Type 1 since 1968. I remember my dad taking me to the doctor up until I was thirteen. He used to make charts for me in a little notebook so I could write down the results of the clinitest. And the majority of the time I skipped the test. I could never go pee on schedule. I started going to camp when I was thirteen. It was camp Ko Man Chee.in Ohio. I don't know if that is spelled right. But that is the only time I tested and got the right amount of insulin or at least try. I seldom had lows because I was probably high all the time. I had a dark brown or orange test most of the time. So the nurses switched me from u40 lente to u80 lente and gave me more insulin. When I got back home it was back to the old insulin.
I spent two months in the hospital when I was diagnosed. And they took blood from me many times a day. When I got home the doctor never ordered any blood test. And he believed what was on my notebook of tests. My mom divorced my dad when I was thirteen. And she paid no attention to what I was doing as far as diabetes care. She took us to a fast food place to eat after school. And I drank regular coke or maybe a milk shake. She was and still is not one who says "you shouldn't eat that." It's more like; well to give an example she took me and my son out to eat. He ordered this big chocolate cake with ice cream and covered with hot fudge syprup. She asks me if I want one. I said no she says are you sure? Now when I was first put on the pump I was told I could eat any thing I wanted. So I had a dairy queen blizzard. I tried a dual boluz. My blood sugars went sky high. When I was fifteen my doctor said I needed to go on a diet because I was gaining too much. He told my mom if I continued to do so I would die by the time I was thirty five. And he also switched me to u100 lente. So I followed that diet very strictly. My mom didn't do any thing as far as making sure I ate right. I made my own lunch for school. I made my lunch for school and once I forgot. My mom brought it to school . Then she asked me what I would do if she didn't bring it. It wasn't really any problem at the time keeping her from bringing it to me. And it was the only time I forgot; so I said ; Well, I guess I won't have lunch. So she says , "You don't have to stick to this diet to the letter!" I think I went into some teenage depression after that . We moved I had to go to a different Jr. High. and there wasn't any thing in the kitchen to take for school lunch. So I brought my lunch sandwich and chips. And when I was home I started eating all the time. And I gained twenty lbs during 9th grade I was fat. Mom thought there was something wrong so she took me to the doctor. Oh, when I lived with my mom I never went to the doctor for checkups. When I went to camp for the last time at sixteen she said I was getting too old to go. So the doctor put me in the hospital and I had to go through test. He had a psychologist talk to me and I was supposed to see him after I got out. But my mom never took me.
I am supprised that I never went into dka. Until I was twenty . By that time I was over twenty lbs overweight.
I'm sorry this is probably not interesting to anyone and it's long.
But that is my story as a child growing up with diabetes.
Wow, I am so sorry to hear you had such a rough time, mostly alone as a teenager, with your diabetes care. My son is 13 and was diagnosed with type I at 10 years old. He probably thinks I am a major pain about his diabetes care. Hopefully he will look back and be thankful. May God bless you!
Wow! What a hair raising story! I'm sorry to hear about those experiences but am always interested in hearing about what I refer to as "the dark ages", before BG testing and all the other "goodies" we have these days. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing. It confounds me when I hear moms not being on top of their child's diabetes care and learning all they can and being proactive in their management. Even in those times. I was born in '68, "in the dark" ages, yes, but from what you describe, there could have been room for better care. My grandmother was diagnosed type1 in 1924, she survived to raise a family and live another 40 years! I'm hoping to get her memoirs and share them. My son was diagnosed two years ago, he uses a pump, cgm and I do the best I can for his quality of life. I am thankful that now we can know what his BS is at any given time and the resources, research, tools and support to help him stay as close in a normal range as possible without making life too difficult. Be well. :)