A resident of Freshwater Bay has recently been presented with a medal from Diabetes UK to mark 50 years since she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1966.
Esme Ballard has type 1 diabetes, a condition that occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, a hormone needed to control the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Only 10% of people with diabetes have type1; the rest have type 2.
People with type 1 diabetes have to administer insulin artificially before meals. It is injected into the bloodstream via a syringe or pump. Most people now use a ‘pen’ device that is easier and less painful than a standard syringe. In addition, fingers must be pricked regularly to obtain blood glucose level readings from a small hand held meter.
Esme Ballard said:
“Diabetes has had a major impact on my life. I’ve had to plan ahead what I can eat and when, and also how much exercise I am taking, every day. In my case, unusually, the condition was not inherited. Fortunately my parents had regular mealtimes and did everything they could to keep me well while I was still at school.
“I would also like to pay tribute to my husband David who has also understood the importance of regular mealtimes, my diet, and the temporary limitations imposed by very low blood sugar levels. This is caused by too much insulin or too little glucose in the bloodstream. Managing the condition appropriately has been a very fine balancing act and, so far, I have avoided any of the serious medical complications that can arise if the condition is poorly controlled.
“I feel very lucky to have had the help of diabetes specialist nurse Liz Whittingstall in the Diabetes Centre at St Mary’s Hospital. Over the last two years Liz has been wonderfully supportive in assisting me to achieve good control of my diabetes. In particular she skillfully managed my transition from using disposable syringes for my injections to the modern pens.”
Lead Specialist Nurse in Diabetes at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Liz Whittingstall said:
“Esme has been a fantastic patient to work with. Staying fit and healthy as someone with diabetes for 50 years is a real success story. Diabetes does not have to rule your life. You can stay fit, healthy and enjoy life.”
More information about diabetes can be found on the NHS Choices website at https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes/Pages/Diabetes.aspx.
