Lyn Wiegmans, a dynamic 62-year-old from Durack, in Brisbane, has had type 1 Diabetes for over 50 years. She has just had her first book published. The book’s title – Life by the Clock – Living with Diabetes says it all. Below is Lyn's story.
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Like all people with type 1 diabetes, my life is ruled by the clock – with meals, blood tests, insulin injections, and rest – all on a strict regime dictated by my diabetes. When I decided to write a book on life with diabetes, 'Life by the Clock' seemed like an obvious title!
Growing up with Diabetes
I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 10 years old but had undiagnosed diabetes from the age of 7 years old. Life was very difficult in those early days, in the late 1940s to the early 1950s, as so much less was known about diabetes then. In fact, diabetes was thought of as an old people’s disease, and I didn’t know any other child who had the disease. I felt just so different from all the other children at school and felt very isolated and odd, because I had this horrible and mysterious disease, diabetes. I was teased by the other children and would cry a lot of the time, and, all in all, I look back on my childhood years as a very difficult and lonely time.
There were very few food items that a diabetic could buy in the 1950s – the two I remember were little tins of jam from the Rosella Company and cola in glass bottles from Germany which lacked fizz. Yuck. As any long-term type 1 diabetic person would know, diet was pretty sparse and very strictly followed, with food sugar intake rigidly estimated by the ‘portion’. Certainly, diet and control became a lot easier with the introduction of human insulin.
My mother monitored my diet very strictly, and I must say that my relatively good health at the age of 62 has a lot to do with the strict grounding in managing my disease that my Mother gave me half a century ago, and which has stayed with me always.
I married in the 1960’s and to my horror my fertile years were fraught with disasters – one 21 week pregnancy, one 38 week pregnancy and one 35 week pregnancy all ending in death. That was just so devastating. But, in those days, it was common ‘knowledge’ that a woman with diabetes could not easily carry a baby to full-term, or deliver a healthy babe. Finally a fourth pregnancy ending happily with a son Adrian who is now 32 years old and the pride of my life. He is a special and resourceful young man – he had to grow up and take responsibility quickly, as my diabetes was unstable.
During those early years, my marriage failed due to pressures put on it by my diabetes and the failed pregnancies which left me bringing up Adrian as a single mother. At that time I thought that I would never be happy again. But, I was lucky enough to meet and marry a wonderful man when Adrian was 4-1/2 years old. That man, Cass, has been my lifeline and support throughout the last 27 years. There should be a Kellion medal for husbands or wives of people with diabetes, as it’s certainly no picnic living with a diabetic partner! Cass received a Carer’s Certificate for all his hard work.
How the Book Started
I had always had it in mind to write my story for my family and future generations to come, as a kind of history of the treatment of diabetes in my lifetime, as well as my own personal story. The treatment of diabetes will certainly change in the future as it has already done in the past 50 years; especially with regard to the testing of sugar from Benedictine solution over the stove to sophisticated blood glucose machines. What a change!
But how would I write all this? My book started as a pamphlet with seven pages and I was stumped – how do I write about my life? Well, maybe there was a creative writing course at one of the universities or one of the TAFEs ... I found a suitable course at nearby Yeronga TAFE and enrolled. That course was a revelation!
When I started the course the lecturer told me and other students to write on a piece of paper, explaining why we were at her course. After the two weekend course, we were given back our papers with comments. On mine the lecturer had written 'You have a very moving story to tell if you want to write it.' She said she would help me as she was an author, editor and had a publishing company as well.
That’s How I Started
My personal story was harshly edited, to turn it from purely a personal memoir, into a book that would be useful and interesting for other people as well as other diabetics – so my family is still waiting for my memoirs.
The Ups and Downs of Writing a Book
Writing the book was both a pleasure and a pain! Sometimes driven by inspiration, and sometimes by perspiration! I tried to set myself 5000 words a week as a minimum. Sometimes the words flowed, and sometimes it was worse that getting blood out of a stone!!
I laughed and cried throughout the 12 months I was writing the book, as writing it took me back to relive some sad, sad times, when I was a lonely child with a strange disease at school, and later as a young woman, facing the devastating loss of my babies, and my marriage breakup. I couldn’t have done it without the wisdom, expertise and personal support from my lecturer, author and publisher, Paulette Gee, and her publishing Company – Debut Publishing. She gave me the inspiration and support that I needed to finish this book.
Kellion Medal – 2003
The presentation of my Kellion medal by Dr Stocks in 2003 would have to be one of the highlights of my living with this disease since 1953. There were five other recipients, ranging in age from 53 years to 85 years. But the really interesting thing was that they were – WE were – ALL ‘characters’ of their own. Each one had his or her story to tell, and we all came from very different backgrounds and walks of life; but we all had in common, a certain steely determination; a capacity for laughing at ourselves and the ridiculous situations this rotten disease has put us in, from time to time; and a bloody-minded, bulldog tenacity. We all had that. I think it’s probably essential if you’re going to live to a fulfilled and ripe old age with diabetes!
The Book Launch
It was a real thrill to finally see my book in finished form. The books arrived on my doorstep on the day of the launch, Tuesday, 11 July 2006. The book launch was supported by Diabetes Australia Queensland and was held at the Tattersall’s Club in Queen Street, Brisbane, at a small gathering where I gave a talk about my book to many of my relatives and friends and other volunteers and supporters giving up their time to help Diabetes Australia Queensland.
Diabetes Australia has been a wonderful support to me, and to my Mother, over the 50+ years that I have had the disease. So I wanted to be able, in some small way, give something back. I hope that my book will be a useful resource for those with diabetes, especially those who are new to the disease. A percentage of the proceeds of the sale of each book will go to Diabetes Australia Queensland, as a small token of my personal and heartfelt thanks for a lifetime of wonderful support.
Fifteen Minutes of Fame
They say that everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame, and I’ve certainly had a lot of fun and excitement and hypos with mine. I have had several opportunities to speak about the book, as the guest speaker for the Diabetes Australia Queensland function, at a creative writing class and I have since had the opportunity to speak at a conference on 'Writing the Vision'. I can’t say that it has been easy to become an instant public speaker, but it has become a little easier on each occasion! Oh, yes, and I’ve been interviewed on radio, and by local newspapers. It’s been very interesting and a lot of fun!
What Next
I am hoping that people, especially those with diabetes, and those supporting someone with diabetes, will read my book and, hopefully, gain insight into what it is like to live with a chronic disease such as diabetes all your life. In writing this book, I have fulfilled one of my goals, at an age where, so often, our horizons are narrowing as old age creeps in. I want to encourage those who read my book, to try and face life with determination, courage and inspiration – and never give up on your dreams. If I can do it – so can you.
Information
Contact Lyn Wiegmans on (07) 3278 9820 or fax (07) 3372 7935, mobile 0412 805 372 or email lifebytheclock@optusnet.com.au for a copy of 'Life by the Clock – Living with Diabetes' or order from Diabetes Australia Queensland.