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Richard Bemand

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello all. My name is Richard Bemand and I have been Type 1 diabetic for nearly 65 years, having been diagnosed as a 9 year old after a tonsil operation at Christmas 1959. At first it was a battle, and after two years isolation I was then diagnosed with epilepsy as well. No-one expected me to live long, and the doctor sarcastically remarked that there would always be a place for me in the local mental home, or "death house" as some of the locals called it. However, I made up my mind to survive and make my mark in life to prove I was as good as any other person around, not a no-hoper as some seemed to brand me. Well, here I am, 65 years later, alive and kicking, and with many achievements to my name. My story, entitled AGAINST THE ODDS by Cole Steele, covering my 65 year diabetic journey, has been put down on paper as a Kindle ebook, and using fictional characters. If you would like to read this story, which is gripping at times, then please message me and I can provide a link.

Against The Odds

Against The Odds
 
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Welcome. I don’t know if your post will be allowed because it is against the forum rules to post direct links to market a product such as you promoting your book, but even if it is removed you’re welcome here.
 
As a diamond diabetic who has had a leg amputated I thought it would be interesting to look at your story. However, your book is only available in Australia. I thought I would try the sample first as after my unexpected amputation (I went in for day surgery {angioplasty} and stayed there months} I read a number of books by amputees and TBH most were not worth the bother and I only finished one. However e-books across-the-miles seem an issue so I think you need to chat with your publisher!
 
MikeyBikey said:
As a diamond diabetic who has had a leg amputated I thought it would be interesting to look at your story. However, your book is only available in Australia. I thought I would try the sample first as after my unexpected amputation (I went in for day surgery {angioplasty} and stayed there months} I read a number of books by amputees and TBH most were not worth the bother and I only finished one. However e-books across-the-miles seem an issue so I think you need to chat with your publisher!
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Hi Mikey,
If you contact me direct by private message I will try and get something worked out for you. I can provide you with a link that should take you direct to the book. It is a full autobiography, not merely a diabetic journey, and I've certainly had plenty happen in my life. I don't think you'd find it boring at all. I've even included parts of my holiday in Malta about 7 years ago when I was offered a seat in a museum Spitfire. Imagine how that felt!
Richard
 
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Hi Richard! As a matter of interest were you already diabetic when you/your parents emigrated to Australia? I tied for both New Zealand and Australia but diabetes was a major hurdle. NZ said I could if I had a NZ wife but supply of suitable candidates in UK around 1980 was limited! :rofl:
 
Hello Richard and welcome to the Forum. Just read your post. Good grief what a thing for a doctor to say. Appalling but then I suppose things were different in the 50s.

I was a child then too and recall having teeth extracted, woke up from the ether and was sent out of the dental surgery bleeding like mad with a scarf around my mouth.

Wouldn't happen now.

I was with my Mom by the way as I was only a child.
 
MikeyBikey said:
Hi Richard! As a matter of interest were you already diabetic when you/your parents emigrated to Australia? I tied for both New Zealand and Australia but diabetes was a major hurdle. NZ said I could if I had a NZ wife but supply of suitable candidates in UK around 1980 was limited! :rofl:
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Mikey, I've never lived in or been to Australia. Been a UK citizen right from birth.
 
Dear Richard
As a diabetic of only 56 years
I found the comment by the doctor quite fimlar
In how people perceive diabetes in those dark days
But thank goodness for my mum who fought hard for me both at school and at home to get the support I needed
 
Maz2 said:
Hello Richard and welcome to the Forum. Just read your post. Good grief what a thing for a doctor to say. Appalling but then I suppose things were different in the 50s.

I was a child then too and recall having teeth extracted, woke up from the ether and was sent out of the dental surgery bleeding like mad with a scarf around my mouth.

Wouldn't happen now.

I was with my Mom by the way as I was only a child.
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Hi Maz. It wasn't just because the tonsil operation went wrong. It wasn't long since my beloved Grandfather had died and, being only 9 and having to see his dead body there was a nightmare which I hadn't recovered from. Once I was diagnosed with diabetes I was treated like a leper, and it took time and a lot of willpower to make up my mind which way I wanted to go.
 
Halmoons said:
Dear Richard
As a diabetic of only 56 years
I found the comment by the doctor quite fimlar
In how people perceive diabetes in those dark days
But thank goodness for my mum who fought hard for me both at school and at home to get the support I needed
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Yes, my mum helped me too. But when it came to the point of being treated as nothing but a diabetic, then I had to break away and seek to make my own way in life.
 
Richard Bemand said:
Hi Maz. It wasn't just because the tonsil operation went wrong. It wasn't long since my beloved Grandfather had died and, being only 9 and having to see his dead body there was a nightmare which I hadn't recovered from. Once I was diagnosed with diabetes I was treated like a leper, and it took time and a lot of willpower to make up my mind which way I wanted to go.
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Such a shame you had to go through that. Thank goodness things are more enlightened these days.
 
MikeyBikey said:
As a diamond diabetic who has had a leg amputated I thought it would be interesting to look at your story. However, your book is only available in Australia. I thought I would try the sample first as after my unexpected amputation (I went in for day surgery {angioplasty} and stayed there months} I read a number of books by amputees and TBH most were not worth the bother and I only finished one. However e-books across-the-miles seem an issue so I think you need to chat with your publisher!
Click to expand...
Mikey, admin have told me that the best way to contact me is through Private Conversation. This keeps our emails private. If you wish to do so about my book then please do so.
 
Welcome to the forum @Richard Bemand and congratulations on 65 years of living with T1
 
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