Type 1's from 70-79

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Comment by Rick Phillips 4 hours ago

Chris:

there have been so many. My mom was type I in the 1960's she had to boil her glass syringes after every use. The steel needles were so large and so think she would dry giving herself shots. Mom was a control subject for insulin pumps in the early 70's I saw a pump and the man was literally pushing it down the hall on a cart. I mean talk about something to use a pump today.

When the disposable needles came out my mom was so excited she gave up boiling and did a dance. She had an early laser treatment for retinopathy and the open wound care is remarkably different. Talk about a great invention,. the glucose meter. I mean when they first came out, they cost over $400 and no insurance coverage. Like all of us I started on urinalysis and the meters are just amazing. I remember the first I ever saw. It came in a kit the size of a small suitcase. When I saw it, my mom had one, she told me all about it and I told her urine was fine. Heck who wanted to carry something like that around? Geese it was a mess.

Anyway, My aunt was diagnosed as a type I when she was 11, she lasted three years. Mom was diagnosed when she was 25 she lasted 23 years. I was diagnosed as a 17 year old, I am 51. Talk about a change. My aunt used U20 for a brief time, Mom and I used U70 and U100, Folks today have no idea that insulin was anything but U100. remarkable.

Rick Phillips

Comment by Rick Phillips on January 2, 2009 at 11:19pm

I was diagnosed in 1974 here at age 17 ( I got out on my 17th birthday) and was in Disney World when I started feeling sick. (which goes to show that Disney World is not always the Happiest place on Earth). Well not for me anyway.

Beef and Pork Insulin? Yep me as well. But my favorite thing is that I ate my orange, twice before they made me give myself a shot. Hey,I was hungry.

Rick

Comment by Heather on December 19, 2008 at 1:20am

Hey guys,
My name is Heather. I was diagnosed at the age of one in 1973. Great idea for a group. I look forward to talking with you all.

Comment by lisa y. on December 17, 2008 at 7:01pm

I was diagnosed in 1979. Nearly lost my life as a child since the MD didn't run any tests and gave me a sugar laden IV. My sugar went to 2,071 ( yes, that's over TWO THOUSAND). I was in a coma until another MD figured it out.After 2 months in a hospital, I got out. I started on beef/pork insulin and then went to beef. It got discontinued so I tried Humulin for a year. I was in shock 2+ times a week. I found out I could import pork or beef insulin from the UK, so I switched back to animal insulin. What a relief!!! I have some retinopathy now, but nothing major. I read in the IDDT newspaper from the UK that animal insulins don't create complications as quickly as human insulin. Anyways, I work out 5 days a week and have 2 children. I've been blessed overall.

Comment by Erin Argueta on December 15, 2008 at 2:37pm

Hello!
I was diagnosed "Juvenile Diabetic" on May 21, 1972. I was 2 1/2. I can relate to you all. Beef/Pork ... REG and NPH? Urine in the test tubes. My brother was diagnosed 3 years after me (age 2 also) and he and I were SO bad... we figured out how to make the water turn blue and get extra food.... just add water! Oh the damage we did to ourselves. The first blood monitor I ever saw was the size of a typewriter. So glad that times have changed and that medical improvements have made our lives eaiser!

Comment by Rick on October 24, 2008 at 7:01am

You all bring back a lot of memories... many make me wonder how we made it through those days. I was dx in 1963 @ age 7. The I had no idea and neither did my folks. I remember my mother's reaction when I heard our family doctor tell her and my dad I'd be lucky to make it until age 50. That was two years ago. Those were tough years. In the hospital 5-6 times a years. The bland diets.Tes-Tape. 18 gauge metal needles with "use-until they break" glass syringes.

Comment by Lisa Ritchie on October 23, 2008 at 12:43pm

Diagnosed in 1972 at age 11... Mom saw I was losing weigh rapidly - went to a new Dr. who misdiagnosed and treated me as a Type 2 for 6 months.. went back to my original pediatrician who hospitalized me and taught me to inject myself (beef/pork insulin). Also; urine testing was IT. Such guesswork! No one taught us anything about carb counting or bolus adjustment. I only recall one extreme episode of hypoglycemia in 6th grade when I passed out in the hallway. Still and all, 36 years later and I have no complications (knock on wood!!!!).

Comment by Dena on September 8, 2008 at 2:10am

Count me in. Diagnosed in 1972 at the age of six. I still remember. I was drinking and peeing a lot so mom took me in to see the Doctor. I remember the visit. After Mom told him what was going on he said to take me over to the hospital immediately. It was just across the street. I think I spent a week in the hospital. It was scary. I remember Test Tape or was it Testape? My pork insulin was premixed at the pharmacy. One part Semi-lente and two parts lente. Had a glass syringe but my parents decided that disposable syringes were well worth the expense. Whatever that was. We just threw those in the trash. Somebody called the police on us because they saw syringes in the trash. I was in kindergarten and didn't know how to recognize a low bloodsugar so I would just pass out on whatever project we were working on. It is amazing that we survived after all of those years with no way to really control our diabetes. It is amazing what good shape I'm still in today. I don't get it. All the times we heard there was a cure just around the corner. Also, when I was a sixth grader I was invited to a sleepover. My friend told her mom that I was diabetic. Her mom said I was lying. She said I was too young to be. How frustrating. Fresca and Tab. What a treat! I was on a strict eating regimen and used the exchange program. Remember those sugar-free hard candies? They were awful and if you bit down on one you were in trouble!

Comment by Phil on September 1, 2008 at 4:39pm

Wow where does the time go? I recall waking up from a deep coma of 3 days. I was lucky to be alive they said. I had been taken into the Emergency Room. I was diagnosed then with a VERY high blood sugar. It was April something 1972. The one good thing about diabetes is we have this great community to get to know eachother and to support eachother. I recall the unrine test strips. Mine were almost always dark green. That indicated very high blood sugar. Then I had one of the 1st home blood sugar meters - it was the size of a toaster. Yes the pork insulin too. We have come a long way but I am ready for a cure - anyone else?

Comment by Tarra Robinson on August 28, 2008 at 8:27pm

I was diagnosed in 79 at 18 months old. Can't believe i have had it this long. Technology has come so far. I remember the pork insulin, urine test strips and only one injection a day.

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