DRWF Podcast: Artist inspired to draw after sight loss related to diabetes
We talk to Lucy Claire Dunbar about her first published book – launched to coincide with World Diabetes Day on 14th November.
This month sees the launch of a debut book from illustrator and designer Lucy Claire Dunbar.
Lucy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in her early 20s and lost her sight temporarily as a complication of the condition.
After regaining her sight, Oxfordshire-based Lucy made a promise to herself to draw every day.
From that commitment, came a hugely popular online success, where Lucy has established a fast-growing social media following with 440,000 followers on Instagram and made appearances on Radio 4's Saturday Live and TV interview with Lorraine Kelly.
The Book of Gifts compiles a range of her most popular artwork presented with a series of intertwined short stories.
The book will be published by Penguin Books to coincide with World Diabetes Day on 14th November.
The Book of Gifts is richly illustrated and aims to celebrate the kindness of strangers and commemorate loss and to reflections on the passing of time and the beginning of new opportunities as the years turn.
Our conversation with Lucy, featured in the latest DRWF podcast, looks at not only discovering more about the book, but also to learn about her own challenges of living with diabetes.
Lucy said: “I was diagnosed at two and a half years old. I don't really know any different to having diabetes. I'm one of five children and I'm the only one in the family with diabetes. I got the flu and then we think that is what triggered the autoimmune reaction. My family were really amazing following my diagnosis and I truly didn't realise there was anything different about me until I was maybe 11 or 12. I was very lucky and everyone just took it one day at a time and carried on.”
More recently Lucy has started using new technology to manage her diabetes and is awaiting a new insulin pump.
Lucy said: “I'm getting a new pump. For the last five, six years I have had an insulin pump, which is just amazing, because when I was first diagnosed, we were still injecting, my mum was drawing up syringes which was crazy.
“I also use continuous glucose monitoring, which is a complete game changer. More because I'm not embarrassed at all about my diabetes. I don't mind checking my glucose in front of people or anything, but it is just so much more discreet. You can do it so quickly now. Everything has come on so far in my lifetime, which is crazy.”
On losing her eyesight, Lucy said: “I had a bit of, I think they call it diabetes burnout, when I was around 15. I also had a reaction to one of the insulins I was given, which didn't help. So that made me swell up for a short while."
“I didn't look after myself for a very long period of time, and because of that, I developed, cataracts, and then because I wasn't looking after myself, I didn't go to the hospital. That's why it got so bad. I actually lost my sight. The medical staff who looked after me are just the most amazing people in the world because they just kept me going.”
“I promised I would never do this to myself again. Sometimes diabetes is like a real storm.”
Lucy’s father is also an illustrator animator and she has been drawing most of her life.
Lucy said: “When I'm drawing, my mind goes quiet and I think with diabetes there is a lot of noise going on. When I'm drawing for those couple of hours, everything just goes quiet and I can calm down, breathe and it heals something in me. Drawing helps me process stuff, and a lot of processing comes with diabetes.”
Lucy said her new book details the trials and tribulations of living with diabetes: “I think I realised perhaps earlier than others how precious the little moments are and that every day is a gift, particularly the times where it was nearly the end of the road for me. Every page, I hope, will relate to someone, somewhere.
“It is divided into the gifts we find in life. For example, love, friendship, kindness, and just illustrated with watercolour illustrated designs to go with the affirmations and quotes each day. Hopefully it makes someone, somewhere feel less alone. Because I think diabetes can do that. It can be very lonely sometimes because it is a lot in your head. You never get a day off. My hopes and dreams are just that if it can help people. I've almost written it for my 16-year-old self. If I could give it to her, I would.”
Lucy added: “For all people living with diabetes – just keep smashing it.
“I feel I sound like such a cliché, but just take each day as it comes. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. It is really okay to ask for help. No one is going to judge you for asking for help. That is something I wish I had known when I was when I was younger, I spent too long fighting it on my own.”
“Honestly, I feel like it is a full-time job. It is every single day. I think you are all amazing.”
Our thanks to Lucy Claire Dunbar for talking to us about living with type 1 diabetes.
Listen to the full interview with Lucy Claire Dunbar on the DRWF podcast
The Book of Gifts published by Penguin Books is available from all good bookshops instore and online from 14th November. More information here
Read more about World Diabetes Day
Read the DRWF diabetes information leaflet Eye health and diabetes
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