This week I chat to Pete Davies, a retired teacher who was diagnosed with diabetes in 1956 at the age of 2 – that’s some 63 years strong with type 1. He didn’t have an insulin pen or glucose meter until he was in his 30s.
Growing up in Kenya in the 1960s, Pete would inject using glass syringes and needles that needed to be boiled and sharpened between uses. There were no blood glucose meters, so Pete and his family would use urine tests and a colour chart to gauge glucose levels – anything below 10 mmol/l was considered ‘low’, and the results would be four hours behind his current blood sugar levels.
Having discovered the diabetes community more than 50 years after his diagnosis, Pete now spends his time sharing his experiences with other type 1s and healthcare professionals, having witnessed huge advancements in treatment and technology over his lifetime. It was fascinating to hear how far we’ve come in just a few decades, and speaking to Pete made me feel a lot calmer about the day-to-day incessant nature of living with type 1. Above all else Pete is a lovely, lovely man and one we’re very lucky to have within the community.
I HAD to publish some of Pete’s past equipment here for you to see – it really is quite something and this was very much Pete’s day-to-day reality of managing diabetes for a substantial period of his life. Take a look…
Basic Syringe Kit (used for insulin injections)
The Great Bectin Dickinson Injector… quite the contraption!
A little needle comparison for size… (ouch)
Pete’s standard urine test kit – no blood test strips available
His daily diabetes kit in the 70s and 80s… to be carried around at all times
Impressive isn’t it!?
Pete’s stories are absolutely fascinating and he’s proffered that he’s happy to answer any questions about his experiences of growing up with type 1 diabetes so do say hello!
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