Living the sweetest life

“I want to inspire those who have diabetes. I want to tell them that they can still lead an amazing and happy life; and have good quality of life…”

These are the encouraging words of Alphonsus Daly, who grinned from ear-to-ear this week as he held aloft a shining silver medal, gifted specially to him for living with diabetes for the last 60 years.

The eye-catching ‘Robert Lawrence medal’ recognises the courage and perseverance one possesses when facing diabetes each day, but for the Carrickmore resident, it serves more so as a valiant reminder that life is still beautiful – and very much worth living.

Alphonsus, a retired school teacher, known for his passion and enthusiasm for the craft – as well as his kindly nature – was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was a 17-year-old boarder at St Patrick’s College in Armagh.

“I was 17, and came home from college at Christmas time 1960,” he reflected.

“My mother noticed that I was drinking a lot of water, and remembered that she knew of somebody constantly drinking liquid who died from the condition.”

The next day, Alphonsus visited local GP, Dr Quinlivan, who, after carrying out a number of tests, broke the news.

“Being told I had diabetes came as quite a shock,” Alphonsus described. “I was immediately rushed to hospital so that my condition could be stabilised.”

During his three week stay in hospital, Alphonsus also learned an arsenal of techniques required to manage the condition.

“Having done so,” Alphonsus continued, without a glimmer of fear or defeatism, “I accepted, with respect to the condition, that I could live a full life.”

A self-fulfilling prophecy, Alphonsus completed his education, attended teacher training, and enjoyed an incredible 35 year tenure at St Colmcille’s Primary School, Carrickmore.

He also coached children’s GAA teams, and takes special pride in former players, including Seamus McCallan, Ciaran Loughran, Brian and Conor Gormley, who played for Tyrone in All-Ireland finals.

It is, perhaps, ironic that by delving into the many ways diabetes could be treated, Alphonsus gained an invaluable freedom to enjoy life, and all its glories, to the full.

And indeed, threaded across the fabric of six decades, Alphonsus has benefited from many new and innovative approaches to controlling the life-long disease, which causes a person’s blood sugar levels to become too high.

A disease well-managed

In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce a hormone called insulin. However, we all need insulin to live, as it allows the glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies.

Type 2 diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin or the body’s cells do not react to insulin – is far more common than Type 1. In fact, the NHS state that around 90 per-cent of all adults with diabetes have Type 2.

The main symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the same – feeling very thirsty; urinating more frequently than normal, particularly at night; feeing very tired; genital itching; weight loss/loss of muscle bulk; blurred vision – and it is imperative to visit a GP as soon as possible if you are experiencing the aforementioned.

While scientists are unsure of what causes Type 1 diabetes – diet and lifestyle are not factors – it can develop quickly over weeks or even days.

Despite this, many of the problems associated with long-term high blood sugar levels – damage to your heart, eyes, feet and kidneys – can be prevented by receiving the right treatment, lifestyle, diet and care.

“Initially, I administered two injections,” Alphonsus explained. “Now, I use two types of insulin and I inject more frequently. This has facilitated much better management of this condition.”

The most significant change for the retired teacher, however, came approximately two years ago in the form of a clever, convenient and helpful system known as the ‘FreeStyle Libre’ – a sensor-based glucose monitoring device.

“This has substantially reduced my need to do the traditional finger prick to check my blood sugar levels,” Alphonsus, who is currently using the brand new FreeStyle Libre 2 system, said. “Instead, I can do so using a monitor or my phone.

“This also helps me understand how my body is responding to food, exercise, and gives me a complete picture of my glucose levels – not just a moment in time.”

Fervently pointing out that ‘regular checking of your blood sugar is essential for good management of the condition’, Alphonsus added, “The FreeStyle Libra 2 system, just recently introduced, has an in-built alert system which makes me aware if my blood sugar is too low or too high.”

Aside from cherishing his beautiful Robert Lawrence medal, Mr Daly also holds dear to his heart an ardent card sent to him by former Tottenham Hotspur and England star, Gary Mabutt.

For the full story with Alphonsus, check out the latest Ulster Herald – in stores now.