I just bought your book… loved reading some of Dr. Berntein’s book about his life… my son is almost at the 1year point… and all you “Old timers” that are doing soooo well give me hope. He was diaganosed at aget 15 on November 14th 2009… yep. World Diabetes Day. Thank you all for sharing your life experiences…
That is one of the reasons why I am here. I want to share my experiences with all of you. Keep smiling it makes people wonder what you are up to.
Hey allamerican (Ray right?) you and I have the same reason to be here! YES THERE IS HOPE OUT THERE! All of us on this thread are living proff of that!
I was 13 when I was diagnosed. Things were pretty different back then. 
I’ve made it 33 years pretty well. It really isn’t that bad once you get in the swing of things. I wish your son well. The longer you do it, the easier it gets.
I went on food stamps when I was in school. I also, paid over 450$ a month for COBRA. I almost went uninsured but was to scared.
Wow, So how did you correct it if it was not blue? How did you calculate how much insulin etc? Also, the needles were glass at that time, correct?
When I was DXed in the 80s my folks were paying 1k a month for my health Ins. It was double our rent.
Just insane isnt it?
WOW.
Hey Don,
Yes, I had much better control on the beef Lente insulin than with any of the new ones. And the reason for the new ones…I don’t believe they are better for us but for the $$. I was paying $15 a bottle, it went out of production and then overnight I started paying $70/bottle. And I only needed two injections a day at most when on Lente.
I am fortunate to still in be good shape. Probably like you when I get the eyes examined the doc says they are clear, then asks, “How long have you been on insulin?” When I tell him he says, “I better check one more time just to be sure”. And always says you are a very fortunate diabetic.
Of course, I better quit saying how good it’s going or my kidneys may explode tomorrow.
Ouch! I hope they made lots of $$$!
Dont I wish! I eventually ended up on a major risk plan that lowered it in the early 90s to around $400, but we had to front all the cash for Drs and meds. Its our plight as PWD to suffer at the hands of Ins. Co.s I guess.
No different than what you were doing Jill!
My first glucometer, a very big one, costing 1600 francs, about 244Euros and our Social Security ( health insurance) considered non-essentiel and it was in 1985. .
Erin, why didn’t I think of that! Lol! I had red and orange most of the time. I wish I could visit all those places you have been.
Yes Doris it is me.
Ray
Hello! I thought so but wasn’t that sure of myself there! LOL!
Jill, you are right the syringes were glass. Take a look at my page. I have some photo’s. I would use some U-40, U_80, or U_100 regular insulin. It depended at what time in my life and what insulin was available. Most of the time my Mom would kick me out of the house and tell me to run around alot. The good old days.
Hey I used the U 80s pretty exclusively and glass they were. I know since I dropped a broke a couple, sometimes they broke and sometimes they didn’t just happenstance I guess. And how about all the boiling of the syringe, needle and plunger (separated) that preceded each injection (a shot for us old timers)?
Jill, Danny started a group called “Diabetes photo museum” it has a lot of GREAT photo’s from the present and long before.
I got the disposables when I took Type one but I had a first cousin who told those type of stories all the time! She took Type 1 back in the 50’s. She’s gone now but I do remember her talking about thins like that all the time.
I will never complain Danny! It is fun to go back and remember the old times, even if they weren’t very pleasant. I appreciate your Diabetes Museum group. I look at it frequently.