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| 01 Born 1962. Mother white. Father black, from Guyana – Muslim background – strict. Sister hospitalised with TB for 3 years. | |
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| 02 Aged 5, parents separated. Moved to white suburb. Neighbours taunted mother with black children. Muslim cousins lived up road. Diagnosed 1970. | |
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| 03 No family history - maybe shock of uncle’s death – Muslim funeral – kissed corpse – illness began. GP diagnosed ‘flu. Became unconscious. In hospital 7 weeks. | |
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| 04 Birmingham Children’s Hospital - drip, then injections. Urine testing. Nothing explained. Mum given scales & told re portions. First meal – a punishment? Lack of explanations caused rebellion. | |
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| 05 Mother remarried Jamaican – not Muslim, but against pork insulin. Relatives said diabetes a punishment – tried to get me off insulin - gave me… | |
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| 06 bitter vegetable – beaten for refusing. I thought faith would cure – often stopped insulin, admitted to hospital – moved from Children’s to General in teens – “Why me?” Nice nurse lost patience. Doctor said I wouldn’t live to 15. | |
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| 07 Mother didn’t understand – sent to boarding school for 18 months. Father withdrew me, because poor education – started at ordinary secondary – rose to top stream – no drink – smoked as rebellion. | |
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08 Left home at 16 – squat – hard to manage diabetes.
Last 2 years at school, made diabetes excuse for absence. School said I’d fail. Parents said they’d pay for exams failed. Got 6 Grade A CSEs. Mother said I’d never achieve. | |
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| 09 Got involved with Rastafarians – against pork insulin. I argued. No longer have dreadlocks, but… | |
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| 10 …still attached to Rasta. Went to London – homeless. Returned to Birmingham… | |
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| 11 …to hospital – kidney failure – aged 18. Frightened by diabetic girl’s complications. Studied diabetes. Devised own regime – didn’t return to hospital for 15 years – discovered my regime same as one recommended. | |
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| 12 Got pregnant aged c. 21 - advised against, because of poor control. I became stricter. Son born by caesarean, 1985. Post-natal depression. Before birth baby’s father had hit me… | |
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| 13 …so became single parent. Baby priority over diabetes. (Medics warned of dangers. Needed explanations, not threats, as child.) Single parent for 8 years. Mother died 1990 – son traumatised – needed counselling… | |
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14 ...I was involved – learnt my behaviour due to ignorance re diabetes.
1992, had daughter – traumatic pregnancy – hypos. Doctor told nurses to let me control insulin. | |
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15 Ran sugars high for fear of hypo affecting baby.
Some men reject diabetes, but not partner of 10 years - wonderful.
Diabetes excluded some jobs. Did law degree. Before that, insurance office manager – when boss moved, diabetes prevented my accompanying him… | |
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16 …in 1991. Had begun law degree in 1980s, but carpal tunnel stopped me. This time law at UCE. Graduated 1997/8.
Lots of diabetic complications.
Have worked in legal world & done community work. | |
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Offered NovoPen early on - had to pay. Changed insulin - no hypo warnings. Now, Humulin with Levemir – flexible. At nearly 43, beginning to understand diabetes… | |
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18 …should tell child directly, not through parents.
Grateful for diabetes – could have worse. Can’t imagine life without. Advice: Inform yourself. Don’t let it prevent anything… | |
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19 …take care. Avoid stress – has affected me.
I see GP frequently, not hospital – I know more than them… | |
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| 20 …irritating when asked to summarise years – should read notes. Have eyes & feet checked. First specialist nurse thought I should know everything. Most recent one brilliant – explained. | |
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| 21 Diabetes well known, but people don’t realise how serious. Newly-diagnosed need more training. Doctors blame everything on diabetes. Was easier to cheat… | |
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22 …with urine tests - added water instead of urine! Can’t cheat fructosamine test.
Sometimes test blood 10 times.
More regular insulin means less fixed meal times. Easier to be diabetic now, but still need more information. | |
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23
Had bulimia 6 years, late 1980s/early 1990s. Now can’t eat green stuff. Feed family healthily – daughter in danger of diabetes, because family history on other side. | |
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-t.jpg "At age of diagnosis (at back)")
-t.jpg "Aged 5 or 6 (middle of back row)")
