4th February 1976...
I was diagnosed as diabetic the day before my 11th birthday, so it's easy to remember how long I have been diabetic for, 36 years and still counting.
Like many others here I rebelled during my teenage years. Having started on three jabs a day, then two, then one (all prescribed by the doctor), when the put me back to two I refused, or rather I just didn't do my evening injections.
Eventually though I got fed up with feeling horrible and uncomfortable, sorted myself out and got back in to the program, so much so that I am on 4 jabs a day and loving the control and flexibility I get with it! Mind you, I am impressed by those of you who have pumps. I have friends who say "I could never inject myself" (indeed, my brother-in-law faints at the sight of a needle). Personally I would not be able to put up with having a needle in me permanently, but as I tell people if the choice is "do it or die" then you find you can do amazing things, maybe if it came to it I could use a pump, but for now I'm happy to not have to, and to be impressed at those of you that do!
All diabetics, especially old-timers like me, have words of wisdom for anyone new to diabetes. Mine is "Don't let it stop you doing what you want": I have parachuted, scuba-dived and I ride a motorbike on a daily basis for the love of the adrenalin rush. It's true that I will never get my pilots licence although I did look in to it and you can certainly fly with an instructor beside you, just not on your own (or commercially). Nor will I ever drive a bus or join the armed forces and that's probably the only thing I will miss.
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