined Diabetic Association, read books. No clinic in St Albans. GP suggested more insulin. Mother not happy: took me to UCH, London. In for 2 weeks. Re-stabilised on new insulin Globulin plus soluble. | |
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07 UCH seemed more expert than St. Alban’s.
Before NHS founded in ’48, paid GP – hardship for family.
Strict regime seemed best at time.
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08 Adjust food intake from experience.
Went to St Albans grammar. Free bus pass. Took sandwiches. Not kept late for misbehaviour. Didn’t do energetic sports. | |
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09 Award for boy who’d progressed despite setbacks. GP advised no rugby. Didn’t mind different treatment.
Didn’t smoke or drink. | |
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10 Stayed off school too much.
Left before 6th form. Job as junior accounts clerk in local government. | |
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| 11 5 years in Rickmansworth Urban District Council. Diabetes well controlled. Did cycle speedway. Best not to tell people re diabetes. Never had serious hypo. | |
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12 Only unconscious 4 times. Dislike term ‘hypo’ – means different things.
Few colleagues knew.
Went to Watford diabetic clinic. Didn’t see GP for about 30 years. Good control. | |
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| 13 6 years with Elstree local authority finance. Cycled to work . Table tennis. Stopped cycling ’65 when moved job. Careful with diet. Worked Harrow then Watford. Married ’68. | |
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| 14 Wife not bothered by diabetes. When first knew her, in ’66, re-stabilised, 2 weeks at Watford Hospital. Soluble & PZI. Not kept in bed! Still measured calories, but less strict. | |
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| 15 Became auditor at Univ. College, London in ’69 for 4 years. 1st child born ’72. Became finance officer at Westminster Medical School ’73. Saw consultants there. Problems with gums. | |
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16 All teeth out in my mid 30s – a shock. Only bad thing that has happened.
Left London ’80.
Don’t need to test sugar levels: know what they are. | |
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17 Doctors say “you know more than I do.” Diabetes affects people differently. I never adjust diet. Rarely adjust insulin. Take glucose tablets for table tennis. Example of Steve Redgrave.
Better to get diabetes young because body adapts. | |
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18 Moved to Oxford. Radcliffe. Changed to Velosulin & Insulatard. Less interest in diet at hospital.
7 years ago, started hypos. | |
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| 19 My records showed increase in Insulatard. Problem just being sorted now. Changed insulins. Can become resistant to insulins & injection sites. | |
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| 20 After 1980, more diabetics & more clinic sessions. Disadvantage - different doctor every time. Specialist nurses good. | |
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| 21 Diabetes controlled, but other problems after age 60 – stomach, prostate, warts, blood pressure, eye problems unrelated to diabetes. Feet fine. | |
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22 Just changed to Lanthus & NovoRapid.
Retired. | |
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| 23 Adjusting to new insulins in daily life. | |
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24 More on adjusting to new insulins.
Major improvements – adjusting diet & insulin; medical staff expect you to cope without supervision. | |
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25 Patient is the expert. Medics have better attitude. Shorter waiting times.
Recent disagreement with doctor. | |
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26 I try to look after myself, but not mention diabetes. Diabetes a bit restrictive, but I’ve done what I want.
Advice – understand; follow advice; do what you want. | |
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