It's called Biomathematics if your primary subject is maths or Theoretical Biology if it is biology. The complex metabolic interactions, which depend on genetic make up, result in different outcomes. It is the process that drives evolution.
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To read or not to read......
- Thread starter Newtothis
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It's called Biomathematics if your primary subject is maths or Theoretical Biology if it is biology. The complex metabolic interactions, which depend on genetic make up, result in different outcomes. It is the process that drives evolution.
Redkite
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
I think DeusXM was trying to inject a note of optimism and a can-do attitude to cheer everyone up. I would agree that there's nothing to be gained by throwing in the towel. But complications can occur despite good control, some individuals are more susceptible than others unfortunately. My son developed microalbuminuria after only a few years of having type 1 - I have copies of correspondence back and forth between his d consultant and eminent renal colleagues in 3different hospitals - they speak of kidney damage occurring despite "excellent glycaemic control". He has just started on ACE inhibitors to try and stop the protein leaking and slow down any damage, but at 12 years old it's a daunting thing to be facing. As his Mum I try not to think too deeply too often about it, or it would be just too depressing. On the other hand, if there are measures to take to alleviate this problem and prevent it getting worse, I want to take them! And it was me that pushed for it to be investigated, not the clinic initially. Forums and conferences are great for helping inform us and empower us to do our best for our health, no matter what course it takes. Unfortunately that means some topics may be a bit scary or grim to read, but valuable information nonetheless.
I think I'm rambling! 🙂
I think I'm rambling! 🙂
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
100% agree with that.
I think it *is* important to recognise as DeusXM says that D is one of those conditions (perhaps more than any other) where our long-term prospects are significantly in our own hands rather than solely down to the skill of our Dr/clinic.
We try. We fail. We get back up and try again. We hope the work we do will be enough to keep us from developing something nasty for as long as possible. That any errant numbers we see will not cause too much damage too quickly. To put the balance of odds in our favour. To reduce the risk as much as we can (though I guess some risk will still be carried).
As US blogger Kim wrote once,
Not rambling at all and you do well to point out that what must be faced be faced. You'd lose your mind if you ignored the problems faced by your own children. When my son was diagnosed with a synovial sarcoma I did a lot of reading and it was harrowing, a 20% survival chance of 12 months. People posting on the sarcoma forums simply passed away. Desperate relatives were looking for some sort of answers to what was happening. Everyone feeling helpless but needing to stay in touch. When I eventually found a recent study by the Royal Marsden, his chances were elevated to a 60% survival chance of 5 years. That created a huge uplift in our mood, although he always remained very positive. He even put up a photo of himself eating a burger whilst he was being hooked up to his chemo. He was also supported by a large number of tattooed and pierced Death Metal fans all clad in black who came to visit him regularly. He continues to recover and is testament to the power of positive thinking. Denying or ignoring possible outcomes is not positive thinking. It takes courage to see what the odds are and accept them but not knowing will eat away slowly like an emotional acid and weaken resolve. Keep your strength, you may need it someday.
DeusXM
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It's about hope.
Cards on the table; I've my own complications from T1 after 15 years with it - so far, only background retinopathy. Do I beat myself up over the fact that this has happened to me? No. Do I think I could have done more to stop it? Yes - deep down I know that. And that gives me strength, because it means I can do more to stop things getting any worse. There seems to be some confusion here between saying 'good control can and does prevent complications' with 'good control is easy to achieve'.
I wholeheartedly believe that with near perfect control, there's no biological reason for complications. I also believe that near perfect control is almost an impossibility with the tools we have. But that's not a reason to give up. Yes, we can all say that better control could maybe have prevented this or that, but no-one's going to hold that against anyone else because getting that good control is not easy. Blaming people for their complications would be like blaming someone for failing to climb Mount Everest on the basis that they're able to walk.
I guess I'm just not prepared to accept complications as an inevitability regardless of what I do, and every time I read about some horrible complication that could happen, I don't get depressed; I just think "there's another good reason to keep on fighting." All those depressing stats - not one of them matters. The only thing that matters is how we are.
Rather than get depressed at the thought a child diagnosed with T1 today is statistically likely to have a longer life expectancy than me, I would just look at that as a personal challenge to prove the stats wrong. I don't know about you, but I draw far more support from forums in that they connect me with people like Richard Vaughn, who've had diabetes for longer than most people could expect to live full stop. Maybe they're lucky. But it'd be nice to give it a go.
I expect this thought will offend people too (and I'm really trying not to, I've lost people to cancer), but once you have cancer, there is little you can physically do on your own to get yourself better except keep the faith that you will get through it. We get so much more - there are simple things we can do every day to improve our health and improve our prognosis. Knowing what could go wrong should inspire us to keep on doing the right things, rather than weighing us down. Shouldn't we look on our ability to influence our condition as a great positive?
The fact remains that every single one of us with T1 should be dead by now. But we're not. We're all still here. We've already taken on the big battle and we're winning. Every day is a gift, and no-one should get worried about what the stats say about how many of those gifts we get.
itsallgood
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Excellent post DeusXM, inspirational.
Excellent points DeusXM, I have also lost people to cancer and if I had to choose between the big C or the big D I know what I would choose. At least we have some level of "choice" with affecting the outcomes of the big D. Would I rather not be a type 1 diabetic ? of course! but putting things in perspective is my coping strategy 🙂🙂
Thanks Redkite. Maybe I might have hidden away had it not been my son but you can't do it with your own kids. The instinct to protect your own is too strong. I hope you too find a happy way through it all. You're right. The way his odd circle of death metal heads rallied around him cheered me up as well as him. You need good people around you.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
LOL Deus, another one of Oscar's I believe?
It is better to travel hopefully, than to arrive !
I travel hopefully, me.
A bit like my boss in the lift at work when I was in my late 30's - Oooh Jenny - you have (a) grey hair !
He was delighted cos he'd gone prematurely grey - actually it suited him, but I used to tell him he looked EX - tinguished, so I spose it was only tit for tat.
But do you know, inevitable though it was, I went off to the loo and finding he told the truth - had a little weep !
It is better to travel hopefully, than to arrive !
I travel hopefully, me.
A bit like my boss in the lift at work when I was in my late 30's - Oooh Jenny - you have (a) grey hair !
He was delighted cos he'd gone prematurely grey - actually it suited him, but I used to tell him he looked EX - tinguished, so I spose it was only tit for tat.
But do you know, inevitable though it was, I went off to the loo and finding he told the truth - had a little weep !
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