The UK’s Home Secretary, Theresa May, has revealed that she was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
It was a real shock and, yes, it took me a while to come to terms with it,” she said. “It started last November. I’d had a bad cold and cough for quite a few weeks. I went to my GP and she did a blood test which showed I’d got a very high sugar level – that’s what revealed the diabetes.
“The symptoms are tiredness, drinking a lot of water, losing weight, but it’s difficult to isolate things. I was drinking a lot of water. But I do anyway. There was weight loss but then I was already making an effort to be careful about diet and to get my gym sessions in.”
The Home Secretary says she has been told that she will have to inject herself with insulin twice a day for the rest of her life–but she has no fear of needles and intends to carry on in her Cabinet post.
Mrs May’s determination to get on with her life reminds me of my mother, Molly Ellis.
June 1955. Brother Jack in Molly’s arms. Her doctors overcame their doubts about letting her proceed with the pregnancy despite being a Type 1 diabetic.
Molly was diagnosed with Type 1 aged 38 in 1953.
She too injected herself twice a day for the rest of her life.
Eventually she died of a sudden heart attack linked to her condition–but she made it to 67–almost 30 years with Type 1 diabetes–and in those days treatment was not as advanced as it is now.
Molly was not a professional politician–and the cabinet she loved best was hanging in a corner! But she carried on leading a full life, running the household and raising three boys.
The last six years of her life were spent in a Buckinghamshire village called Brill–not too far from Oxford. She and Dad retired there from London. They threw themselves into village life and were much appreciated for it.
I’d wager that not many in the village, apart from her doctor, John Spence, knew she was diabetic–and few would have understood what it meant.
Molly relaxing in Brill–after preparing lunch I’d guess!
She never liked to make a fuss.
Her heart attack happened one morning as she was finishing dressing to go shopping. Her heart finally gave up after years of struggle.
Her gift to me was an understanding of how damaging diabetes can be if ignored. When I received my diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in my mid-fifties, I took it seriously, thanks to witnessing my mother’s journey.
There’s still a shocking ignorance surrounding the condition.
Theresa May’s high profile and very public admission that she is Type 1 helps focus attention on and heighten awareness of this ruthless and insidious menace.
Robin Ellis 
Robin, this went straight to my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I hope you don’t mind if I share this on Facebook.
Bonnie
Thanks–no of course not, Bonnie.
Have a lump in my throat reading your post, Robin. What a brave soul your Mum was! If I ever had to do needles, I’m not sure I could. My personal terror.
I was in college & my mom was a little young when doctors decided her sometimes strange behavior was from dementia–this was not too long before we started hearing the word “Alzheimers” all over the news, and not much was yet understood about it. I’ve heard it aptly called “the long good-bye…” A terrible thing to live through, losing her bit by bit.
My mom’s hairstyle was similar to your mom’s…I remember her putting it up in curlers every Saturday. She was always very fussy about her hair…I loved it when she talked on the phone, ‘cuz she’d talk a long time & I would sit right next to her and she’d play with MY hair…
Thanks for the memories.
Your mother was a lovely woman. Diabetes was even worse in those years but still today a very frustrating disease. I wish I had some of your discipline. You strive very much too eat right all the time. Sadly I am an emotional eater and get off the track. Your blog helps to get me back eating properly. Thanks for the encouragement.
Keep on keeping on Virginia–it’s all any of us can do!
She has an air of easy elegance. What a treasure! She gave you the gift of life. Twice!
What a lovely remembrance of your mother! And what a brave and beautiful woman she was.
Brilliant commentary. It should be available to be read by others than those of us following your posts.
Oh my, Brill on the Hill! There are some memories. I grew up in a tiny Oxfordshire hamlet between Chinnor & Thame. “Lark Rise to Candleford” is my annual re-read, do you know it?
Hello Shelagh–I never read the book, always liked the title! Well you grew up very close by brilliant Brill. One windmill remaining but the brickmaking works long gone.A characterful place.
Hello Robin yes Mrs May has been very brave to come “out” with the truth about being a diabetic,it is still not in the public eye enough.Your lovely mum was so brave, but that is what you have to do,get on with life or the thing has won on all counts.Like you when Jimmy found out what wrong with him,it was better knowing and wondering why he felt so ill,it wasn’t easy coming to terns with it he injects twice a day.It’s thanks to people like yourself and now Mrs May that are not afraid it highlight this beast that hopefully will get the message out there and make more people aware and get the tests done sooner rather than later.
My family history shows a trail of Type 2 for several generations culminating in both my paternal grandparents having it, and then my father. I had gestational diabetes when pregnant with 2 of my three sons, and am now in my mid 50s – eating well, exercising regularly and under care of vigilant doctors and have kept it at bay so far but in the last few years have been observing a steadily rising blood sugar level, despite eating well and regular exercise. One of my three now adult sons has heeded the message and has adopted a healthy lifestyle (cycles 50 ks most days and eats well), but the other two are heading straight for trouble unless they get their diets and lifestyles sorted.
As a high school teacher we are seeing more diabetes now with the adolescent crowd.I already knew something of your mom from the foreword in the cookbook.Nice that you revealed more here.She sounds so fiesty,a real trooper.
Your mum was lovely!
Did you know her Shirley?
Good that diabetes is now being talked about, if more people in the public eye own up to having the disease research will be funded and a cure found. I have type 2 and was diagnosed in 2000 on 3 tablets per day and two insulin injections . I come from a long line of diabetics including my Mother who lived to 94. It’s all about management and “getting on” with life. A healthy diet is important for everyone anyway but being diabetic focuses the mind, also I’m Ceoliac,but everyone can adapt to their situation. Would be interested in getting your book good recipes are always welcome.
Thanks Nora–I agree absolutely with you. It’s manageable.
Hi Robin
Heard you on Radio 4 on Saturday morning which led to me finding this blog, strange how things happen. We have a facebook page run by our Diabetic team and a Diabetic family team within it, good for members to post about treatment and difficulties and also fund raising ventures. The Specialists also post on research and new treatments, good support stops feelings of isolation.
Good to see you’re expanding your artistic and creative talents to our benefit. 🙂
Thanks again Nora for that info. I will check out your facebook page.