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| 01 London boy – evacuated during war. Father a butcher in Middx. I became butcher’s boy at 12. Left school at 15. 5-year apprenticeship, Meat Trades Council. Began National Service, 1958 – catering. Back to butchering. | |
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02 Father got diabetes, aged 72: no other family history. Was athletic – represented county in running & football. Only later put on weight – caused diabetes.
Little fruit in wartime diet. Good meat from butcher’s shop. Gradually gained weight. | |
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| 03 Mother was big. I had sweet tooth, especially when rationing stopped. Mother made cakes. Always ate meat-fat. Bread, jam, cakes for tea. Father grew vegetables. Didn’t like salad. | |
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04 Trained as army cook – quantity not quality. Cooked breakfasts. Bought chocolate.
After army, butchery for 16/17 years. Married, lived in accommodation tied to job, had child. | |
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| 05 Married 1962. Son born 2 years later. Had moved to Oxford. Daughter born 6 years later. Fellow butcher did crimes - business died. Went into radio control security. Got promoted – company health check, 1979 – told I’d got diabetes. Had no symptoms. Doctor said must lose weight. | |
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| 06 Lost 1½ stone. Thought I was cured! Doctor explained diabetes for life. Cheated on diet & didn’t feel ill. No blood readings. Only later realised damage done. | |
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| 07 Had given up sport. Worked long hours as butcher – relaxed in cinema. Radio control work – sedentary shifts. Hard to exercise since stroke. Still must lose weight. (Wife used to cook fat meat from shop.) | |
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| 08 Lost 1½ stone - strict diet – frightened. Difficult with shift work. Doctors’ advice makes sense. | |
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| 09 Still have glass of beer daily: otherwise never cheat. Depressed at first, but clinic excellent. 1979/80, old Radcliffe – no parking, small rooms, fewer specialist nurses, but good treatment. New hospital marvellous, more specialist nurses. All staff good – never met a grumpy one. | |
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| 10 1979, Glibenclamide tablet once daily – gradually increased - Metformin added – increased. 1994 – insulin. | |
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| 11 Refused to inject orange. Injection painless – amazed. Best done quickly. Metformin added. Amounts increased. Sept. 2000, began pen - perfect. | |
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| 12 Didn’t test at first, then with dipstick, then machine – good. | |
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| 13 Cheating catches up with you: September 1998, had changed job to operating theatre orderly - had stroke in theatre... | |
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| 14 …caused by diabetes. Year later, got angina. Because of hospital job, jumped queues. Consultant said heart fine, “pipework” bad… | |
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15 …had quadruple bypass – best thing I’ve done. Caused by diabetes.
Now eye problems caused by diabetes - 4 laser treatments - then operation – asked for local anaesthetic – feared stroke. Operation worked, but.. | |
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| 16 …blood didn’t drain. Back to hospital for removal. Now must return for hole in retina. Earlier cheating wasn’t worth troubles caused. Kidneys fine. Laser under local anaesthetic wonderful. | |
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| 17 Attend podiatrist. Test circulation. Toes clipped because any cut wouldn’t heal. After bypass, leg took 8 months to heal. | |
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| 18 I’m well, all considered. Odd sensations – spiders & “Chinese burns” on face & legs. Sometimes shower hurts. No follow-up provided after stroke – GP suggests they’re too busy. | |
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| 19 Diabetes staff excellent – agreed to take part in study, to repay them – tablet trial – increased, monitored. Can’t have been placebo – blood sugars brilliant. Trial ended… | |
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20 …stopped tablet. Blood sugars went crazy. Increased insulin put weight on. Persuaded doctors to let me back on tablet – sugars back down.
Now part of another study – drug to assist circulation – hope it does. | |
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21 1976, married 2nd time; had custody of my children – wife continued to give them normal food after my diagnosis. Wife has coeliac disease, so no cakes!
Near to hypo 3 times, but OK. | |
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| 22 Colleagues have reacted well. 1979, at Securicor, company put up notice. Radio control for police – teased me, but knew how to help. Always carry sweet. As theatre orderly, staff good – loved job – nominated me for award. | |
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| 23 Retired 98, aged 59. Can’t be very active, but try. Laughter keeps me going. Message: be good from day one: effects only apparent later. | |
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-t.jpg "Aged 20 (left)")
