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| 01 Dad factory-worker. Parents worked for RRE, Malvern. I went to same schools as my children in Malvern. Left at nearly 15. Worked in one of 1st supermarkets. | |
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| 02 Aged 15, met husband. Did various jobs. Married at 17. Had son then daughter. During 2nd pregnancy sugar noted. Thought might go away, but still there 12 months later. | |
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| 03 Thirsty. Lost weight. GP called – surprised I hadn’t gone into coma. | |
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| 04 Admitted Ronkswood Hospital. Reluctant to inject, self-pity - only 21. Husband said selfish leaving family, so I injected. | |
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| 05 Glass syringes cracked when boiled. Huge painful needles. Still have scars from mistakes. Tested urine with strips. When 1st started doing blood tests, awful spring-loaded equipment. | |
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| 06 In hospital 5 weeks. Thought I’d learnt a lot, but learnt far more since – knowing own body. Hard to find time for diabetes with small children. | |
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| 07 Hospital dietician was diabetic. Advised no special diabetic foods. Didn’t weigh food, but counted grams & still do. Could tell by looking. Some foods regarded as “free”. Still got 1969 diet book. | |
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| 08 Medical staff said diet important. I don’t alter insulin amount except when ill. | |
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| 09 Did paid jobs in day, husband worked nights, shared childcare. Forgot to eat snacks. Twice forgot injections. | |
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| 10 Our parents worked, couldn’t afford child-minder: non-stop childcare, paid work, cooking & housework. Had 1st hypo cleaning floor… | |
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11 …had sugary tea.
Husband good. We grew up with children - lucky to be with them. Eventually bought TV. | |
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| 12 Husband calm re diabetes. Parents shocked – no family history. Niece & brother diagnosed since. Hospital said cause could be shock – hearing of grandmother’s death? | |
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| 13 Learnt energetic activity caused hypos. Worked in busy kitchen: took sugar cubes. Never unconscious. Better warnings on animal than human insulin. | |
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14 If blood tests not good, called back to hospital in 3 months; if good, only 6 months. Doctors good. Sometimes ticked me off – said test more often – too busy.
Test good now.
Nurses weren’t specialists: just did urine test & weighing. | |
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| 15 Aged 44, leg & back pains. Fell at work. Doctor said give up gym & stay off work. Returned to work. Fell again. Returned to GP… | |
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| 16 Stopped work aged 44. Devastated & lonely. Hadn’t let diabetes stop anything – had learnt to swim & drive – so determined not to let osteoarthritis stop me. Did voluntary work until had to stop driving. | |
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| 17 Helped at granddaughter’s school. Have lots of health problems – diabetes doesn’t mix well with them. Lucky no diabetic complications except numbness in feet. | |
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| 18 2 or 3 years ago, changed to Mixtard pen from glass syringe – nurse amazed I was still using it. | |
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19 Could kick myself for not using pen before – thought it wouldn’t work with mixture.
Only see diabetic doctors yearly. See GP more… | |
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20 …helpful. Go for things other than diabetes.
No bad medical experiences.
Love grandchildren, but life boring.
When children small they thought all grownups inject. Grandchildren take no notice. | |
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| 21 Diabetes hasn’t made difference. Other problems came later in life. Family keeps me going. Message: lead normal life. Medical help limited: control diabetes yourself. | |
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