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61 years a Type 1 and counting …

NickE

NickE

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
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He/Him
I’ve recently been experiencing some trouble with my Freestyle Libre sensors after an IOS update to my iPhone which caused problems when installing a new sensor. I discovered a useful discussion here so was prompted to become a member of the Forum …

I became a Type 1 Diabetic when away at school in 1964, so I’ve gone through all the changes of treatment from different insulins, injections, diets, checking routines and much else. Almost everything has changed over 61 years! With occasional crisis in my diabetes management, usually through personal neglect, I have been pretty well served by the NHS, but most of all with the support of my wife and family which has been the real key to my relative longevity. As I’m sure everyone here already knows it is a constant battle living with this condition.

I look forward to being a part of the Forum - hello!
 
Hello and welcome! Always useful to have someone aboard with plenty of experience under their belt!
 
Hi @NickE and welcome to the forum - wow, 61 years! What a wealth of experience you bring - unfortunately phone updates whether IOS or Android often throw a spanner in the works with regards to CGMs - fortunately they do get ironed out relatively quickly as someone discovers a work around - glad you have joined us
 
Hello and welcome! I am fellow Diamond Diabetic. May I ask if you have had any serious issues because of you diabetes. After about 40 years I got cataracts and gor the default "It's your diabetes" despite then0nly family members on the female side that had not had cataract treatment were my younger niece and her son! The ophthalmologist who treated me said it was definitely a hereditary issue. Then on 2017 I developed angina and again it was "my diabetes" despite me raising concerns to my GP who after being told all the males on the male side had died early with a heart attack gave me a virual pat on the back with "You have nothing to worry about - your cholesterol and BP are fine". I had a quadruple bypass in 2018.Unfortunately I lost a leg to diabetes five years ago after a new head of vacuolar cancelled planed angioplasty and a bypass unless the was ulceration or gangrene. I got an ulcer in the first week of lockdown, was nor seen for four months and lost my leg.
 
Welcome @NickE , always great to see another who remembers glass syringes & test tube kits. Hello back at you. I’ve recently been having issue on Android with librelink since just before Christmas, having to resort to NFC scans. Though the Bluetooth connection to the third party app sending to my watch has been flawless. At the same time my Libre 2s have been giving me 15 days count down from start up. The app could be geared up for the anticipation of the “Libre 2 plus?” But I can confirm it’s not what I have been using. (Unless they are putting the wrong sensors in the old boxes?) oddly, the last sensor I fitted has been stable, even reconnecting often the odd “give it 10 minutes” message. But it still give me “15 days.” Best wishes.
 
Hello and welcome to the Forum @NickE 🙂 . I've had Diabetes for 30 years and have seen so many changes in what's available to manage the condition, should imagine it was very challenging all those years ago! I've been using Libre 2 sensors which are great but so frustrating when technology throw a spanner in the works!
 
Welcome @NickE
Great to have your wealth of experience on here.
As you say so many changes, especially in the last twenty years.

If you fancy telling us how you manage your T1 it would be great to hear.
MDI or pump? Which insulin(s) are you using.

I look forward to hearing more from you.
 
Welcome to the forum @NickE

Great to have you with us!

It can be such a help to have a friendly and understanding place to share our ongoing frustrations and Diabetes Genius moments, among people who ‘get it’ 🙂
 
Hello, that's an impressive CV you have, I thought the horrors of the early 80s were bad enough but the 60s don't bear thinking about. Great that you are here.
 
Hi Nick! - like you I've seen a good many changes, we've come a long way since we had to drip our pee and water in a miniature boiling tube (5 drops of urine, 10 drops of water with the accompanying miniature pipette) add a Clinitest tablet. watch it boil and see what colour it turned, indeed, haven't we? I was very fond of the beautifully made wooden 'Test tube stand' that it all neatly fitted into and was a bit sad to bin it, eventually, even though I knew Clinitest hadn't supplied wooden stands for ages cos they became too expensive so they'd changed them to plastic and the effect (to me) made the kit just look 'cheap and nasty' and I hate things I rely on (esp to stay alive! 😉 ) looking like that.

Would you mind telling us how you're treating your diabetes, please?
Which actual insulin(s)?
MDI (Basal/Bolus) or Pump ?
If pump, which one?
What CGM/FGM?

Cos that info helps us tailor answers to the individual concerned.
 
NickE said:
I’ve recently been experiencing some trouble with my Freestyle Libre sensors after an IOS update to my iPhone which caused problems when installing a new sensor. I discovered a useful discussion here so was prompted to become a member of the Forum …

I became a Type 1 Diabetic when away at school in 1964, so I’ve gone through all the changes of treatment from different insulins, injections, diets, checking routines and much else. Almost everything has changed over 61 years! With occasional crisis in my diabetes management, usually through personal neglect, I have been pretty well served by the NHS, but most of all with the support of my wife and family which has been the real key to my relative longevity. As I’m sure everyone here already knows it is a constant battle living with this condition.

I look forward to being a part of the Forum - hello!
Click to expand...
Hi Nick
I just wanted to say hello and hope your well..my new partner is type one diabetic he was told he have still 38 to live he's very healthy and strong apart from a small eye problem at 36 but it's still scary. It's nice to meet people that are living there full lives living with diabetes.
 
NickE said:
I’ve recently been experiencing some trouble with my Freestyle Libre sensors after an IOS update to my iPhone which caused problems when installing a new sensor. I discovered a useful discussion here so was prompted to become a member of the Forum …

I became a Type 1 Diabetic when away at school in 1964, so I’ve gone through all the changes of treatment from different insulins, injections, diets, checking routines and much else. Almost everything has changed over 61 years! With occasional crisis in my diabetes management, usually through personal neglect, I have been pretty well served by the NHS, but most of all with the support of my wife and family which has been the real key to my relative longevity. As I’m sure everyone here already knows it is a constant battle living with this condition.

I look forward to being a part of the Forum - hello!
Click to expand...
When I was diagnosed with Late Onset Type 1 in my early 50s I decided that my target was to live to 80, as I didn't think that many people with Type 1 live beyond that. However, perhaps I need to be more ambitious!
 
@CliffH Definitely set your sights further. My uncle lived to 84 and he didn't have any of the benefits of modern technology that we do now and he was still cycling on his own at 80.
 
trophywench said:
Hi Nick! - like you I've seen a good many changes, we've come a long way since we had to drip our pee and water in a miniature boiling tube (5 drops of urine, 10 drops of water with the accompanying miniature pipette) add a Clinitest tablet. watch it boil and see what colour it turned, indeed, haven't we? I was very fond of the beautifully made wooden 'Test tube stand' that it all neatly fitted into and was a bit sad to bin it, eventually, even though I knew Clinitest hadn't supplied wooden stands for ages cos they became too expensive so they'd changed them to plastic and the effect (to me) made the kit just look 'cheap and nasty' and I hate things I rely on (esp to stay alive! 😉 ) looking like that.

Would you mind telling us how you're treating your diabetes, please?
Which actual insulin(s)?
MDI (Basal/Bolus) or Pump ?
If pump, which one?
What CGM/FGM?

Cos that info helps us tailor answers to the individual concerned.
Click to expand...
For the last few years I’ve been taking Novorapid injections before breakfast, lunch and dinner with the help of additional shots when I go off the rails! My glargine insulin is Toujeo which I take in the morning. I still get hypos from time to time and find glucose “High Five” sachets are the easiest to carry around and slurp when needed. Oh, and a couple of years ago my clinic put me on Metformin tablets morning and evening which seems to even things out.
Cheers, Nick
 
rebrascora said:
@CliffH Definitely set your sights further. My uncle lived to 84 and he didn't have any of the benefits of modern technology that we do now and he was still cycling on his own at 80.
Click to expand...
Yes, it looks like it! I'll have to speak to my financial advisor, whose projections of my income and expenditure are based on me dying at the age of 80 🙄.
 
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