• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Can you remember your first week?

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
I do wonder how many people are misdiagnosed as type 2 when they are type one. The one and only time I've seen the consultant she didn't even look at my notes, took one look at me and said 'you're type 2 aren't you?' When I said 'no, I'm type one' she looked at my notes and said 'sorry, yes you are type one.'
 
I do wonder how many people are misdiagnosed as type 2 when they are type one. The one and only time I've seen the consultant she didn't even look at my notes, took one look at me and said 'you're type 2 aren't you?' When I said 'no, I'm type one' she looked at my notes and said 'sorry, yes you are type one.'

I have seen many members here who have received a diagnosis of Type 2 based purely on their age and nothing else (jalapino, are you reading this? 😉)- some GPs seem to cling to the 'juvenile diabetes' description of Type 1 and think that only children can be Type 1. I was 49, and well past childhood (physically, if not mentally 😉)

In fact, we have one member, DizzyDi, who was diagnosed Type 2 but put straight on insulin - 5 years later they have finally decided she is Type 1! At least she has had appropriate medication in the meantime. Some people are less fortunate and may spend months or years battling on medication that simply doesn't work for them, due to the 'I know best' attitude of some healthcare professionals :(
 
First week

Very much so. 35 years ago when I was diagnosed I was kept in hospital for the first week & kept off school for 6 weeks. First day in told I'd be given the syringe and an orange to practice on but when breakfast came it was here's your medication once you've done it you can eat.
 
Hi Ossie. I can remember that "The old orange trick". I was diagnosed in 1966 is that why you have 66 at the end of your name ? You where given an orange to practice on with your needles that were like panel pins (BIG) 😱
 
I just remeber feeling lucky, that we are here and now, as like some others, my aunt told me stories of my Grandma injecting an orange, and a huge syringe, and I remember when my uncle told us about a wonderfull invention of the pen, and he paid for it himself, it made a huge difference to him..how things change.....🙂I was 50, a year after being diagnosed after being on piles of pills for a year
 
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! :D
 
Last edited:
Good one, Northie !

My first jab was overseen by a really nice nurse that I liked - about the same age as me, I was 22.

She said to me that as student nurses, they were always practising injecting (anything) on an orange.

I looked at her in disbelief. And said, So - did the oranges complain when you hurt them, and flinch when you did? - if so I'll be willing to try it! And she looked at me, stunned, and then we both burst out laughing. And she agreed it was daft, when you were going to do it only to yourself.

When we all used syringes Hobie, a friend who was diagnosed aged 3, told me recently that she and her mates used to inject water into jelly babies for fun, to see who could get the most in before it exploded. This was confirmed by my two step-daughters - her childhood friends!

I thought that was much crueller than oranges ......
 
I was baffled when a nurse turned up with an orange for me to practice on, apart from pushing the plunger down slowly I don't think it taught me anything else. Thank goodness this cruel practice no longer takes place.

I can remember thinking I was going to be made to do gymnastics when I was diagnosed as there was a poster in the childrens ward of a young child balancing on a tightrope walk and a caption about needing to learn to balance. Injecting oranges and learning to tightrope walk seemed like a really crazy way to treat an illness 🙂
 
How did they know those Oranges were Diabetic ? 😱 Poor things 🙄
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top