Partners for life

“When Steve had his first hypo, I didn’t know what to do,” says Angela McWiggan. She’s been married for 30 years to gentlemanly larrikin Steve, who’s lived well with type 1 diabetes since toddlerhood. “I rushed to the shop and bought baked beans – who knows what they were supposed to do. And I left him alone. I did all the things you shouldn’t do.”

The couple now live and work from the same base, answering each other’s phones, helping each other. Angela doesn’t know what they’d do without Steve’s sense of humour.

Steve believes there’s always someone worse off than he is. But he also says, “I appreciate the struggles Ange has to deal with given one pain-in-the-arse husband, and the fact our two beautiful kids also developed diabetes.” The couple’s 28-year-old daughter Kathryn was aged three when diagnosed with type 1; their son, Andrew, now 25, was 16.

Angela says that she and Steve get on “exceptionally well”. He shows his appreciation. “I leave her phone messages with jokes. I buy her flowers and cards and perfume, because I love her.”

ANGELA’S TIPS FOR CARERS

“There are some things you can control and some you can’t. I wish I’d seen that earlier!

I make sure meals are on time. It’s more relaxed now, but routine has served us well.

I worked with our closest friends to create awareness and support. Otherwise, if Steve was low they might not have noticed the warning signs of a hypo – slurring speech, agitation, loss of focus, slight perspiration.

For the kids I had an organised pantry with emergency food packs, portions in small bags… my neighbours knew where things were and what to do.

I’ve learnt to reach out and ask for help. People say I’m strong in managing all of this, but you’re still a human being and you still need help.”