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01 Born 1944, son of baker. Did sports. Disliked school. Left at 15. Apprenticeship – enjoyed education - became electromechanical engineer.
Did sport until hip operation, 1997.
Sugar rationed. Later – father’s cakes. | |
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| 02 Thin until 20. Then put on weight. Around 1968, gave up sugar & smoking, married & became civil servant – midday lunch… | |
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03 …light evening meal.
After marriage, less sport – weight gain. As older, less sport, more weight, until diagnosis. 1994.
After marriage, good breakfast, canteen lunch, light tea. Gradually changed – now rise early… | |
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04 …light breakfast, grabbed sandwich, full evening meal – changed 1970/80s.
Mother big. Father similar – diagnosed in his 50s – double vision - tablets, urine testing. Care wasn’t… | |
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| 05 …as good then – 1977 – died of heart attack, aged 64, 1980. Dad secretive re treatment. He had healthy diet, took my daughter for walks, seemed fit – diabetes a surprise. He saw illness as weakness. | |
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| 06 I was diagnosed 1994. Hypertension from c.1985. Visits to loo 2/3 years before diagnosis. Went to doctor for hypertension – took urine sample – diabetes. Hadn’t known symptoms, so a shock. Upset because… | |
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| 07 …had played sport, eaten sensibly. Given tablet. Felt ill. Saw doctor. Later realised it was hypo – tablet unnecessary – diet enough. Nothing explained. Didn’t go to clinic. Didn’t test blood. Bought “Balance”. | |
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08 Relied on doctor’s blood test.
On diet only when retina detached, 1995. Gradually back on tablets. Also blood pressure tablets. Hip replacement 1997 – gave up sport… | |
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| 09 …still mainly dietary control. From 1997, tablets increased. 1999 – angioplasty. I’d had pain, been admitted for week, and… | |
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10 …discharged. Pain returned, saw GP, mentioned firm’s medical plan, admitted straightaway, angioplast next day.
Stomach upsets. 2000 – insulin. Reduced tablets – stomach better. | |
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| 11 When diagnosed, hard to cope. Kept mostly secret until insulin. Told some colleagues. | |
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| 12 Blood testing started about same time as insulin. Dreaded injection. Nurses injected themselves – encouraging – painless. | |
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13 Blood testing hurts – arthritis in hands.
Got 3-month contract with space agency in French Guiana… | |
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| 14 …took insulin supply, but didn’t need it! Reduced tablets, lost weight. Cooked breakfast & large lunch… | |
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15 …suited me. Little food in evening – walked. Heat. Exercise around site in day. Hands & hip better. On return, amazed wife. Tried to retain lifestyle - couldn’t.
Abroad 2002. Would return, but… | |
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| 16 …would miss family & UK. Similar to childhood eating pattern. Took part in Proactive research at clinic, but failed to retain lifestyle. Microwaved lunches. Back on insulin – heavily? - not explained – maybe hard for staff: I say little. | |
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17 If I could re-live lifestyle, could drop insulin again.
Proactive study looked after me – less since ended. I don’t talk readily re illness e.g. at last clinic, knew sugars up because missed lunchtime injection… | |
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| 18 …because work makes me forget diabetes. Now colleague reminds me. Grab sandwich. Don’t drink enough. Better in Kourou (French Guyana). | |
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| 19 Study encouraging - don’t get that from doctor – rarely seen. Wife not always there. Recently told colleagues – now encouraging. Nurses at Proactive appointments good: ordinary clinic less good. | |
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| 20 Ordinary clinic recently: after seeing nurse, only 5 mins with specialist - something lacking… | |
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| 21 …I need prompting. Only talk to brother-in-law – recently diagnosed. Clinics should give encouragement & information - doesn’t check eyesight – treadmill – time wasted. Blood samples to local nurse – clinic didn’t give results… | |
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| 22 I can’t talk to doctors & nurses. Except on Proactive, no check on eyes or feet. Brother-in-law was offered chiropody – should be everywhere. | |
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23 …not enough on NHS.
Typical day: early breakfast, 2-mile drive to work, arrive 8 am, work all day, often forget to take ˝-hour break, may end at 6. Meal at 7 - if later, ill. | |
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24 If home early, walk or garden. TV, repair grandson’s toys. Work sedentary.
Diabetes hasn’t changed life. Miss sport – stopped by hip. In Kourou, got exercise… | |
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25 …took lunch-break – unlike English. What’s diabetes like in other countries? Always felt better after proper lunch.
Message to newly-diagnosed – inform yourself. Diet alone as long as possible. | |
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| 26 Can vary insulin, but haven’t learnt how. Danger of increasing doses – better done by diet. Keep active. Diet & lifestyle most important. | |
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| 27 P.S. At work: I’ve kept quiet, but witnessed prejudice towards diabetic colleague. More women in present office - easier to be open. | |
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