|
From here you can listen
to any tracks that are of interest or
read the transcript. If a track is highlighted
this indicates it contains the subject
you searched for. Clicking [Play On]
will play the entire interview from
that point onwards.
Where an interviewee refers to a particular item, there is sometimes a picture of that item among the thumbnails beneath the interviewee’s main photo and in the Extras section.
|
|
|
To play all interview tracks from the beginning, please click the [Play All] button here. |
| 01 Father went to Argentina as railway engineer, 1912. Mother went to marry him, 1924. I was born 1926. British didn’t mix with Argentinians. | |
|
| 02 Diagnosed England, 1931, while father on leave. Next leave, 1936, in Stockport Infirmary. In Argentina, food weighed in ounces. Argentinian food good. Father took diet from RD Lawrence’s books. Aged 9ish, injected self. Urine testing. | |
|
| 03 Private Argentinian doctor. Father hadn’t high income. Bought insulin from chemist. | |
|
| 04 Doctor advised adjusting insulin to exercise. Excused sports. Carried sugar. Adjusted insulin when ate more. Urine testing inaccurate. Diabetes didn’t prevent active holidays… | |
|
| 05 At school, didn’t tell re diabetes. Ate same as others. Revisited, 1996… | |
|
| 06 51 years after last visit. Left school 1 year after school certificate. Had to earn after father died – office work. No wartime food shortages. Repatriated with mother & sister, 1945. Lived with grandparents. Started doing up houses. | |
|
| 07 Joined family business - cable clips. Surprised by post-war shortages. Generous diabetic rations. GP disagreed with Argentinian regime… | |
|
08 …Argentinians suggested food intake for different conditions. English hospitals don’t understand diet. English GP set fixed insulin dosage.
Slight hypos - mother recognised signs until died, 1980 – fewer warnings now. | |
|
09 Gained nothing from diabetic clinic or club. Never discussed diabetes. Injection before meal – English don’t do this. I varied number of injections to blood sugar – didn’t consult. Never unconscious.
Had stopped weighing by 1936. | |
|
10 Diabetes didn’t affect career. Family firm suited diabetes.
Foreign holidays – subdivided injections. Mother bought insulin before NHS. | |
|
11 Little medical contact before 1969 – Moved to Bollington & consulted regularly for blood pressure etc.
Active: gardening, house renovation, scooter riding, singing & dancing. | |
|
12 Diabetes hasn’t prevented anything, but always in mind. Went on choir trips. No-one knew I had diabetes.
After 1969, attended clinic to check blood pressure, thyroid, cholesterol. Angina diagnosed, 1972. No pain with angina, heart attack or stroke. | |
|
13 Diabetic clinic at GP’s – preferred to hospital. GP knows I dislike medication.
Still active after angina, renovating houses. Moved house with mother & sister several times & renovated. I painted, sister framed, displayed in present house. | |
|
14 Sister married 1979. Still exhibit here & can sing without neighbours hearing!
Prostate, heart deterioration, cataracts. Blood pressure drugs cause sleepiness. No feet problems. | |
|
| 15 55 visits to doctors in 1 year – no diabetes connection. Private treatment – longer talks. In NHS, doctors talk among themselves, see different people. NHS treatment after heart attack & stroke, 2002. | |
|
| 16 I don’t think I had stroke. In NHS hospital 3 ½ months – attentive, but disagreed re control & diet. Diabetic nurse thought I couldn’t cope alone, but I have. Carer calls in daily. | |
|
| 17 Breakfast, pills, rest – tired. Walking difficult. Hope to get car that will take wheelchair. | |
|
| 18 Get own lunch. Private physio twice weekly, gardener, cleaner. Irritating limitations since stroke 2 years ago. | |
|
| 19 Weekly Scrabble game. Read magazines. Mustn’t rely on sister for help – own house to run. Lived alone since 1980. No bad hypos. Sugar in every room. | |
|
| 20 Hope for better walking & to drive. Diabetes hasn’t stopped musical activities. Don’t drink. Advice: be flexible, adjust food or insulin for exercise. I’ve done DAFNE for 60 years! Can’t be regimented when doing operas. | |
|
| 21 Hobbies good. Done 1,600 paintings & sold most. Garden & house conversion. | |
|
|
-t.jpg)
