Patrick ’Sonny’ Duff (Type 2 diabetes), Ireland
I wish I could live my life all over again – and I would do it just the same!
I am the eldest of nine children. My name is Patrick, but my nickname has been Sonny ever since I remember. My mother gave me that name. Today I am 73 years of age, and about 20 years ago I was diagnosed as having Type 2 diabetes.
I have never been fond of going to the doctor, but after a long period when I could not stop drinking water all the time, and I was sleeping a lot, I eventually went. The doctor listened to me for two seconds. He knew straight away what was wrong with me, and he sent me to the hospital.
Back then I did not know much about diabetes. It was not until I was diagnosed myself that I realised my cousin actually died from diabetes when he was in his forties. He had his foot taken off. When I was diagnosed I thought I was the only unlucky one, but I have been surprised at how many people with diabetes I meet when I go to the hospital.
I was on the tablet for almost 10 years and I simply refused to take insulin. My opinion was that needles were only for junkies. But my doctor persuaded me to take insulin, and I am glad I finally listened, because now I feel so much better. I do not think that my condition causes me many problems. I take my insulin every morning and every afternoon. Now and then I get a hypo, but I have learned how to handle it.
My wife and me live in the city Athlone in the heart of Ireland. I have had many different jobs – I was a soldier and a bus driver. But the furthest away I have ever been is London. When we lived there, every day I looked up into the sky and said: ‘God, what would I give to be back in Athlone!’. I love the peace, the countryside and the people here.
I used to be a fairly fit man. I played football and went cross-country running. But when I saw the young fellers doing it better than me, I stopped! Now I grow vegetables in my garden and look after my flowerbeds. I have five children and 13 grandchildren. All of them live close to us and I see them almost every day.
I worry more about my wife than about myself. She has diabetes as well, and she has some heart problems. We are very close and spend almost all our time together. I know I am not perfect, and I do not go by the rules. And I know that my children and grandchildren keep an eye on me and worry about me. But I have made a choice to live the life that I want. I have always done that and I am not going to let the diabetes get in my way.
