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Family memberBorn in Coalville, Leicestershire in 1930.
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Overview:
When Madge married Roy in 1951, he`d had diabetes since 1942. He didn`t tell people about it and when she met him he was driving a mobile shop, having previously driven a lorry. He went on to drive a concrete mixer, involved in constructing the M1. He had serious hypos throughout their married life and she woke each night to check he was all right. She rarely had an unbroken night`s sleep until he changed insulin a year ago. He began to lose his sight in 1972, so she did all the driving, and eventually also guided him about.
There is also an interview with Madge`s husband Roy
Please note that Overview relates to date of recording Monday, October 29, 2007
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1 In the early years of their marriage, Madge found Roy’s hypos quite frightening, particularly at night. She sometimes sent for a doctor, but found they didn’t like to be called out and expected her to cope on her own. [ 58 secs ] |  | 2 Madge and Roy have been married for 56 years and although he has never made a fuss about his diabetes, she feels that it has had a big effect on her life. [ 60 secs ] | |
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| Available
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| 01 He was diagnosed 1942, married 1951. Never let diabetes worry him. Saw first hypo when fetched from work – unconscious. Learnt re glucose, but didn’t bother with injection – only lasted a month. Worried re his driving at work – lorry, mobile shop & concrete mixer building M1. Mobile van boss knew re diabetes – don’t know about others. | |
| | 02 Hypos frightening. Sometimes sent for doctor, but expected to cope on own. Glucose helped. Sweat at night. I’d wake to check all right. Arms flailed. | |
| | 03 Weren’t told re specific diet except carbohydrate & sugar. Ate plain food - & children do too. (Son died.) Children & grandchildren haven’t got diabetes. Roy well until 2003. | |
| | 04 One day very ill. Ambulance took him to hospital – ketoacidosis. Survived. Then chest infection, pneumonia, diarrhoea until Feb 2004. Aortic valve replacement, November 04. Well since then. | |
| | 05 In 1972, began losing sight. Laser treatment. Has a little vision. Didn’t like stopping driving. I had to drive - & guide him. | |
| | 06 Health service good. Leicester Royal diabetic clinic has good doctors. Now have specialist nurses – I can ring them. No hypos since insulin changed to pen last year. Had woken in night throughout married life. Had ketoacidosis twice. Since change of insulin, can sleep at night. | |
| | 07 Diabetes has played big part in my life – always aware of time – for meals & injections. Got fetched from work for hypos. Well until eyes deteriorated from 1972. Otherwise well. Could manage diabetes, but can’t cook. Without me, relies on daughter. I have 1 weekend per year without him. | |
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