Hello all, I'm a physically active (regular gym, running, tennis) 41 year old professional man and have recently been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which came as quite a shock as I'm sure it does to everyone. Am really trying to get my head around what it means for me and my lifestyle as I get used to testing and injecting on a regular basis, I don't know anyone with diabetes so trying to wade through the information online is proving to be a little overwhelming. Anyway, am hoping to learn more from these forums (I'm a troglodyte when it comes to social media etc. as I don't use Facebook, Instagram etc....) and hear from other people in a similar situation! All the best.
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Diagnosed with Type 1 at 41
- Thread starter Cromp
- Start date
- Status
Welcome… this is the best place for advise, information and moral support. There are plenty of us diagnosed around your age. Contrary to what we hear about type 1 being just for kids, it seems for an equal number of us, it waits for the kids to move out and just when we think our nice simple lives are sorted, then bang… didn’t see that one coming did you 🙄
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum,
Like you, I was diagnosed " in my prime" (36 for me), I do a lot of exercise and have a busy, sometime stressful career.
Apart from the testing and injecting (which is a pest but it soon becomes "normal") my lifestyle has not changed. Remember, you do not have type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is a very different condition but the media seem to always abbreviate type 2 as "diabetes".
Type 1 diabetes is not a reason to stop your gym, change your diet or look for a different job.
There is a lot to get your head around and you can keep learning so don't expect to know everything in a month's time. But iot does get easier.
Feel free to ask question, have a rant or have a laugh.
richardmillar11
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Hi like you I was diagnosed back in October with diabetes type 2 then changed to type 1 in December at the age of 41 also. It is good that you have made the step to join this forum. Also like you I don't use facebook or any form of social media. The support and information I have received from other forum members has been really helpful. I am also a busy professional and it can be challenging where once I fitted round the job now the job has to fit round me and there are times that it is just not that flexible. When did you receive your diagnosis?
Hello Richard, it was on the 6th January this year, the GP said Type 2 initially however following advice from a medical friend I (luckily) went to see a Consultant Endocrinologist the next day who diagnosed Type 1 (since confirmed by GAD & islet anti-body tests) and got me onto daily Lantus the same day. I'm feeling like I can manage it with my lifestyle at the moment, just trying to be super sensible really with my diet.
Lily123
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Type 1’s eat the same diet as people without diabetes, some choose to go low carb to help manage BG levels better though
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
They hadn't even invented the internet when I was diagnosed and any books weren't written in English. They were written in Medicalese using terminology that you needed a medical reference book to access the meaning of.
There is a book you could invest in called Think Like a Panreas by Gary Scheiner and/or a newer one called Type 1 Diabetes in children adolescents and young adults by Ragnar Hanas - OK you're a tad older! but the point is, it's really good at explaining things to the newly diagnosed however old they happen to be.
There is a book you could invest in called Think Like a Panreas by Gary Scheiner and/or a newer one called Type 1 Diabetes in children adolescents and young adults by Ragnar Hanas - OK you're a tad older! but the point is, it's really good at explaining things to the newly diagnosed however old they happen to be.
Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Seventh Edition: Amazon.co.uk: Ragnar Hanas: 9781859597989: Books
Buy Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Seventh Edition Seventh by Ragnar Hanas (ISBN: 9781859597989) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
What foodstuffs you eat is exactly the same as it was the day before. However with some of the high carb things - eg sugar, anything with flour in it, spuds or bananas - you may need to have smaller portions of it. That latter bit is entirely individual. Doesn't bother me in the slightest having less spaghetti cos I can still eat the same amount of bolognese sauce and parmesan. Oh and I packed up having sugar in drinks instantly - but sugar is just a carb, so if you want to eat a slice of cake, have one as long as you calculate the insulin you need for it - and you'll learn how to calculate that pretty soon!
richardmillar11
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Thanks to you and your info in another thread I now give bananas a miss and have seen an improvement in bs levels! I only eat them as they were on the diet sheet from the GP anyway.
richardmillar11
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Well good it was identified at an early stage. I am managing with diet alone at the moment but I do have to be super sensible and I am realising that so many factors play a role in the bs levels i.e. exercise and stress will cause levels to rise no matter how low carb I eat. I do find I have to be incredibly organised now with menus and shopping to be organised to eat the right things at the right time and I miss the freedom. Also no last min decisions to stay on at the office and work late so I find that all very restrictive. Glad to hear you are doing well. Do you find the medication is working well for you?
@richardmillar11 is there a reason why you are diet controlled only?
It sounds as if it is leading to too many unnecessary restrictions.
With insulin, I am able to live a reasonably flexible life - I have to plan exercise a little bit but there are ways around that for me and I can work as late (or early) as I want/need to. I eat when and what I want and inject accordingly. I still feel as if I have freedom in my life and ability to make last minute decisions.
If you are finding your life too restrictive, I strongly recommend talking to your DSN (or consultant) and moving on to insulin.
It sounds as if it is leading to too many unnecessary restrictions.
With insulin, I am able to live a reasonably flexible life - I have to plan exercise a little bit but there are ways around that for me and I can work as late (or early) as I want/need to. I eat when and what I want and inject accordingly. I still feel as if I have freedom in my life and ability to make last minute decisions.
If you are finding your life too restrictive, I strongly recommend talking to your DSN (or consultant) and moving on to insulin.
richardmillar11
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Hi Helli
I am back with the consultant for review at the end of March. She just said in December that my bs readings were all good and only contact them if they were continually over 10 and wouldn't come down. I have recommenced blood pressure medication and statins again and have seen an increase in the bedtime and morning fasting levels so got in touch with the hospital. My readings can be as high as 9.7 going to bed and even 9.2 in the morning but then throughout the day up until before dinner at 6pm they are as low as 4.8, 5.2 and 5.6 usually. I can remain at 5.6 two hours after dinner but then depending on my evening routine can climb to 9 before sleep but then again i've went to bed on 5.6. I've also experimented on eating some chocolate (3 bars) and I only climbed to 6.7. The DN said they couldn't give me anything at the min as it would leave me too low throughout the day. Its a strange one i've had x3 baked potatoes veg and a fillet steak followed by a chocolate pud with fresh cream from Marks went for a walk and was 5.6 two hours after dinner. Had the same didn't go for a walk and was 17.9
so readings are just a bit all over the place. I also find that my mood plays a big part in high readings. So its still all a bit of a mystery to me still a lot to learn.Yes I'm taking Metformin twice a day and Lantus Insulin in the evenings before I go to bed and it seems to be under control, I think I'm in the "Honeymoon" period as my Consultant thinks I still have some Pancreatic function. Until I move to pre-meal injecting I'm just keeping Carb intake to 40gs per meal as a rule, but it's all trial and error really and a bit of a learning experience!
Proud to be erratic
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 3c
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hi @Cromp, welcome to this Forum.
I'm T3c and don't feel experienced enough to comment on many aspects of T1. However, I wholly agree with @trophywench about the 2 books she suggested. They are both good and approach matters from different perspectives so I find both useful in different ways.
The main thing is that on this Forum ask any question that is unclear to you. No question is stupid. Whatever the question there is such a huge wealth of experience someone will pop up with an answer.
Good luck.
I'm T3c and don't feel experienced enough to comment on many aspects of T1. However, I wholly agree with @trophywench about the 2 books she suggested. They are both good and approach matters from different perspectives so I find both useful in different ways.
You might find it helpful to be clear in your mind about which bits of pancreatic functions your Consultant thinks you still have. I had a total pancreatectomy in Feb 20 and abruptly found out that one's pancreas does a number of different things, each related to your metabolism. For example not only do I have any insulin, I don't have any natural digestive enzymes, along with neither of the other 2 key hormones for blood glucose control.
As others have said, you don't necessarily need to abruptly change your diet. But the earlier you can grapple with carb counting the easier you will find it to manage your diet. Yes, it's certainly all a significant learning experience, but is doable and the predicament for me was where to start. Have you looked at the Learning zone, red tab at the top of this page?
The main thing is that on this Forum ask any question that is unclear to you. No question is stupid. Whatever the question there is such a huge wealth of experience someone will pop up with an answer.
Good luck.
richardmillar11
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Benny thanks for the advice. I seem to stay in the 5s during the day but first thing and last thing are high so just need to keep an eye on what I eat.
- Status