62 Years of Type 1 Diabetes
I was born in Roanoke, VA in 1939. In the early months of 1945 I had measels, chicken pox and mumps. Shortly after that I began showing all the classic symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. I lost my appetite and a lot of weight. I was skin and bones and very sickly. My parents took me to three doctors and not one of them had a clue. Not much was known about diabetes back then. Two of the doctors prescribed a tonic to help restore my appetite. The tonic was probably much like the old "snake oil" remedies that were often prescribed in the old days. A fourth doctor saw me in September of that year and he had my blood tested for sugar. My Type 1 was finally diagnosed on 9/15/45 just 5 days after my 6'th birthday. He referred us to a fifth doctor who was supposedly the "expert" on diabetes in the area. I was taken out of first grade and hospitalized. I was given the old beef/pork insulin. I started gaining weight and my health improved. Before I left the hospital I was even eating normally. That fifth doctor was the doctor in charge and he told my parents to never give me sugar or food that contained a lot of sugar. That's all the advice he gave them. Nothing was said about carbs. I did not learn that I should eat a low carb diet until the early 1980's. My health was much better and I continued going to school. I remained very skinny for many years but the beef/pork insulin was keeping me alive and relatively healthy.
My blood sugar was tested every six months. The only testing we did at home was for urine sugar. We used the old Benedict's solution with 8 drops of urine added and then the mixture was boiled on top of the stove. The liquid then changed color to reveal the amount of sugar present. We used a glass syringe that had to be sterilized each morning by being boiled along with the metal needle that was twisted onto the end of the syringe. The needle was frequently dull and had to be sharpened with a whet stone prior to being boiled. The needle was much longer than needles on today's disposable syringes. The injection was made into the muscle on top of my upper legs or on my arms.
As improvements were made in the beef/pork insulins I showed some weight gain and I actually weighed what I was supposed to weigh for the first time since well before my diagnosis. I did very well in school and completed 6 years of college. I earned a BS in math at Roanoke College and an MS in statistics at Va. Tech in 1963. I became a math and statistics teacher at the college level. I taught for 34 years and retired in 1997 when I was 57. I was having trouble with my diabetes and had to retire a few years earlier than I had intended. After starting the Humulin insulins in the early 1990's I started gaining weight. By the late 1990's I had gained 57 pounds and I was diagnosed with insulin resistance in 2000. I had increased my insulin dosages by 40% to compensate. I started taking Avandia about that time and it helped me very much. My dosages returned to normal. I was then given Humalog and it worked very well. The newer insulin, the Avandia and the carb counting made me healthy again. I test my blood sugar 12-15 times per day. I want to discover highs/lows before they become bad so I can take care of them more easily. I had A1c's below 6.0 for several years prior to starting pumping on 6/19/07. I had a rrough start on my pump and my A1c in Nov., 07 was 6.1. I had scar tissue problems last month but now everything is going smoothly. Pumping is fantastic!
I have asked several doctors how I can be healthy with only a few minor complications after 62 years of diabetes. No doctor has had a satisfactory answer. My present endo says no one knows but there are other diabetics with good health after 60+ years of diabetes. Perhaps I have good genes. Perhaps I will never know the answer to this question in my lifetime. I am enjoying my lif to the fullest and I am going strong. I have been happily married for 43 years and my wife and I have two sons and two grandchildren none of whom are diabetic.
Richard
My blood sugar was tested every six months. The only testing we did at home was for urine sugar. We used the old Benedict's solution with 8 drops of urine added and then the mixture was boiled on top of the stove. The liquid then changed color to reveal the amount of sugar present. We used a glass syringe that had to be sterilized each morning by being boiled along with the metal needle that was twisted onto the end of the syringe. The needle was frequently dull and had to be sharpened with a whet stone prior to being boiled. The needle was much longer than needles on today's disposable syringes. The injection was made into the muscle on top of my upper legs or on my arms.
As improvements were made in the beef/pork insulins I showed some weight gain and I actually weighed what I was supposed to weigh for the first time since well before my diagnosis. I did very well in school and completed 6 years of college. I earned a BS in math at Roanoke College and an MS in statistics at Va. Tech in 1963. I became a math and statistics teacher at the college level. I taught for 34 years and retired in 1997 when I was 57. I was having trouble with my diabetes and had to retire a few years earlier than I had intended. After starting the Humulin insulins in the early 1990's I started gaining weight. By the late 1990's I had gained 57 pounds and I was diagnosed with insulin resistance in 2000. I had increased my insulin dosages by 40% to compensate. I started taking Avandia about that time and it helped me very much. My dosages returned to normal. I was then given Humalog and it worked very well. The newer insulin, the Avandia and the carb counting made me healthy again. I test my blood sugar 12-15 times per day. I want to discover highs/lows before they become bad so I can take care of them more easily. I had A1c's below 6.0 for several years prior to starting pumping on 6/19/07. I had a rrough start on my pump and my A1c in Nov., 07 was 6.1. I had scar tissue problems last month but now everything is going smoothly. Pumping is fantastic!
I have asked several doctors how I can be healthy with only a few minor complications after 62 years of diabetes. No doctor has had a satisfactory answer. My present endo says no one knows but there are other diabetics with good health after 60+ years of diabetes. Perhaps I have good genes. Perhaps I will never know the answer to this question in my lifetime. I am enjoying my lif to the fullest and I am going strong. I have been happily married for 43 years and my wife and I have two sons and two grandchildren none of whom are diabetic.
Richard
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Richard157 on -
Yes Molly, we are indeed. I am so thankful for the technology. There was none whatsoever when I was diagnosed.
Richard
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Permalink Reply by Linda on -
Hi Richard,
I can see that time, diligent effort and some luck have come your way throughout the years of living with diabetes. It is truly amazing what we know today about diabetes, as to when it was first was diagnosed. I also had chicken pox, scarlet fever (severe strep throat) and the mumps within a year before developing Type 1 diabetes. I was brought immediately into the Joslin Clinic in Boston after being diagnosed 34 years ago. I remember it well, (DKA and all). At that point it was all about insulin, diet and exercise. There were 3 classes a day in the hospital, learning how to live with D. I have always felt that I was very lucky to have the Joslin Clinic and its resources available to me from the beginning.
You are a pioneer in living with this diabetes, from early on working with the traditional treatments, and now, the latest insulin pump therapy. In learning what works for you in your diabetic care as well as your daily life. You give courage and hope to ALL! Thank you. Sincerely, Linda
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Permalink Reply by Richard157 on
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Thank you for your kind words Linda. One of my doctors asked me to consider going to th Joslin Clinic in the late 1970's but my family situation would not permit it at that time. I had no complications and I steadily improved so I did not see the need for going there. I am happy for you that you were helped so much by your visit there. I hope you will be a strong and long survivor too........Richard
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Permalink Reply by K.Coops on -
Wow. I love your story Richard.
I can't imagine the experiences you have gone through. I didn't know about the Benedict's solution. I remember back in the 80's when I was first diagnosed, I tested my blood sugar in my urine in a test tube and dropping a small pill inside and then comparing it to a chart. It seems forever ago now. I can't imagine doing that now. How lucky we are to have such convenient technology.
I have never met someone who has had diabetes for 62 years. This is really quite amazing. I'm so glad to have read your chapters.
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Permalink Reply by Richard157 on
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I'm pleased to see that you enjoyed my story. Thanks for your comments!
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Permalink Reply by Chloe Slage on -
What an amazing story. I have a eight year old daughter who is pumping now. She was diagnosed in June of 2006. She was six years old then and started hyper -ventilating. I thought she was having a asthma attack and stopped an ambulance on the side of the road and she was taken to an emergency room in our area. Within the next three hours she was driven to Children's Hospital in New Orleans and placed in ICU. With absolutely know family history with type 1 diabetes my husband and I were like complete lost puppies. I appreciate you taking the time to write about your experiences, it truly enlightens me and gives me so much hope for my daughter Chloe.
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Permalink Reply by Amy Brown on -
Thank you for sharing your story, Richard. I have a 2-year-old son with T1 and I worry that his life is going to be shortened or compromised because of his disease. It's nice to hear from someone who's battled it for 62 years. It gives me hope that Steven can fight it, too.
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Permalink Reply by Richard157 on
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I am happy that you have gained hope from reading my story. I tried to show that I have been able to have a happy, productive and healthy life even though I have had diabetes since age 6. Good luck to you and your son!
Richard
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Permalink Reply by clarence haynes on -
In reading your amazing story of LIVING postively for 62 years with DIABETES and it gives me added reasons to make people that are newly-diagnosed that LIFE is worth living and you CAN ACHEIVE,IF YOU BELEIVE. My introdution to happened in 1977, at 60 years of age. Preparing for our annual trip to CAPE COD visited my doctor and took the necessary tests, etc to enjoy our vacation.This happened on a friday and left that evening to drive to MONTREAL on our way to BOSTON. From here to MONTREAL,and the only driver,the trip was uneventful, but on our way to BOSTON was one of the worst time in my life. Usually I am tour guide driver pointing out interestings things along the way. I was silent,also a change of person, thirsty,going to the washroom often, arriving in the BOSTON area,driving with double vision. The LORD was guiding me to our destination. My wife LYNNE was so concerned about my behaviour, she called our doctor in TORONTO and said I was sleepy, and not the guy she married 30 years ago, he said is he concscious, get him to a hospital right away. At the hospital November 11 1977, when examined my sugar count was 880, the DR.CARL SILVER, said to my wife sign the papers because I was clinically dead. after doing their thing I was in the hospital for a week. Realizing I had a second chance, I promised, that I would help every
and be a ROLE MODEL to be the best they can. On returning home I embarked on a journey that has had me reached over 40.000 diabetics through health fairs, community cable health programs, 8 year member of AADE, Check out www.restorethebantinghomestead.com. www.DefeatDiabetes.org WAKE UP AND WALK TOUR, SEPTEMBER 2005, I am in company with MR.DIABETES, taken at BANTING HOMESTEAD in ALLISTON, BANTING'S birthplace AMIGO clarence.haynes@sympatico.ca Keep in touch, TOGETHER, we will give hope to those who are scared.
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Permalink Reply by Richard157 on
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Thanks for your message Clarence. I admire you for what you are doiig for our fellow diabetics!!! I am determined that when I die it will not be from anything related to diabetes. I may fall off a ladder or get hit by a car but my diabetes is not going to kill me. That kind of positive attitude is a large part of my reason for having diabetes so long and having no serious complications at all. I hope you live long and stay healthy!! Good luck to you!
Richard
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