This coming August 8th, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 11. Jokingly, I've been told that I might receive some recognition. While a gold Libre 2 seems a bit excessive, a gold watch with the inscription '50 years diabetic - handled with care' would definitely bring a smile.
In 1973, I was initially misdiagnosed with a virus and admitted to an infectious disease hospital. They eventually realized it was diabetes when I was on the brink of death. My father later shared this information with me. I was then transferred to a children's hospital to learn how to inject insulin into oranges using a hypodermic syringe and to understand exchanges, not just carbohydrates, through apples, bananas, and potatoes. However, my knowledge on this subject would expand in time.
During my time at the children's hospital, my parents took me out for a day trip to the seaside along with my brothers. They all bought fish and chips, and my memory of that event is rather simple. As many can relate, my parents said I couldn't eat all those chips. I argued that I could and questioned why I couldn't.
Simply put, it was my parents who guided me and made sure I ate the correct things. They always ensured there was something available to maintain my diet, even though it sometimes caused jealousy between my brothers and me. They would wonder why I could have certain things that they couldn't. Unbeknownst to me, it also posed a financial burden on them to maintain my dietary requirements. Meanwhile, school bullies and their ilk attempted to steal my food, not understanding that 'you don't need that.' Depending on the sport or time of day, I did.
In my third year at school, my parents were informed that due to my diabetes and the need for outpatient care (as I never returned to hospitals as an inpatient during my school life), I would not be placed in classes that allowed me to take O levels. I was only eligible for CSEs, with the possibility of obtaining an equivalent if I excelled. Nevertheless, I left school at 16 with three CSE grade 1s. Later on, I returned to school in the sixth form, where I acquired four additional O levels and an O/A level. Diabetes wasn't a factor and has never been.
I joined the civil service as an administrative assistant and gradually moved up to admin officer in various departments. However, that wasn't my true calling in life. I had started playing music when I was 18, and that passion has never left me, alongside my interest in web design. Alongside these changes, advancements were made on the diabetic front. I obtained my first Novopen, but due to a job offer, I left the civil service after more than 20 years and ended up working for a PR company in London, handling clients such as Lesley Ash, Jeff Banks, Unilever, and Tilda.
During this period, I unknowingly met my future wife, which led me to quit that job and move to the land of Gavin and Stacy. Even our house had the same peculiar arrangement, with the front room leading to the kitchen, and then the bathroom.
But when I returned to work in wales for an employee who you might have thought would be conscious of adjustments at work for the disability - basically for most diabetics that’s being allowed to check your blood sugars when needed, the ability to eat something on the work floor, in case blood sugars need to addressed, or time out without prejudice if blood sugars are low to give you time to address it, or having a place to inject that isn’t the toilets (it became a “oh no, not this again” terminology, which without being impolite was in fact more the male cow, and it’s excrement, sometimes loudly).
That employee was the department of work and pensions, who didn’t like that my doctor had placed me on an extended time off period due to the fact I was loosing weight, I could wear a T-shirt in winter and still feel hot, and my blood sugars were always very very low - I had been diagnosed alongside my diabetes - with hypothyroidism - a dangerous combination. So after I had completed my sick period of 12 weeks, I returned to work, but was requested to obtain a return to work sick note, I duly did that, and subsequently my doctor signed me off again for another 12 weeks, this then started dismissal proceedings, yet in the meantime I was given promotion, so I was dismissed from DWP - it’s Jobcentre records department, but given promotion and was told to attend my new position working for the Child Support Agency, I duly did the training, which took 3 months, but just afterwards, whilst I was in the job, I was again informed that I had been dismissed, because they weren’t informed until that point I had been dismissed in my last job due to illness. I duly took them to a tribunal, and won the case, but was told at the time to not mention this for 10 years… that’s now way past.
After I won the tribunal case I was no longer able to work as a civil servant, I transitioned to a telephone-based call center role. Initially, I worked for a company supposedly associated with twin brothers based on numbers, and later I moved to an offshoot of a big telephone company specializing in mobile phone contracts.
The working hours at these call centers made it challenging to maintain my diabetes management routine. I had difficulty finding time to eat, do blood tests, and take insulin injections. I invoked the United Kingdom's disabilities at work act to request necessary changes, such as having a break for blood tests and a fixed lunch break that aligned with my daily regime.
The directory enquiries company was understanding and accommodated my needs after getting an outside doctor's verification. They adjusted my shift pattern to better suit my diabetes management, granting me 10-minute breaks every hour if required to check my blood sugars.
However, the mobile phone company was less cooperative. Despite raising the issue again, they saw my requirements as a productivity concern and didn't consider diabetes a disability, since it wasn't visibly apparent. They didn't offer a private place for insulin injections and suggested I use the management smoking room. Faced with these challenges, I decided to avoid call center jobs.
Due to the employability issues caused by the DWP, it was extremely challenging for me to find local work. As a result, I searched for employment outside of Wales, which led to marital issues. This eventually caused a hypo that landed me in the hospital for the first time. I explained to the doctor that I take Levemir at night and Novorapid during the day before meals. However, I was never given any Levemir, and my blood sugars remained high during my hospital stay. It was only when my then-separated wife came to the hospital and provided the doctor with the Levemir insulin that things improved. Subsequently, during the separation, I moved back to Bristol, and pursued a college course in music production to become self-employed.
Time continued to pass, and I remarried and relocated to Wiltshire. Interestingly, in my 7 years of living in Wiltshire, I have only seen a consultant once. I have also been informed that my current episode of care with the community diabetes specialist nurses has ended. However, this does not impact the care I receive from a consultant. I am slightly underwhelmed by this, because it seems that since I cared for myself, in that I didn’t require outside help, and have been 50 years with the condition, I know better how to look after myself than the nurses and consultants, one wonders, because it seems that way.
To help keep my blood sugar within normal parameters, I have made an effort to eliminate products containing processed sugars from my diet as much as possible. Of course, we all indulge occasionally, but I try to remove such items from my regular diet. Although my wife tempts me with chocolate, I tend to accept only 90% dark chocolate.
To conclude, I must express deep gratitude to my mother for teaching me cooking skills and my father for ensuring consistency in meal times and stocking the cupboard with the right foods. They both deserve any accolades because, without them (may they rest in peace), I wouldn't be here today, living free from what many consider normal for most diabetics—underlying or connected illnesses. Their guidance and dedication have been invaluable, shaping my journey as a diabetic and empowering me to live a fulfilling life despite the challenges. Their love and support have made all the difference, and I am forever grateful.
In 1973, I was initially misdiagnosed with a virus and admitted to an infectious disease hospital. They eventually realized it was diabetes when I was on the brink of death. My father later shared this information with me. I was then transferred to a children's hospital to learn how to inject insulin into oranges using a hypodermic syringe and to understand exchanges, not just carbohydrates, through apples, bananas, and potatoes. However, my knowledge on this subject would expand in time.
During my time at the children's hospital, my parents took me out for a day trip to the seaside along with my brothers. They all bought fish and chips, and my memory of that event is rather simple. As many can relate, my parents said I couldn't eat all those chips. I argued that I could and questioned why I couldn't.
Simply put, it was my parents who guided me and made sure I ate the correct things. They always ensured there was something available to maintain my diet, even though it sometimes caused jealousy between my brothers and me. They would wonder why I could have certain things that they couldn't. Unbeknownst to me, it also posed a financial burden on them to maintain my dietary requirements. Meanwhile, school bullies and their ilk attempted to steal my food, not understanding that 'you don't need that.' Depending on the sport or time of day, I did.
In my third year at school, my parents were informed that due to my diabetes and the need for outpatient care (as I never returned to hospitals as an inpatient during my school life), I would not be placed in classes that allowed me to take O levels. I was only eligible for CSEs, with the possibility of obtaining an equivalent if I excelled. Nevertheless, I left school at 16 with three CSE grade 1s. Later on, I returned to school in the sixth form, where I acquired four additional O levels and an O/A level. Diabetes wasn't a factor and has never been.
I joined the civil service as an administrative assistant and gradually moved up to admin officer in various departments. However, that wasn't my true calling in life. I had started playing music when I was 18, and that passion has never left me, alongside my interest in web design. Alongside these changes, advancements were made on the diabetic front. I obtained my first Novopen, but due to a job offer, I left the civil service after more than 20 years and ended up working for a PR company in London, handling clients such as Lesley Ash, Jeff Banks, Unilever, and Tilda.
During this period, I unknowingly met my future wife, which led me to quit that job and move to the land of Gavin and Stacy. Even our house had the same peculiar arrangement, with the front room leading to the kitchen, and then the bathroom.
But when I returned to work in wales for an employee who you might have thought would be conscious of adjustments at work for the disability - basically for most diabetics that’s being allowed to check your blood sugars when needed, the ability to eat something on the work floor, in case blood sugars need to addressed, or time out without prejudice if blood sugars are low to give you time to address it, or having a place to inject that isn’t the toilets (it became a “oh no, not this again” terminology, which without being impolite was in fact more the male cow, and it’s excrement, sometimes loudly).
That employee was the department of work and pensions, who didn’t like that my doctor had placed me on an extended time off period due to the fact I was loosing weight, I could wear a T-shirt in winter and still feel hot, and my blood sugars were always very very low - I had been diagnosed alongside my diabetes - with hypothyroidism - a dangerous combination. So after I had completed my sick period of 12 weeks, I returned to work, but was requested to obtain a return to work sick note, I duly did that, and subsequently my doctor signed me off again for another 12 weeks, this then started dismissal proceedings, yet in the meantime I was given promotion, so I was dismissed from DWP - it’s Jobcentre records department, but given promotion and was told to attend my new position working for the Child Support Agency, I duly did the training, which took 3 months, but just afterwards, whilst I was in the job, I was again informed that I had been dismissed, because they weren’t informed until that point I had been dismissed in my last job due to illness. I duly took them to a tribunal, and won the case, but was told at the time to not mention this for 10 years… that’s now way past.
After I won the tribunal case I was no longer able to work as a civil servant, I transitioned to a telephone-based call center role. Initially, I worked for a company supposedly associated with twin brothers based on numbers, and later I moved to an offshoot of a big telephone company specializing in mobile phone contracts.
The working hours at these call centers made it challenging to maintain my diabetes management routine. I had difficulty finding time to eat, do blood tests, and take insulin injections. I invoked the United Kingdom's disabilities at work act to request necessary changes, such as having a break for blood tests and a fixed lunch break that aligned with my daily regime.
The directory enquiries company was understanding and accommodated my needs after getting an outside doctor's verification. They adjusted my shift pattern to better suit my diabetes management, granting me 10-minute breaks every hour if required to check my blood sugars.
However, the mobile phone company was less cooperative. Despite raising the issue again, they saw my requirements as a productivity concern and didn't consider diabetes a disability, since it wasn't visibly apparent. They didn't offer a private place for insulin injections and suggested I use the management smoking room. Faced with these challenges, I decided to avoid call center jobs.
Due to the employability issues caused by the DWP, it was extremely challenging for me to find local work. As a result, I searched for employment outside of Wales, which led to marital issues. This eventually caused a hypo that landed me in the hospital for the first time. I explained to the doctor that I take Levemir at night and Novorapid during the day before meals. However, I was never given any Levemir, and my blood sugars remained high during my hospital stay. It was only when my then-separated wife came to the hospital and provided the doctor with the Levemir insulin that things improved. Subsequently, during the separation, I moved back to Bristol, and pursued a college course in music production to become self-employed.
Time continued to pass, and I remarried and relocated to Wiltshire. Interestingly, in my 7 years of living in Wiltshire, I have only seen a consultant once. I have also been informed that my current episode of care with the community diabetes specialist nurses has ended. However, this does not impact the care I receive from a consultant. I am slightly underwhelmed by this, because it seems that since I cared for myself, in that I didn’t require outside help, and have been 50 years with the condition, I know better how to look after myself than the nurses and consultants, one wonders, because it seems that way.
To help keep my blood sugar within normal parameters, I have made an effort to eliminate products containing processed sugars from my diet as much as possible. Of course, we all indulge occasionally, but I try to remove such items from my regular diet. Although my wife tempts me with chocolate, I tend to accept only 90% dark chocolate.
To conclude, I must express deep gratitude to my mother for teaching me cooking skills and my father for ensuring consistency in meal times and stocking the cupboard with the right foods. They both deserve any accolades because, without them (may they rest in peace), I wouldn't be here today, living free from what many consider normal for most diabetics—underlying or connected illnesses. Their guidance and dedication have been invaluable, shaping my journey as a diabetic and empowering me to live a fulfilling life despite the challenges. Their love and support have made all the difference, and I am forever grateful.
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