Four Words & One Minute

As I was mowing the lawn last night, I was thinking about a topic for today's blog. One idea that popped into my mind was about today's celebration and how I was going to celebrate. In the past few years I treated myself to some ice-cream, which I dearly love, but today I'm not sure. I did have ice-cream this week so maybe today it will be one glass of white wine.

Today, July 26th is the day I was diagnosed with diabetes 49 years ago. Those four words: "you have juvenile diabetes" only took "one minute" for the doctor to announce but it's taken 49 years to live and learn about the disease and all the successful and unsuccessful events.

I remember the day very clearly. I was working at a canteen not far from home and my mother called to say I had to go home and go to the hospital. I had been to the doctor about a week before with complaints of extreme thirst and urination as well as leg cramps. I told my mom ok as soon as the noon hour rush was over, I would go. Well, that wasn't such a good idea because as I went to the counter to serve who I thought would be a customer it was my dad telling me to get home now and go to the hospital. So I did go, met the doctor in the ER department and he said you have juvenile diabetes (which is was called then) and I was admitted to the hospital. It definitely was a shock to me and the whole family. No one in the immediate family had type 1 diabetes but several did have adult onset diabetes. I remember being admitted and asked if I had lunch and I said no. The RNA (Registered Nursing Assistant) gave me a couple of options, one which was coconut cream pie which was the last piece of pie I ate. The RNA told me the next day that she hadn't known my reason for admission and was frustrated that she gave me the pie. I guess I kind of knew I shouldn't have it but enjoyed every last bite of it. This "life changing moment" remains vivid in my mind.

This was in 1973 and I had just graduated from high school and was accepted into Dalhousie University into pharmacy. Definitely a great choice for a profession where I would learn more about diabetes and its management. I was admitted for about one week in the hospital and I noticed how my vision improved, no more blurriness and definitely less frequent urination. I was started on a mixture of insulins and once a day shot. There were no fancy gadgets to check your own blood sugar like today, and the only means was with a little strip that you put in the stream of urine and it changed color according to your sugar level. Darker colours meant your sugar was high but you had no idea how high. There were also strips to measure ketone levels. That was it. There were no diet drinks on the market because of the saccharin scare and no reduced sugar drinks.

I was going to university in the fall in Halifax, Nova Scotia so my parents thought it would be best if I could attend diabetes classes in Halifax so we travelled there for one week and I went to half-day sessions learning how to give injections and what to eat. The nurse's name was Marilyn and she was so good at explaining things. Once we were back home, I recall my sister sitting with me at the kitchen table making my weekly menu.

When I look back and observe all the changes in diabetes care that 49 years has brought, I like to say " I lived with Diabetes before the Age of Technology". All these new guidelines, devices and mentors have kept me on track (most of the time).

I always had the support and love of my parents and sister and now may husband. They always tried to make my life easier and helped in whatever way they could. I am very fortunate to have such a strong network.

I did go to university that fall, but that is another story on its own. Moving away from home and living with diabetes were all new challenges.

For those of you with type 1 diabetes, I ask that you do listen to your health-care providers and try to maintain the disease with as reasonable control as possible. Having worked in a hospital I see the complications such as amputations, nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure far too many times. These are real complications that people suffer.

I became a member of Diabetes Canada that same year (known then as the Canadian Diabetes Association) and have read their journals from cover to cover through the years. They can be found at this link : https://www.diabetes.ca Diabetes Canada is a wonderful resource.

Thank You for your time today. I wish you all success as you navigate your way through this diabetes challenge.