Gainsborough: Rose is awarded a medal after living with diabetes for 50 years

Rose Oakley, 62, of Creampoke Crescent, Hemswell Cliff, was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 12-years-old and over the last 50 years she has had to learn how to live with the condition and has seen many changes in the sophistication of equipment.

Rose said: “When I was younger we didn’t know much about it.”

“I was sick and really tired and I ended up in hospital in a coma.”

“I’d had diabetes for just a week before I was injecting myself and there was nothing to practice on but yourself.”

Rose still has one of the original needles she would use to inject herself and over the last 50 years the size of these have decreased dramatically.

Rose added: “Over the years it has changed so much.”

“It was a problem to start with as I didn’t know what was happening me.”

“I was more or less left on my own with my family.”

“I have taken really good care of myself and I’ve got no problems.”

“I’m really fit at the moment”

Rose also used to be Secretary for the Gainsborough Diabetes group before it disbanded three years ago.

Rose was nominated for the Alan Nabarro medal by her GP and the medal was sent to her in the post.