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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. | |
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02 Private nursing home. Urine testing. Parents did injections. Glass syringes, steel needles, weighed food. Spoilt child, because ill. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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05 No cinema, to avoid germs. In war, became Red Cross nurse. Should have been a boy – to be a doctor. | |
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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. | |
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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.) | |
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08 Gave up amateur dramatics - husband disapproved. Later, small part on TV. Bred poodles. Husband had shop in Salford until died, 1972. | |
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09 Always had good control. Adjust insulin to food – not at first, but last 30 years. Doctor said I knew more than him. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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13 Might have been career girl. Always had bad chest. (Won Pears competition, aged 3.) Never smoked. Wine twice daily. | |
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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. | |
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15 Enjoyed travel. Gave up - angina. When out, inject through tights. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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18 Delivered meals on wheels. Chairman of Townswomen’s Guild. When speaker didn’t come, I did monologue – here’s an example! | |
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