This week is my 40th diabetes anniversary. I was diagnosed during the county fair so it’s easy to remember. It was pretty classic systoms; boy who pees alottttttttt:) My mom knew right away that I had diabetes (my dad also had it) and convinced the nurse, who thought she was an overly concerned mom, to let me see the doctor. After seeing the doctor, I was sent to the hospital (not before one last hurrah at Dairy Queen before the trip…funny but, good memory.) I spent the next week in the hospital.
First Insulin - Lente and Regular - twice a day
Testing - Urine (using test tube, a tablet, and a certain amount of urine)
Diet - Exchange - 2 bread, 3 meat, 1 fruit.
Diet Soda - Tab
My story is identical to yours. Only exception is that I went to Darby’s ice cream rather than Dairy Queen and then was diagnosed. Local hospital couldn’t get my blood sugar under control so I was sent to Joslin Clinic. Still a crazy ride. Wish they had this technology when I was young.
I am also treated at Joslin clinic. I was diagnosed Type 2 at the local hospital (Cambridge City) and only when I went to Joslin did they diagnose it as Type 1. That was 11 years ago - I remember because it was my 50th birthday.
I was amazed at the difference in protocol and knowledge between Joslin and Cambridge City. It helps to be seeing diabetics all the time. Research is important too.
Congrats @jim26 - may your 2nd 40 be less eventful than the first
And I toast you on the Lente, the Clinitest, sterilizing your glass syringe and Tab *Special mention to Fresca, which was the only other go to sugar free soda at the time
Clinitabs IRC; one test tube about 50mm long and the diameter of the tablet, urine to the line (or was it a certain number of drops, I seem to remember a dropper, then water to the line?) Add tablet, exothermic reaction, coloured solution. Ah, those were the days. I had a glass syringe too, they gave me several needles, no sharpening stone, but I think I just used the same one for a year or two.
I remember it fizzing up when tablet dropped in, and getting very hot before comparing to the color chart, and then logging for doctor visit. I started on Lente only in 1965.
I was diagnosed in April 1972. I too started with Lenten and Silubin Retard tablets at first and then started using Actrapid instead of the tablets. Testing my urine though was a bit different. I used an inch of a dark blue solution into which I put some drops of urine and then boiled them over a small bunsen burner. One had to be careful and remove the solution from over the flame immediately it started boiling or else it would flow out of the tube with a great force. Comparing the colours was similar to that of using the tablet. I was greatful when strips were introduced and more greatful still that I can now keep a 24-hour track thanks to sensors even though they cost an arm and a leg and I have to get them from overseas as Abbott will not sell them in Malta.
Thanks for the stories everyone. So much hope for my 12 year old, who just had his 1st diaversary. As an engineer, I also appreciate all the tech available from another angle, and we all certainly know how “easy” it is today. We still hate diabetes, of course
Andre, I would go with easier, but not easy. I really don’t know how those 50 year plus type 1 DMs keep it all together with nothing more than urine testing, animal sourced insulin, reusable syringes and giant needles that needed sharpening. Kudus to all of them.
As a type 2 DM I was glad to get my first glucometer. I was using strips that one compared to a color chart. Hoo Boy those were subjective. Now on MDI with a CGM I feel like I am in heaven, except, I’m waiting on FedEx on a transmitter as mine died.
It is good that your 12 year old is in this era. Tell him, we all have his back, he is not alone. This is a common concern amount young T1s. Maybe if Covid lets up they can attend a diabetes camp where they find out they are not the only one in the world. Plus they get to have some fun.
Congrats 
