I too remember being diagnosed in the 1970’s at age 11. 2 shots of mixed regular and nph pork insulin per day and as many urine tests as my mom could get me to do. Times were definitely simpler. The first blood sugar machine was a big help, but didn’t get used as much as it should have been. It took a couple minutes to complete a test and at one stage the blood had to be rinsed off the strip. I even remember using a device back in the 80’s which could use pressure to inject insulin into the body without needles. You had to place the insulin vials in adapters fill the device and place it flat against the skin push a button and hope for no pain. If you weren’t perfectly 90 degrees in all directions the jet would go in on an angle and tear the skin rather than go cleanly in. From the general thread of what people are saying we all have to do more now to maintain our diabetes, but the tasks have certainly gotten a lot easier and with some care the prognosis has gotten better. Up until reading this forum i never really spoke/chatted anyone with t1D longer than my 43 years. Welcome to all the newcomers/ long timers who responded to this thread as well…
1 Like
Mike/Scott,
Same here…age 6 in the 1970’s…over 40 years. Hope to be as successful as Dennis. I have followed him since I came to this forum.
Let us not forget the first pump in the mid-80s. Black box almost the size of a box of tissues, with red light indicators, zero safety lockouts and a needle you could practically shove through your abdomen. We knew when to change the insulin out because it stopped working due to heat instability…had chunks floating in it.
Can’t imagine what it will be like 20 years from now.