43 year T1D veteran

[Shiv Gaffney]

Hi there

Just joining forums now for support of my 43 year old T1D as I suppose I have always just got on with it but feeling the stress now (never mind the hypos with this cold spell!) and the dreaded complications my be setting in so feel I will need support in the coming years.

I was diagnosed in the mid 70s and have gone from urine testing to glucometers (no CGM must yet!), practising my one injection a day into an orange with the glass syringes to three daily shots of fast acting and one long acting (no pump yet either!) and from a fixed and rigid carbohydrate exchange regime to completing a DAFNE in recent years.

Look forward to talking to all.

Siobhan

 

[Matt Cycle]

Hi Shiv and welcome to the forum. 🙂 We've got a few old timers 😉 on here, I'd consider myself more middle aged - all diabetes related of course. I've only been on the pump for about 3 months but it's been great so far and would recommend it to anyone. I too did DAFNE relatively recently and again going from carb exchanges and two injections from a syringe when I was diagnosed to MDI (basal/bolus) and carb counting and now a pump is a big change. Looking forward to your input.

 

[Davein]

Hi Siobham
So I've worked out that you've endured being T1 since aged 7. My son was aged three when diagnosed 29 years ago. I remember the nurse with the orange I remember the 20mm microfine syringes and I remember having to inject in his rear twice daily. Many years and hypos later, I too have been blessed with diabetes but T2 on insulin therapy with autoimmune pancreatitis thrown in for good measure. Deep joy-not.
Welcome.

 

[Flower]

Hello @Shiv Gaffney and welcome, Glad you have found us 🙂

I'm coming up to my 40 year service later this year so I suppose I'm middle aged 🙂

Ah, the orange and glass syringe practice, so realistic and taught me that I can inject an orange with insulin plus being made to experience a hypo before you left hospital which in the days of urine testing was quite a useful thing to learn. All the 10g carb exchange stuff still proves really useful and I often find myself counting things in units of 10g CHO regardless of all the information available and the tech gadgetry I now have.

There are a fair few on here who have lived with diabetes for decades. I look forward to seeing you around 🙂

 

[Shiv Gaffney]

Hi Shiv and welcome to the forum. 🙂 We've got a few old timers 😉 on here, I'd consider myself more middle aged - all diabetes related of course. I've only been on the pump for about 3 months but it's been great so far and would recommend it to anyone. I too did DAFNE relatively recently and again going from carb exchanges and two injections from a syringe when I was diagnosed to MDI (basal/bolus) and carb counting and now a pump is a big change. Looking forward to your input.

Hi Shiv and welcome to the forum. 🙂 We've got a few old timers 😉 on here, I'd consider myself more middle aged - all diabetes related of course. I've only been on the pump for about 3 months but it's been great so far and would recommend it to anyone. I too did DAFNE relatively recently and again going from carb exchanges and two injections from a syringe when I was diagnosed to MDI (basal/bolus) and carb counting and now a pump is a big change. Looking forward to your input.

Thanks

 

[Shiv Gaffney]

Hi Siobham
So I've worked out that you've endured being T1 since aged 7. My son was aged three when diagnosed 29 years ago. I remember the nurse with the orange I remember the 20mm microfine syringes and I remember having to inject in his rear twice daily. Many years and hypos later, I too have been blessed with diabetes but T2 on insulin therapy with autoimmune pancreatitis thrown in for good measure. Deep joy-not.
Welcome.

Thanks

 

[Shiv Gaffney]

Hello @Shiv Gaffney and welcome, Glad you have found us 🙂

I'm coming up to my 40 year service later this year so I suppose I'm middle aged 🙂

Ah, the orange and glass syringe practice, so realistic and taught me that I can inject an orange with insulin plus being made to experience a hypo before you left hospital which in the days of urine testing was quite a useful thing to learn. All the 10g carb exchange stuff still proves really useful and I often find myself counting things in units of 10g CHO regardless of all the information available and the tech gadgetry I now have.

There are a fair few on here who have lived with diabetes for decades. I look forward to seeing you around 🙂

Thanks I too find carb exchange info helpful

 

[trophywench]

Hi Shiv! Diagnosed as a young adult, that ubiquitous Jaffa was also recommended to me - but I enquired immediately if they believed the orange could display the full range of human emotion when you jabbed it, that I did when I jabbed my own ruddy thigh. The nurse drew back and did a double take before replying - Oh blimey - I see exactly what you mean! and we both burst out laughing.

My husband could instantly identify the occasions when the saucepan of water had boiled dry and the lint protecting that ruddy syringe had subsequently caught fire - all good fun eh! - from the blooming smell in the house. They hadn't invented Oust back then either, had they?

 

[Shiv Gaffney]

Hi Shiv! Diagnosed as a young adult, that ubiquitous Jaffa was also recommended to me - but I enquired immediately if they believed the orange could display the full range of human emotion when you jabbed it, that I did when I jabbed my own ruddy thigh. The nurse drew back and did a double take before replying - Oh blimey - I see exactly what you mean! and we both burst out laughing.

My husband could instantly identify the occasions when the saucepan of water had boiled dry and the lint protecting that ruddy syringe had subsequently caught fire - all good fun eh! - from the blooming smell in the house. They hadn't invented Oust back then either, had they?

Hi Jenny - definitely finds it helps to have a great sense of humour with diabetes!! Though the cup can run low on that too sometimes...

 

[Northerner]

Hi Shiv, welcome to the forum 🙂 Ah, those poor oranges - have you ever wondered how they felt...? 😉 (from my poetry blog 🙂)


The Prayer of the Frightened Orange



I’ve recently been reading anecdotes about how people were taught to do their insulin injections, and it appears that a popular method in former years was to get the patient, or patient’s carer, to practice by injecting into an orange. Thankfully, it appears that this barbaric practise has all but disappeared from civilised society, and oranges assigned to hospitals no longer need fear this painful, protracted and humiliating fate at the hands of diabetic neophytes.

Recently, during a clear out of old fruit bowl cupboards at a disused hospital, a remarkable document has come to light, which gives a fascinating insight into the lonely life of a terrified orange destined for the diabetic ward. Most oranges would hope to live out their ripening days adorning colourful baskets alongside fruits of all varieties and nations, valued and admired by staff and patients alike. For those unfortunates selected for injection training however, the outlook was grim, and a dusty, juice-stained piece of old peel found in a dark corner was found to contain this poignant supplication to a higher power…

Oh Orange Father, hear my prayer,
And save me from my fate,
Deliver me from this frightening place,
Before it is too late!

For I have heard an awful word,
The humans call ‘inject’,
And terror grips my shaking pips,
If they should me select!

Oh Orange Spirit, show you care!
Don’t let them pierce me so!
For such a death I cannot bear,
(I’m sensitive, you know!)

They’re coming, Spirit, for me now,
So this must be goodbye,
Perhaps I’ll join you very soon,
In the Juicer in the Sky!

 

[HOBIE]

I never thought of that ! "Poor Oranges" . Will laugh next time I have 1. Welcome from me a T1 since England WON the world cup 😎.

 

[Davein]

I never thought of that ! "Poor Oranges" . Will laugh next time I have 1. Welcome from me a T1 since England WON the world cup 😎.

Gosh Hobie 52 years a T1, and still going strong.

 

[Shiv Gaffney]

Yes the poor oranges but have to say rather them than my thighs as a 7 year old!! Well done Hobie - you are a true vet!

 

[HOBIE]

Never been unemployed in my life. Keeping active I am sure is the trick 😉. From being 3yrs old I have always tried to run as fast as anyone in my school etc. Where I was injected as a child with "Panel pins" not thin needles like today I used to have very hard skin. My Mother could not inject me. So my Dad who was stronger did the deed. Really really pleased he did ! (not at the time 😱) "Poor Oranges"

 

[HOBIE]

Well done to you Shiv. 43yrs is a long time too 😎

 

[Shiv Gaffney]

Well done to you Shiv. 43yrs is a long time too 😎

Always worked too and or self employed as I'm now, hoping this continues for another while. I agree re: activity; ran competitively until my 20s and have jogged, walked, swam, cycled and joked until recently. Just walking at moment but hoping to get back cycling soon and Hba1c should improve, 62 at moment.

 

[HOBIE]

Always worked too and or self employed as I'm now, hoping this continues for another while. I agree re: activity; ran competitively until my 20s and have jogged, walked, swam, cycled and joked until recently. Just walking at moment but hoping to get back cycling soon and Hba1c should improve, 62 at moment.

That's the way to do it Shiv. Good luck with ya Bike 🙂