Living with diabetes - then and now

More people are now living longer than ever with type 2 diabetes and the diabetic elderly often face unique challenges.

One such person is Egbert, a long term type 2 diabetes sufferer. Originally born in Jamaica, he spent much of his adult life in the UK and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes aged 37. Now in his 85th year, he shares his story with GACD’s Eshe Jackson-Nyakasikana on how he copes with the disease and on some of the challenges he faced as a busy diabetic father of five and as an ethnic minority living in 1960s London.

How long have you lived with diabetes?

For about 48 years. I was diagnosed aged 37. There are quite a few people with diabetes in my family so it wasn’t a shock to me. When I was younger I used to eat a lot of sweet things like coconut drops and sugar cane – I don’t do that any more.

When I was younger there weren’t any diabetes clinics, you just had to manage on your own. Your doctor only saw you for check-ups and he told you to get more exercise…

What measures do you take to make sure you maintain healthy blood sugar levels and do you find it harder to manage your condition as you get older?

Well it (diabetes) hardly had any effect when I was younger; I seldom paid it any mind. I didn’t know I had diabetes until the doctor told me. I had to adjust my diet to not include so much sugar and I gradually got used to it. You had to do it or die. I never really exercised, I was too busy! And I can’t do that now as I have a foot injury. I’ve been doing the same thing for years, but now I am older I try not to worry too much about it – but it is hard. I occasionally have some cake.

Do you feel you were fully informed about your condition by your doctor?

Well I wasn’t told about it really, I was just told I had diabetes and I had to watch my diet – and I did the best I could. At the time I didn’t know how I got it, but I assumed I had it because it ran in my family. When I was younger they didn’t have the diabetic clinic, but I go to that now. I didn’t really know the risks of diabetes or that having lots of sweet things in your diet would cause it.

How do you think living with diabetes has affected your health overall in your old age?

Well, it effects my circulation, my eyesight has got a lot worse, everything really. It’s not that bad – I live with it. I had an accident in the past and now I have problems with my foot because of it. I have had accidents in the past where my blood sugar levels have got too high, but I just try and do my best.

What challenges have you encountered living with type 2 diabetes?

Your doctor only saw you for check-ups and he told you to get more exercise but you couldn’t, I was working and then there were the children – there was no time. It was difficult, even if you wanted to exercise you couldn’t, because of the discrimination. You couldn’t go to certain places like the park because it was dangerous. So I just watched what I ate and hoped for the best.

Do you think if you didn’t have diabetes you would have lived a more fulfilled life?

Oh yes, but only partially. I could have travelled more and probably would have taken part in more outdoor activities like cricket and such. I have to always go to the hospital for check-ups and sometimes I have high blood sugar levels so I could do without that!

How often do you go to diabetic clinics, do you find them accessible as an elderly person?

Well yes now they are – I go every couple of months, it depends. I didn’t go to a diabetes clinic for 20 years! But now I get help and I get transport (to and from the diabetes clinic). If I didn’t get that I probably wouldn’t go, I have a foot problem you see.

What advice would you give to younger generations who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes?

Well just try to watch what you eat and exercise. Go for check-ups regularly, maybe twice a year, and try not to worry or stress about it, if you are healthy and watch your diet then you will be OK.