My Journey with Type 1 Diabetes

My Diagnosis

During the summer of 1954 I had been continuously drinking water from the kitchen tap. So much so, that my elder brother Bob used to chant "Water, Water Everywhere nor a Drop to Drink" from the 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge'.

Mum also noticed that I had lost weight, was constantly tired & forever peeing. What also rang alarm bells for her was when I had a pee & missed the loo, the urine had dried white & sticky on the floor. All of this is what we nowadays call the 4Ts of Type One Diabetes. Toilet, Thirst, Tired & Thinner.

Sometime in September of that year Mum took me to see, Dr Elwell our GP just down the road in Tadworth Surrey where we lived. He told my Mum, Marge to take me straight to the local hospital a short 406 bus ride away. The exact date is lost in time, but all this was shortly after I had recovered from German Measles (Rubella). Mum always thought that it was this that had caused my diabetes. She was possibly right according to current research.

At Epsom District Hospital, I remember being taken up to the ward by a nurse who had said "come & see the fish" which were in the large aquarium on the children's ward. So, eagerly up I went. But then Mum left, I cried & I spent around a month on the ward being 'stabilised' before being allowed home again. On discharge mum carried home a vial of insulin, a glass insulin syringe, set of 12 hypodermic needles & a Clinitest Urine testing kit. Plus, a pamphlet about the Line Ration Diet.

I have no idea what my blood glucose levels were at the time or any other information like that. But I remember on the ward at mealtimes the potatoes, cereals & other carbohydrates were weighed on large scales before I could eat them. 'Afters' weren't allowed, making me very miserable indeed. This was all part of the Line Ration Diet that I was about to endure.

My diabetes consultant, Dr Bolton had prescribed the diet for me advising how many 'Line Rations' I was allowed per meal, to balance out my dose of injected insulin.

Mum purchased a book 'The Diabetic ABC A Practical Book for Patients & Nurses'. It was written by Dr. R D Lawrence, himself a diabetic, having been diagnosed in 1920 - becoming one of the first recipients of insulin in 1923. The book was first published in 1925 by H K Lewis & Co Ltd & was regularly updated.

The Diabetic ABC Book

Dr R D Lawrence was himself a diabetic, having been diagnosed in 1920 & he became one of the first recipients of insulin in 1923.

My consultant, Dr Bolton had prescribed the Line Ration Diet for me advising how many Line Rations I was allowed per meal, to balance out with my injected insulin. This was usefully was printed in the book. Black portions were Carbohydrates. Each carb portion was 10g. Red portions were Protein & Fats. Each portion was 7½g for Protein & 9g for Fats. One black portion & one red equalled 1 Line Ration.

You could mix & match your Black & Red portions. Dr R D Lawrence said at the time "to suit his appetite & his income". Anything that contained sugar was totally banned. As stated at first the food had to be carefully weighed. But eventually, after Mum got used to it the weighing of the food stopped.

The book described not only the diets, with a few recipes, but the different types of insulin available, the syringes, urine tests, & even care of the feet. In fact, everything you would want to know. It was very informative at the time. Re-reading the book recently really brought it home as to how much diabetes care has changed for the better in the intervening years.