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| 01 Born 1971, Wirral. Father in bank, then chemical industry. Mum market researcher. Diagnosed summer before starting secondary school. | |
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| 02 Lost weight. GP did urine test. Admitted to hospital for 2 weeks. Injected orange. Lots of visitors. No bad memories. Sudden eyesight improvement. Insulin mixture twice daily... | |
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| 03 …until 2003. (Told years ago re regime with more injections, but not interested.) Tested urine with strips & kept record – less so as got older. Didn’t think “Why me?” until older. | |
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| 04 Still have “traffic light” diet book. Mum’s friend gave One Cal drinks. Adapted easily. Exercise always important. No family history, but… | |
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05 …relatives got it in old age, Dad has it, brother just diagnosed – overweight. Mum worried she breastfed me less than brothers.
Convent school - people inquisitive - I wasn’t bothered. They noticed my extra biscuits.. | |
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| 06 No other diabetics. Friends got used to it. Took sandwiches. Not strict re sweets – blood sugars high. Doctor at Arrowe Park Hospital thought urine tests OK up to about 10. | |
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| 07 Attended clinic 3-monthly, then 6-monthly, then yearly. Did HND, then degree, 1990-5. Had morning lie-ins, due to night security job & high blood sugars - rarely tested urine or blood as student. | |
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| 08 Mum later bought blood test kit. Usually healthy, but ill after starting polytechnic – penicillin allergy. Rarely took drugs. Work on students’ union bar security prevented excessive drinking – never forgot diabetes. | |
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| 09 At school, weekend job in shop – bought biscuits from shop opposite. Urine samples high. | |
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10 At university rarely checked urine. Didn’t keep to diet. Some doctors criticised, others discussed – encouraged honesty. Knew first clinic nurse well. Now know more than local surgery nurse.
Friends checked on me… | |
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| 11 …when out clubbing. Took Dextrose. Mild hypos in night. Glandular fever while on university placement. | |
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| 12 After university, stayed in Manchester. Worked M & S, then marketing for IT company, 1995-2001. Married 1997. Business development manager for another company 2001-05. Honest re diabetes. Hypos rare until recently… | |
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| 13 … now check blood more – because kit available & because driving. Put on weight as student – lost during final year. Maintain weight & HbA1c - check sugars obsessively. Lower sugars mean more hypos… | |
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| 14 Don’t recognise symptoms as formerly – husband does – we argue. Hypo while driving - crashed, 2003. Colleagues supportive; I was shocked. | |
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| 15 After accident, started DAFNE-type regime, 4 injections daily. No training course. NovoRapid & Lantus. Regime mentioned… | |
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| 16 …said I was ready to try it. Nurse explained, gave mobile number. No training course. My old regime more flexible than most. Now even more flexible, but perhaps should be stricter. | |
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| 17 Family & friends supportive – tell me to eat. I argue. Husband & Mum have dealt with hypos. | |
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18 We’d like children – decision unaffected by diabetes.
Without diabetes, might have volunteered after tsunami. Without diabetes, local anaesthetic for minor operations – not admission. | |
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19 Don’t think re future, don’t let diabetes rule. Might consider transplant.
Rebel if consultants tell me off, but most are good. Nurse helpful in years after diagnosis.
Went to see dietician after 20 year gap… | |
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20 …said things I’d thought healthy aren’t. Friends follow GI diet – like my original diet. New dietician gave book – unread.
Nurses demonstrate e.g. new pen, but I value interaction with consultants most.
Offered to advise colleague’s son. | |
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21 Advice: test more than I did as student; diabetes needn’t prevent anything; find doctor or nurse to talk to.
Lucky to be alive because of insulin.
Grateful for support. | |
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, 1983, just after diagnosis-t.jpg "Lisa (centre), 1983, just after diagnosis")
