Live interview with Tom and Richard: Ask an Old-Timer!
This Friday, Jan 18, we are honored to welcome TuDiabetes members and Joslin "gold" medalists Richard and Tom for a live interview on our homepage.
I was born Richard Alvin V. in 1939 in Roanoke, Virginia. My parents were both raised in the mountainous regions far to the south of Roanoke. There were no paved roads when they were young and going to a doctor involved a day's journey by horse and wagon to Stuart, Va. ...In very early 1945, when I was 5, I had measles, chicken pox and mumps, all within a few months time. After I had somewhat recovered I started losing weight and by mid-summer I was skin and bones. I had no appetite, I drank water all the time and I urinated very often. My parents took me to our family doctor.
Read more of Richard's story...
Tom was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on December 7, 1942. He is a Joslin 50-year medalist (as of 20 years ago!). Since 1978 Tom has accumulated over 106,000 road miles on his bicycle, and he maintains an A1C in the mid-6's. Amazing!
What would you like to ask these two incredible people?! List your questions below, so they can be prepared to tell you all you want to know about diabetes over the last 7 decades.
Tags: Richard187, live interview, tomB, videochat
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Emily Coles on -
I am so excited about this talk!! I have a million questions, but I'll start with these:
- What were the diagnostic tools for diabetes in the 1940s?
- can you describe what syringes were like back then?
- What did doctors know about diabetes and its management when you were diagnosed?
- How did you manage your diabetes without the ability to test your blood sugar?
- When you were diagnosed, did you know anyone else with diabetes?
- To what do you attribute your ability to stay healthy for so long?
-
Permalink Reply by Linda on
-
Great! I am also a medalist but have questions about growing up with T1D.
1) did you ever experience DKA as a child/adolescent?
2) did you have problems in school (peers, teachers)in relationship to your
special "diabetic" diet at the time?
3) assuming you are retired, does MediCare cover any of your pump supplies if
you are on the pump?
-
Permalink Reply by Emily Coles on
-
Here's an interesting article from Diabetes Health about folks who've had type 1 for at least 40 years... 79 years, in one case!
-
-
Wow! I'm in awe of it all. Gives me great hope that I may be able to live at least another 20 years!
-
Permalink Reply by Marie B on -
1. What is a normal breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you?
2. How many times have you had to call 911 because of your diabetes?
3. Have you been active over the years in diabetes organizations, and which ones? When did you become active in the Diabetic Online Community (DOC), and what other things do you do to spread awareness?
4. What are your top tips?
-
Permalink Reply by Spring on -
(1)Can you remember when you were first told you had d ? your reactions and your
parents reaction ? and...well,also friends,family members...
(2) Have you ever sought out help,such as a therapist to deal with the emotional
impact of living with diabetes ?
3) Do you see depression as a sure thing when you have diabetes ?4) When did you take control of your d on your own..and is there ever a on your
because we all need a helping hand in life..so wouldn't the person with d want
help but on their terms and set bounderies ?(5) Is there any such thing as accepting your diabetes,and if so-when you reach
place -will it turn things around for the better ?
(6) How do you feel about the A/P ?
(7) Do you still believe there will be a cure after all these years ? I do :)
-
Permalink Reply by Spring on
-
Thank you both so much !! I want to be here for the chat but looks like I may have to be away.Maybe I will make it back in time..I have been following Tom for yrs..and he was a great help to me when I first went online looking for help with d..Then I found Richard..You are both seen as heroes to us parents.My daughter got d at 12 and is now college age.Diabetes is life changing and never should be gone through alone.THANK YOU BOTH for the HOPE you have given me all these yrs.God Bless..
Advertisement
REsources
Groups
From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...
Together, We Can Get Diabetes Co-Stars to 10,000 Views!
Above is a photo of Diabetes Hands Foundation’s own Manny Hernandez with the stars of the Diabetes Co-Stars Video, “Strength in Numbers.” In case you haven’t heard the news yet, there is a new video making it’s way through the …Continue Reading
Congratulations Diabetes Advocates Scholarship Recipients!
The Diabetes Hands Foundation and Diabetes Advocates Program is proud to announce and congratulate the members of DA who were granted scholarships to attend diabetes conferences in 2013! Thanks to a generous grant from Novo Nordisk, in 2013 we were …Continue Reading
TuDiabetes Team
DHF STAFF
 Manny Hernandez(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)
|
DHF VOLUNTEERS
Lead Administrator
 Bradford (has type 1) |
Administrators
 Lorraine (mother of type 1) |
 Marie B (has type 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook
Spread the word
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
© 2013 A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
