'Hang on in there and take note of what is being said.'

I was diagnosed in 1951 with diabetes - at seven-years-old I weighed two-and-a-half stone. 

I was in Great Ormond Street Hospital for six months. Injections were horrible huge needles, glass syringes, boiling them to keep them sterilised.

Insulin was contained in fine glass vials, very often I broke them when they fell and smashed. All my food had to be weighed. I remember also having to do excercises to strengthen all my wasted muscles and carry out urine testing for sugar. 

As I grew older, in my teens, I did not stick to my diet as I should have done.  In fact I was told at 17-years-old, if I carried on the way I was I wouldn't see 21.  Well I am now 64 ½ years old. I do suffer from not sticking to sugar levels as they should be and I regret that I never looked after my self properly. 

I would say to any young diabetic, hang on in there, take notice of what  is said, because OK it might not happen now, but when you are older,  I am very thankful to God that I am still here at 65 years. I have no eye problems, just this weakness of muscles and other things to do with neuropathy. I hope to keep going to get my medal for sixty years - in another two years.