I can now reach mine a lot better than I could in February.
I am very proud that I have managed to live with type 1 diabetes for almost 58 years, (diagnosed 30.7.1961 when I was 3 years old, which was my dear mum's 35th birthday. What a dreadful birthday present!!). I am glad that so much has changed for the better in those 58 years and made life for us type 1's so much better.
Some of my successes are being married to the same wonderful man for 39 years. Giving birth to our very special son in 1983, which really was quite an achievement then as you couldn't even buy a book for guidance on being a pregnant type 1 diabetic. There was no internet and no smart phones then. I was in hospital for 5 weeks before I had my baby and had to stay in for 10 days after the birth. My son was born 6 weeks early because I had pre-eclampsia and toxemia, but the worse thing of all was that I went home without my baby because he had to stay in the special care baby unit for 3 weeks. I'm sure things are much different today for pregnant type 1's. Thank goodness. I survived pneumonia at the age of 5 (1963), survived the hormonal teenage years (without any blood testing equipment). Nursed my mum through a brain tumour for 4 months until she passed away in 2011. Five weeks after my dear mum passed, I was awarded my medal for living with type 1 for 50 years. I was devastated that mum hadn't survived to see this and share my medal because if she hadn't looked after me so well, I probably wouldn't be here today. In February 2016 I underwent a heart bypass and lived to tell the tale!! I sincerely hope that my story may help and encourage any of you out there that are struggling at the moment that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am living proof. Take good care of yourselves.