Irene Banting

My diabetes related history:-
Diagnosed 1963, age 11
1965 family breakdown , parents not coping with anything, let alone a child with T1, so I went to live in a children's home specifically for kids with diabetes. It was sort of across between Children's Home and boarding school. It was run by "Matron" and her husband. There were 24 school aged children there. We lived there, went to local schools and went home in the holidays. There were 3 such homes in the UK at that time. This was a real double-edged sword, as I was desperately home-sick and unhappy, but was very well looked after and learned such a lot about managing my diabetes. Not that this translated into actually managing it . Many years later my sisters told me they had envied me because I escaped our home environment. It took me many many years to get over this on an emotional level. I was a compulsive- and binge- eater and had horrendous control.
Went to a couple of daibetic children's camps and fell in love for the first time. I have never forgotten Joey as I loved him for a whole week. I often wonder if he is still alive, and we'll.
I became a Nursery Nurse and then a Registered General Nurse and then
In 1980 emigrated to Perth, W.mAustralia
Got my first meter, changed to 4 injections a day
1999 pump
CGM a few years later.
Lots of counselling.
Began to gradually find peace.
Met my lovely husband.
The best thing I ever did, in about 1995, was I got a job as a diabetes educator at one of Perth's major hospitals. Absolutely LOVED this job for 23 years. My history led me to being able to have compassion and understanding for my patients and what they were going through. I, with one of our consultants, started our pump clinic, and then a few years later I started our DAFNE groups.
I retired 2 years ago.
Luckily my eyes and kidneys are OK. Talk about Murphy's Law, I have had a detached retina, which was not related to my diabetes. I have had cataracts and had the surgery. I have also got connective tissue problems. Cheiroarthropothy of both shoulders, plantar fasciitis of both feet, wasting of fat- padding of the soles of my feet, and carpal tunnel of both hands. Trigger fingers in every one of my fingers and both joints in both thumbs. Hence 14 operations on my hands in the space of about 5 years. All surgeries were successful and my hands are fine.
Having said all that I actually feel well and happy with life.
I recently started a very low carb. Diet and this is the second-best thing I have ever done!
It's great to join this group. Feels in a way like full- circle as I belonged to the British Diabetic Association as it was called in the 60's