Charlotte's story

I wanted to share my diabetes story as a granddaughter of someone who had type one.

My Grandma was diagnosed aged 35 with type one diabetes, so I'd always known her with it. She made us aware of it from a very young age and I knew the signs that she needed sugar from the age of 6 or 7, and I'd just go to the fridge and get some chocolate (gran was so proud and would tell anyone interested). I was never frightened, she made sure to show that she wasn't scared and nor should I be. She made sure we also knew the symptoms to look out for for ourselves, and emphasised the importance of looking after your feet, making sure she saw a podiatrist every 6 weeks without fail.

Grandma took care of her diabetes herself. And this was how she wanted it. But this is where it started going wrong in her last few years.

Gran was diagnosed with kidney cancer in her late 70s. She had to have one removed (turns out they could have left it) and her other kidney was too small and deformed, and did all the work. Eventually, the last 2/3 years of her life, she had to have dialysis.

She lived with Grandad, which gave us extra peace of mind, but Grans mental health was declining and we were unaware of the extent.

In 2019, Gran was hospitalised with ketosis. This was an extremely scary time. And this is where it started to become a struggle. But, In 2020, my Grandad died, and the struggles became worse. This was also in the middle of covid, making it extra difficult. Mum and my sister would help whenever possible. Unfortunately, I couldn't help much because I have cerebral palsy. Grans mental health rapidly deteriorated in that year, to the point that she would hallucinate and trust no one. However, she trusted me. Because she was very independent and dealt with her diabetes herself, she was very stubborn and she couldn't see for herself that she needed help. It took me time to convince her to allow me to contact her nurse and social services. I contacted them desperate for help, with her written consent, but, because I have cerebral palsy, no one took me seriously, and they made up loads of invalid excuses. By the last few months of her life, our roles were almost reversed and it was like talking to a child.

We lost Gran two weeks before social services finally rung. I feel so unbelievably let down by the NHS. Her GP was contacted multiple times but they kept saying there's nothing that can be done if Gran didn't want help. But there was. It was a safeguarding issue. My fears came true because Gran didn't have the support she needed. Even now, I can't understand why the GP couldn't have advised us or redirected us for support.

If I could have changed anything, it would have only been Gran realising when to let people in to help. It upsets me everyday that she wouldn't accept any help for so so long, and when she finally agreed, I let her down because I couldn't get the help.

Through the ups and downs though, I will always be the proudest Granddaughter in the world! She would travel, and have fun. Diabetes didn't stop her doing what she wanted! She was surprised to have received a medal from the diabetes society for living with diabetes for 50 years, which made our family even prouder!