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Family memberBorn in Claygate, Surrey in 1930.
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Overview:
Olive married Gordon in 1956 and the following year he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He received good treatment at Kings College Hospital in London from R.D. Lawrence, who founded the British Diabetic Association, but with some younger doctors, he felt he was `imparting more information to them than they were giving back to him.` Gordon had several hypos and their daughter said she hated hearing him groan in the night, but Olive thinks that her children became more caring people as a result of their father`s diabetes and that the whole family benefited from having a healthy diet.
Please note that Overview relates to date of recording Saturday, November 17, 2007
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1 Gordon was diagnosed in Guildford in 1947. The hospital kept him in bed for 2 weeks, so as soon as he came out and used energy, he had a hypo. Olive knew nothing about hypos and, failing to recognise what was happening, she left him to go to work [ 60 secs ] |  | 2 Olive thinks she would have been a casual sort of person if Gordon had not developed diabetes; but he was diagnosed at a time when a very rigid regime was recommended and that has influenced their way of life through more than fifty years of marriage. [ 65 secs ] | |
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| 01 Born Claygate 1930. Village school, secondary, Kingston Day Commercial School – left 1946. Hated war. Married at 26 – met husband working in office, London. | |
| | 02 Married 1956. Husband developed diabetes 1957. I & my sister – nurse - thought it might be diabetes. Doctor offered cigarette before telling him to go to St. Luke’s Hospital, Guildford. | |
| | 03 In bed 2 weeks. Strict diet – 10 units. Semilente insulin. I was taught nothing; my husband not taught much. | |
| 04 He injected in thigh - painful. (I now inject in his bottom.) I went from work to hospital, then home – no furniture.
First morning at home, he looked strange. I went to work. Returned to find him semi-conscious. Found house with telephone. Doctor came – said give jam sandwich. | |
| 05 Had more hypos. Foamed at mouth. Neighbour had phone because pharmacist. Returned - husband on floor - damaged back.
Lady at work also diabetic – had no sugar. After 1960s disablement act, he refused to be registered disabled. | |
| | 06 I gave some injections – he didn’t have 4 then. Meals a problem – wish husband cooked. Luncheon vouchers at work. At home, main meal lunchtime. Leaflets said measure food. Husband doesn’t recognise carbohydrate. I’ve gone off cooking. | |
| | 07 Rigid mealtimes. He eats between meals; I don’t. I don’t enjoy meals out – worried when food will come. | |
| | 08 Children grew up in rigid household. I would have been casual person. All had healthy diet. Children learnt to care for others – hypos. Daughter hated groaning. Grandchildren leant re blood sugars. | |
| | 09 Transferred from Guildford to King’s until retired – long waits for appointments. After retirement, Guildford. I drove to eye appointments – long waits – had day out - go to cathedral Childrens’ Chapel because lost 2 children. | |
| | 10 Never treated for diabetes by GP – no clinic. Treated at Kings by Lawrence. With younger doctors, informing them more than vice-versa. Doctors denied insulin build-up caused fits – don’t always know best. | |
| | 11 Humalog & Levemir changed fits. I still hate fits – especially night-time. I spot symptoms - when meal delayed. Can’t cope without me. | |
| | 12 Eyes affected, but still sight in both eyes. I do foot-care – good. Researcher talked to us re heart attacks. Had ischaemic attack – TIA. | |
| 13 Resulted in retirement. Always feared I’d be left with children – saved money because insurance discriminates against diabetics.
When travelling, always take food. Strict diet – medal for 50 years. | |
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