Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

The doctors said she would not graduate high school, she would not get married and she most definitely would not have children.

At the age of 15, Dorothy Thoeny, of Forest Lake, was told she would live a very short life because of a debilitating disease called diabetes.

In 1956 Thoeny was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and was sent home.

Later that night Thoeny went into an insulin coma and was rushed to the hospital.

Ten days later she walked out with a ìdiet sheet,î two needles, a stainless steel syringe and never went back.

Type 1 diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association ìdiabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin.

ìInsulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.î

In Type 1 diabetes, which affects mostly children and adolescents, the body does not produce insulin at all.

Fortunately, the disease that affects roughly ì20.8 million peopleî in the United States can be controlled by insulin injections that raises the glucose level in the body.

However, serious complications like heart and kidney disease can arise if a diabetic does not have full control over their diet.

Growing up

Thoeny, one of four children, grew up on a small farm in Greeley, MN, a small city between Braham and Rush City.

Because of Thoenyís ìconditionî she was dropped from the familyís insurance immediately after being diagnosed.

ìBack then a bottle of beef or pork insulin only cost $2.49, but it was expensive,î Thoeny recalls.

Beside the cost of the medication, Thoeny was confused on how diabetes would affect her.

ìI knew I couldnít have any sugar, but I also didnít think I could eat in between meals,î Thoeny said.

She said she once ate one string bean in between meals and was worried what it might do.

Since Thoeny was insulin dependant she had to balance her sugar intake with a shot once a day.

However, taking a simple shot in the leg was much more difficult than it is today.

ìI had to boil the needles in hard water to clean them, but it made them dull,î Thoeny said. ìThe needles were dull before I even used them.î

As Thoeny got used to life with diabetes, surprisingly her life kept going.

In 1959 Thoeny graduated high school and two years later, at the age of 21, she married her husband Gerry.

Even though Thoeny had learned to control her diabetes and was basically in perfect health she had a hard time finding a job.

ìI would fill out application after application but I was told I would not get hired,î Thoeny said. ìNo one wanted to take the risk.î

She eventually found work with a local banker and was given insurance to pay for her medical needs.

Soon after Thoeny married Gerry, the two became pregnant.

Once again Thoeny surprised the doctors by not only having one child, but two.

The effects

Though Thoeny kept up with her diet, occasionally there are moments in which Gerry has to step in to help.

ìWeíre like a book,î Gerry said. ìI know right away when she is low.î

When Thoeny doesnít realize she is low, Gerry knows immediately when he walks in the door.

ìShe has slurred speech, a cold sweat and sometimes her attitude changes,î Gerry said. ìIíll give her some orange juice and within five to 10 minutes she is fine.î

Thoeny had her ups and downs over the years, but in 1989 when she was switched from a beef/pork insulin to a synthetic insulin, her diabetes had gotten out of control.

Thoeny recalled days when she would not get out of bed because she was too tired.

Some mornings Gerry had to come back home from work just to wake her up.

After almost four years of this, Thoenyís diabetes eventually put a strain on her career as a cook in the Forest Lake school district and she stopped working all together.

ìI went down to see a specialist at Park Nicollet after that,î Thoeny said. ìThe doctor said it was my diet and that I had to eat in between meals.î

The doctors also found out that since she had been switched to a synthetic insulin, she had been taking double doses. The difference in the synthetic versus the natural insulin dosage was not equal and was a large enough amount of insulin to throw off her entire system.

ìFor the past 37 years Iíd been taking one shot a day but once I switched insulins I have to take four shots a day,î Thoeny said.

Once her diabetes was under control Thoeny went back to work as a cook, part-time at the Forest Lake High School until 2002 when she retired.

The award

Over the summer Thoeny learned about the Eli Lilly and Company, a well-known producer of insulin, that keeps track of diabetes survivors.

She sent in a letter and filled out an application letting the company know how long she has lived with diabetes.

A couple weeks later the Lilly Company sent a letter and medallion back to Thoeny.

The letter stated that she had received the ìLilly For Life 50-year Insulin Award,î one of only 1500 that had been given out since 1974.

The company congratulated Thoeny on not only keeping up with the ìregular demands of daily life,î but also ìchecking blood glucose levels.î

Now, at the age of 65, Thoeny is enjoying her retirement by visiting her grandson and keeping up with her neighbors on their daily walks.

The Thoenyís also celebrated another milestone over the summer.

On August 26, the couple celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

For more information on diabetes visit the American Diabetes Association web site at www.diabetes.org, or for information on Eli Lilly and Company visit www.lilly.com.

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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