adjusting to type 1 in your 60's

[diabetic gardener]

I am in my 60's, no family history of diabetes, and was diagnosed with type 1 in the Autumn. It's a steep learning curve, and now my A1c is down I am doing ok, energy levels improving etc.
However I wonder if those of us diagnosed at a later stage have different issues to face.[e.g. Looking after grandchildren, voluntary work etc., plus wanting to travel more, and make the most of retirement.] It can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Do others in my situation feel the same?

 

[MrDaibetes]

it's definitely overwhelming, but you've come to the right place, I find peer-to-peer support a must.

How did you find out you had Type 1 Diabetes?

 

[diabetic gardener]

Probably fairly typical, weight loss (10lb in 6 weeks), placed on cancer pathway. Blood tests showed my A1c was 104. It went up to 111 before I was started on insulin

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @diabetic gardener

I’ll tag in a few of our ‘late starters’ (mostly 50s diagnoses I think?)

@Northerner @SB2015 @Pattidevans @Robin

I think diagnosis at any stage probably carries its own challenges, and its own common ground.

But you are right - a diagnosis with T1 can feel pretty overwhelming, and it’s the steepest of learning curves.

With the merest whiff of irony I’ll recommend Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas - don’t worry about the title, it’s appropriate for people of all ages, but perhaps skip the chapter on School?! It’s very often recommended by T1 members here 🙂

 

[Inka]

Welcome @diabetic gardener 🙂 I think it takes longer than you’d imagine to deal with a Type 1 diagnosis. It’s not just the big changes like testing and injecting, it’s the emotional shock of it too. I found that took longer to go away than the physical challenges. I remember feeling upset, angry, scared, disbelieving - all kinds of emotions.

I think there are challenges and concerns at all ages when diagnosed. Obviously being diagnosed as a young child isn’t nice (nor for the parents), teenage diagnosis is horrible because you’re just finding out who you are and becoming independent, young adulthood often coincides with university or the beginning of a career, or having children, etc etc. No age is ‘good’. Plus, of course, someone diagnosed at 10 will go through teens, young adulthood, adulthood, retirement, all with the new challenges they bring.

My advice is to be kind to yourself. Take things slowly and carefully. Try not to let diabetes stop you doing things or steal your enjoyment of life. Things do take a bit more planning, which is a pain, but it’s very possible to do lots of things just as you did before.

 

[trophywench]

I was relatively young when diagnosed T1 but, several decades later on joining a UK diabetes forum (Diabetes Insight, which later morfed into Diabetes Support forum and just about pre-dated this one - I coincidentally discovered 'The Five Stages of Grief' by Elizabeth Kuebler Ross. Blimey who knew that grief had stages in the first place or that diagnosis with something either life-threatening or chronic was as traumatic as a bereavement of someone really close. Anyway it made perfect sense cos apparently I'd worked my way through most of the stages by then, so only had a short while of the grief left to get through by then. I was gobsmacked at how long I'd apparently taken to grieve - hence I now encourage all and sundry to make sure they give themselves enough time and enough respect for handling it - and if they can't handle it on their own - to seek help asap rather than bury it and then suffer later cos they buried it. Done the latter too, later, after I lost my dad, so I kicked myself mentally when I realised what I'd done and how it occurred - so made sure I explained myself to everyone around me at home, work and my social groups, in the (probably vain) hope it might help them and theirs in some way if/when they had grief.

 

[Eternal422]

Not quite the same as you, I was initially diagnosed T2 at age 42, at 47 switched to insulin and last year at age 62 had my diagnosis changed to T1 (which it must have been all along). Despite being on a basal-bolus regime for some 15 years, the T1 diagnosis was a bit of a shock and hit me in ways I would never have thought.

The main thing I would say to you is that you have had a diagnosis and now getting help to understand it all and get things under control. Glad you are already getting better energy levels. One of my first DSNs told me that only when my BG was back on a normal range would I then realise just how tired and lacking energy I had been. She was right!

As to your thoughts about being active, travelling, looking after grandchildren, etc. - I do all of that and still working full time (albeit permanently from home since 2020!). Yes, you do have to think a bit more and plan, making sure you have all your stuff with you, but that very quickly becomes second nature. I have travelled long haul as well as driving lots around this country, all with insulin, BG meter and more recently Libre sensors. No problems travelling at all, even crossing time zones, being in hot climates or whatever. You just need to make sure you have enough supplies with you for diabetes and take it as carry on if flying. Don’t let diabetes stop you from doing anything.

Hopefully you now have the Libre, which I started last July. It is definitely a game changer and now I’m really learning about how my body reacts to different foods and more able to better judge pre-bolus timing.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Gary Scheiner’s “Think Like a Pancreas”. It is written in easy to understand language and is so helpful in understanding how to use insulin to achieve a good HbA1c.

Plus, you have found these forums 🙂 There are lots of people on here with loads of experience so you will definitely get ideas, advice and support in bucket loads!

 

[Robin]

Probably fairly typical, weight loss (10lb in 6 weeks), placed on cancer pathway. Blood tests showed my A1c was 104. It went up to 111 before I was started on insulin

In other words, like me, and a lot of other 'more mature' folk, Type 1 wasn’t the doctor's first thought. I was 51 at diagnosis, and misdiagnosed as Type 2. It took a while to get the diagnosis right, but once I was on insulin, I started to feel so much better. I hadn’t realised just how bad I'd been feeling, until I felt better! I'm 67 now, and have carried on with all my retirement plans, travel, horse riding, walking, etc. It takes a bit more forward planning, but hasn’t stopped me doing anything I'd planned to do.
Anyway, welcome to the forum!

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Hello @diabetic gardener , I found myself abruptly an insulin dependent person with diabetes almost 3 yrs ago (I'm actually Type 3c, but as if T1 with extra quirks) after a total pancreatectomy.

Yes, I also found it overwhelming and because of the consequent chemo, along with Covid lockdown it was a full year before I found a certain degree of returning to a more normal life. Like you aptly say, I was (and still am) keen to get properly back into my previous hobby of retirement, including lots of travel (we have a son permanently living abroad - who we previously visited c. 4x annually - as much to keep abreast of our 3 granddaughters) and generally want to pick up where we left off before my surgery.

Back then, it was a struggle to imagine how any of that former normality could ever return - yet it is returning. With some compromises, that today are just necessary, so they are just absorbed into our new lease of life.

So welcome. This Forum is a genuinely good place, as others have already said, with a vast array of experiences. Don't hesitate to ask questions; no question is stupid and however obscure someone invariably offers a solution. It's also a great place to vent angst, have a rant or just observe on life's oddities - without anyone judging.

 

[khskel]

Diagnosed at 54 and still rocking and rolling in my sixties.

 

[diabetic gardener]

Thank you for all your responses, it is helpful. So far I've steered clear of any group things, unsure whether I would find them helpful. Those lifelong messages of 'just accept it as it is and get on with it' are quite hard to overcome.

 

[helli]

I was diagnosed in my 30s. Not as a mature person but old enough to know what life is like as an adult without Type 1.
I consider myself incredibly lucky to have a DSM who told me on my first ever meeting told me that diabetes should not stop me doing what I want. Since then, that is how I have lived my life and let diabetes fit the life I want rather than the other way around.
Nineteen years later, I find myself doing more in my life than others of my age and think it is partially to “spite” diabetes.

It took some time to work out how to do this and I took a break from things like climbing and gym and running large work events by myself for a few months. But I have been back with a vengeance since.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @diabetic gardener from another late starter (53). Very pleased you have found the forum to support you through what is understandably an overwhelming diagnosis.

The best analogy I heard was that dealing with this is like learning to drive. Lots to think about at the start and it seems complicated, but it soon becomes automatic. So it will definitely get easier, and there is plenty of experience and support to tap into on here.

With retirement there is more flexibility so less structure. With the more flexible management systems that are available to us now we are able to make the most of the opportunities. Your T1 does not need to stop you doing anything (apart from scuba diving I think). It will take time to get used to what you need to do and to learn how to adapt your insulin to match what you want to do. There doesn’t need to be any restrictions on what you eat once you are on flexible doses and can calculate the carbohydrates in what you choose to eat.

fire away with any questions that arise. Nothing is considered silly on here. just ask.

 

[Inka]

Thank you for all your responses, it is helpful. So far I've steered clear of any group things, unsure whether I would find them helpful. Those lifelong messages of 'just accept it as it is and get on with it' are quite hard to overcome.

It’s ok to react in any way - you are you. I felt really quite angry, but others ‘just’ feel upset. I also found it hard to believe, the whole idea of having to test and inject each day. I couldn’t get my head round that. So, acknowledge your feelings whatever they are 🙂

You don’t have to accept diabetes. You can see it in whatever way works for you. You might find your way of looking at it changes over time too. I see it as a tedious thing following me around and being extremely demanding and annoying. I don’t accept it and I’ll be glad when they find a cure and I never have to think about the silly thing again.

What helps me deal with it is getting into a bit of a routine. I do my diabetic chores carefully but I don’t dwell on them or make them my main focus. I think about what I’m going to do that day and lots of things that aren’t diabetes. Of course, at first the diabetes will take up more space in your brain because it’s very new to you, but gradually you’ll be able to push it down a bit. It honestly does just take time. Get through each day, each week, do things you enjoy and one day you’ll realise the diabetes doesn’t take up quite as much space in your mind as it did before.

 

[SB2015]

After 15 years I still have a good shout sometimes. It is irritating, inconvenient so why we wouldn’t have moments when we get cross/upset.

I think of my diabetes as a very irritating friend (she has long plaits, very tidy clothes and white ankle sock. Never gets in a mess and can be a right pain) She follows me around all the time. Sometimes we just get on with each other, other times she can be very demanding and just keep pestering me. Other times she is happy to be there whilst I just get on with whatever I want to do.

Diabetes isn’t going to go away, but it can fit in with your life. Find what works for you, and feel free to have a rant on here, where people gets it.

 

[Tdm]

I imagine diabetes as an annoyjng toddler..wakes you up in the night, tugs on your sleevewith a pending hypo when trying to relax, takes a bath.....

 

[Bloden]

I was 41, no family history either. 🙂 Welcome to the forum @diabetic gardener. 🙂 It IS a steep learning curve, you’re right.

If no-one’s mentioned it already, watch out for hypos while gardening - it’s one activity that definitely lowers BG. Keep fast-acting glucose handy. I drink oj cos it raises my BG the fastest.

 

[Tdm]

I was 41, no family history either. 🙂 Welcome to the forum @diabetic gardener. 🙂 It IS a steep learning curve, you’re right.

If no-one’s mentioned it already, watch out for hypos while gardening - it’s one activity that definitely lowers BG. Keep fast-acting glucose handy. I drink oj cos it raises my BG the fastest.

The number of times i've gone low on my allotment and had to sit in the wintery greenhouse until the glucose kicks in. Once i saw a fox, gave the poor creature quite a shock when they realised a human was lurking!
also bear in mind your fingerstick monitor needs to be at 16 degrees or more so keeping it in an inner pocket before use may be needed if away from home

 

[diabetic gardener]

I was 41, no family history either. 🙂 Welcome to the forum @diabetic gardener. 🙂 It IS a steep learning curve, you’re right.

If no-one’s mentioned it already, watch out for hypos while gardening - it’s one activity that definitely lowers BG. Keep fast-acting glucose handy. I drink oj cos it raises my BG the fastest.

You're right, I dug the compost heap this afternoon, causing a drop in BG!

 

[Inka]

You're right, I dug the compost heap this afternoon, causing a drop in BG!

I find even light weeding can drop my blood sugar. I test before I go out into the garden and if needed have some carbs to keep me going. Once you find what works for you, you’ll be able to prepare for gardening as needed. It’s really weird at first to feel normal activity dropping your blood sugar, but you’ll gradually get a feel for it all and it will become routine. I like to keep snacks like biscuits, flapjacks, fruit, dried fruit, cereal bars, chocolate, etc etc on hand so I can always eat if necessary. They’re also handy to toss in a bag or pocket when you go out.