|
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 Born Plymouth 1919. Father in Navy. Lived with grandparents. Grandfather a doctor. Pneumonia. Bronchitis. Too ill to attend school. Diagnosed aged 8 - one of 1st on insulin. | |
|
02 Private nursing home. Urine testing. Parents did injections. Glass syringes, steel needles, weighed food.
Spoilt child, because ill. | |
|
03 In bed each winter, & for childhood illnesses. No other children, no exercise until older. Parents told I wouldn’t live till 14.
At 14 health improved. Did own injections from 16. Didn’t want to attend school. | |
|
04 Doctor visited weekly. Took blood from vein.
Some parents thought diabetes catching.
Cousin died of diabetes. People thought diabetics only elderly.
Enjoyed wireless, walks, piano. | |
|
05 No cinema, to avoid germs.
In war, became Red Cross nurse. Should have been a boy – to be a doctor. | |
|
| 06 Had moved to Manchester when father retired. (Mother’s parents in Plymouth. Father’s father a Manchester doctor.) Met husband when driving for Royal Ordnance. | |
|
07 Married at 24. Husband not worried by diabetes: I was well. Told couldn’t have children. Had daughter 1945. Hospitals happier, nurses had more time.
(Parents visited nursing home freely.) | |
|
| 08 Gave up amateur dramatics - husband disapproved. Later, small part on TV. Bred poodles. Husband had shop in Salford until died, 1972. | |
|
| 09 Always had good control. Adjust insulin to food – not at first, but last 30 years. Doctor said I knew more than him. | |
|
10 When tablets came out, tried them – didn’t work.
Do blood test at bed-time to avoid mini-stroke. 24-hour insulin didn’t work. Always 2 injections daily.
Adjust insulin to sweet food. | |
|
11 Had stroke 6 years ago after stress of moving here. No foot problems. Only need glasses for reading.
Injections half hour before breakfast & evening meal. | |
|
| 12 I watch TV, shop, visit friends, lunch with wine, microwave meals, fetch pension, club, coffee morning, walk. Don’t see GP often – never re diabetes. No hypos, because test blood. | |
|
| 13 Might have been career girl. Always had bad chest. (Won Pears competition, aged 3.) Never smoked. Wine twice daily. | |
|
| 14 Friendly village. I do laundry, housework, microwave. Advice: watch diet, adjust insulin. Disappointed when tablets didn’t work - must inject insulin or die. Diabetes hasn’t restricted me. Needles painless. | |
|
| 15 Enjoyed travel. Gave up - angina. When out, inject through tights. | |
|
| 16 Never attended clinic since doctor said I knew more. Go to GP, but not for diabetes since moving here 8 years ago. Sad to move to retirement flat, but villagers friendly. | |
|
| 17 Happiest when 1st married. (Wartime rationing.) Also after daughter born – never had hypos. Hypos c.20 years ago. Carry glucose. Used to carry sugar. | |
|
| 18 Delivered meals on wheels. Chairman of Townswomen’s Guild. When speaker didn’t come, I did monologue – here’s an example! | |
|
|
