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01 Father mechanic, mother housewife. Village. Diabetes caused by scarlet fever & accident? Brother later diagnosed. No bother at school – ignorance re diabetes.
Diagnosis: GP recognised smell. East Sussex Hospital, Hastings. Thrift club paid some medical care. Insulin from hospital monthly. | |
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| 02 In hospital, ate cheese. No blood tests. Urine tests. Mother did injections. Father made urine testing kit. Insulin twice daily. Hospitals better then. Moved from East Sussex to Bexhill cottage hospital… | |
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| 03 …used more injection sites. R.D. Lawrence diet – weighed carbohydrate & protein. Abandoned diet at 16 - used own assessment. Still weigh carbohydrate. Father grew vegetables. Couldn’t afford fruit, but kept well. | |
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| 04 Bought sweets – coma – hospital. Mother warned people not to give sweets. Walked to school. Never ill at school. Excused PE. Started own injections aged 14… | |
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05 …but not often. Parents did most. Injected self on way to Malta with husband.
Left school at 14. Worked in grocers during war. Family benefited from my extra rations. Married aged 20. | |
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06 Husband Royal Marine Commando. 3 years in Malta. He learned re hypos & injections & has done injections ever since.
Doctor said diabetics shouldn’t have children. I’ve had 4.
Returned from Malta to Kent. | |
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| 07 3rd child due - GP wouldn’t give glucose - coma. Hospital gave glucose, then son born. GPs didn’t understand diabetes. Children born ‘45, ‘48, ‘50, ‘52. Not big babies. 3 normal births. 4th caesarian, Guy’s Hospital. | |
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| 08 When son born, given too much insulin – coma in labour. Most hospitals good, but this consultant not. GPs don’t understand diabetes, except present one. | |
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09 Husband knew better than doctors re insulin & glucose.
Had TB when son born, 1952. Admitted to sanatorium. | |
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| 10 Husband disagreed with treatment - took me home. Part of lung removed. Children in different care homes. Husband worked in BP refinery & visited children & me for 2 years. | |
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| 11 Years to recover. Frequent hypos. No warnings. Husband had to fight me to give glucose. Children & neighbours well-informed. Now have warnings back. | |
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| 12 I’ve medals for diabetes – husband deserves them. Dr. Watson at King’s College Hospital said “triangle” of diabetes, pernicious anaemia and underactive thyroid would prevent complications – true. Recent high blood pressure. | |
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| 13 Current GP good. I don’t go to hospital. GP who diagnosed good. Most GPs useless. Nurses used to be ignorant. | |
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14 Liable to go hypo or hyper, but hasn’t affected life – good husband & children. 2 children diabetic.
Diabetes stopped me becoming nurse. | |
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15 GP gave 2 insulins didn’t mix. Kings College Hospital staff disgusted – they gave Actrapid & Insulatard. Can’t absorb Lantus.
At King’s smoked in waiting room. Smoked since 14. | |
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16 Long waits in local hospitals. Chiropodist at local hospital. Feet good.
Joslin medal, 1980 – doctor who diagnosed wrote letter. Diabetes UK sent 50 year medal again for 60 years – no 60-year medal made! | |
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| 17 Advice: can’t escape diabetes. Weigh food. Don’t agree you can eat anything. Daughter-in-law takes insulin before evening meal… | |
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18 …& gets bad hypos - eats sweet things. Wrong advice given to diabetics on insulin.
Advice to medics – care over food. Medics laughed at my experience. Dieticians say I know best – they should learn. | |
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| 19 New equipment makes travel easier. Travelled to Australia. | |
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| 20 Routine keeps me going – exact amounts at exact times. Never been great walker. Enjoy life in Morecambe. | |
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