Hi. I’m newly diagnosed, probably t1 but not confirmed. In complete shock - I’m 48, cycle 5 times a week, don’t smoke or drink to excess, not overweight and have healthy diet. Think it’s been brought on by a virus but don’t know. Trying to navigate all the stuff I have to do and pretty terrified of all the horrible things that could happen. Any positive stories would be great
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- Thread starter Morgan444
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SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @Morgan444 from another late starter with T1 (Aged 53)
There is nothing that you could have done to prevent this. The antibodies just got going and often it is another illness that triggers the diagnosis. When we are ill we need more insulin, and at that point our depleted stock of beta cells which make insulin are over worked and finally give up the ghost, leading to a crisis.
The possible long term conditions linked to diabetes, are linked to uncontrolled levels of glucose. So each of us needs to keep our levels in range as much as we can. Managing that for 70% of the time is considered good. In thirteen years since diagnosis I have none of the side effects. Your diagnosis need not stop you doing things. It just takes a bit more planning and organisation.
Your team will help you to work out an appropriate management for you, and this may well change with time. The equipment that we have available now is som much better than even just 10 years ago, and this helps us keep a closer check on our levels. It will take time to get your insulin doses adjusted for you, and there is loads of experience to tap into on here.
Whatever questions you have just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here.
There is nothing that you could have done to prevent this. The antibodies just got going and often it is another illness that triggers the diagnosis. When we are ill we need more insulin, and at that point our depleted stock of beta cells which make insulin are over worked and finally give up the ghost, leading to a crisis.
The possible long term conditions linked to diabetes, are linked to uncontrolled levels of glucose. So each of us needs to keep our levels in range as much as we can. Managing that for 70% of the time is considered good. In thirteen years since diagnosis I have none of the side effects. Your diagnosis need not stop you doing things. It just takes a bit more planning and organisation.
Your team will help you to work out an appropriate management for you, and this may well change with time. The equipment that we have available now is som much better than even just 10 years ago, and this helps us keep a closer check on our levels. It will take time to get your insulin doses adjusted for you, and there is loads of experience to tap into on here.
Whatever questions you have just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here.
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
While T1 is more common in children (I was diagnosed over 40 years ago when I was 15, and also not overweight, a non-smoker, non-drinker, etc.) it can (and does) happen at any age, just less often as age increases.
Robin
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hello, @Morgan444 , and welcome to the form from another late starter, I was aged 51 at diagnosis. I'm still doing everything I used to do, life just takes a bit of extra attention to detail.
TheClockworkDodo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi @Morgan444 and welcome to the forum 🙂
I was 44 when I was diagnosed with type 1 - I'm 55 now and I have no horrible complications.
Type 1 has nothing to do with diet or exercise or anything else like that, it's just caused by our immune systems not working properly, as @SB2015 says. Sometimes it runs in families, and sometimes people get it because they have other immune diseases, but it could also be that your virus was just too much for your immune system.
While it can be a bit unpredictable it is manageable and it shouldn't stop you doing any of the things you normally do, they will just require a bit more planning. All the stuff you have to do to manage it is confusing at first, but it will soon become second nature, so try not to worry too much.
If you need any information about anything in particular, do ask - someone here is sure to know.
I was 44 when I was diagnosed with type 1 - I'm 55 now and I have no horrible complications.
Type 1 has nothing to do with diet or exercise or anything else like that, it's just caused by our immune systems not working properly, as @SB2015 says. Sometimes it runs in families, and sometimes people get it because they have other immune diseases, but it could also be that your virus was just too much for your immune system.
While it can be a bit unpredictable it is manageable and it shouldn't stop you doing any of the things you normally do, they will just require a bit more planning. All the stuff you have to do to manage it is confusing at first, but it will soon become second nature, so try not to worry too much.
If you need any information about anything in particular, do ask - someone here is sure to know.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well maybe I'm a success story, I dunno really - but anyway well into my 49th year with T1, now at the tender age of 71 and it is true that old age doesn't come on its own, but I still don't have any long term complications of diabetes. Yes I've had 2 fast growing cataracts I had to have removed (which take 20 minutes apiece and you're awake throughout but you can't see a thing and hardly feel a thing - if you could feel anything believe you me, I'd tell you.) Nowt else attributable to my D really. Ooh yes there is, approx 20 years ago I became hypothyroid, so I've taken tablets for that ever since. Occasionally the dose of the tablet increases, but nothing whatever as complicated or anywhere near as often, as adjusting insulin doses. This is another common auto immune condition, so it's connected to the T1, rather than being caused by it and a complication thereof.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @Morgan444 and welcome to the forum.
I'm a T2 so not in your position, except that diabetes in all its forms has the potential to lead to highly undesirable outcomes. I don't see that as terrifying. I see it as the motivation to get on top of my diabetes to minimise the risk of anything untoward happening. The hive mind of the forum is a great resource when it comes to helping you work things out.
I'm a T2 so not in your position, except that diabetes in all its forms has the potential to lead to highly undesirable outcomes. I don't see that as terrifying. I see it as the motivation to get on top of my diabetes to minimise the risk of anything untoward happening. The hive mind of the forum is a great resource when it comes to helping you work things out.
Hi @Morgan444
I too was diagnosed with Type 1 as an adult. But that's no surprise when more than half of us are diagnosed over the age of 20.
Like you, I exercise regularly and eat a reasonably healthy diet, cooking from scratch most of the time .
The best advice I was given when first diagnosed was that my diabetes shouldn't stop me doing what I want. I have tested that over the years with travel, food, drink, exercise, adventure, career, .. and diabetes has never held me back.
I am coming up for 18 years with Type 1 and have no complications. With all the exercise I do, I am fitter than friends and colleagues of my age.
There are times with diabetes is a pest but with good management of the condition, with today's technology and insulins, the statistics around reduced lifespan and complications with Type 1 is becoming history.
I too was diagnosed with Type 1 as an adult. But that's no surprise when more than half of us are diagnosed over the age of 20.
Like you, I exercise regularly and eat a reasonably healthy diet, cooking from scratch most of the time .
The best advice I was given when first diagnosed was that my diabetes shouldn't stop me doing what I want. I have tested that over the years with travel, food, drink, exercise, adventure, career, .. and diabetes has never held me back.
I am coming up for 18 years with Type 1 and have no complications. With all the exercise I do, I am fitter than friends and colleagues of my age.
There are times with diabetes is a pest but with good management of the condition, with today's technology and insulins, the statistics around reduced lifespan and complications with Type 1 is becoming history.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @Morgan444 🙂 Yes, a Type 1 diagnosis is a massive shock. I couldn’t get my head round it for a while. Like you, I assumed it was ‘my fault’ somehow, but my consultant explained that it’s nothing to do with diet or how healthy you are. Type 1 is an auto-immune disease. She also explained that at diagnosis, the destruction of our beta cells (insulin-producing cells) has been going on for a while, and Type 1 is typically diagnosed when we’re down to approx 20% beta cells. This is because the body works very hard to control the blood sugar with less beta cells, and it’s only beaten when they reduce to a low level at which blood sugar can no longer be controlled.
Bit of a long explanation there - but a) it’s not your fault, and b) your immune system has probably been destroying your beta cells for a while but this has only now become apparent.
I think you need to be kind to yourself. Don’t launch yourself at Type 1, determined to ‘beat it’. Take time to get used to it, read up, learn - and understand that we’re trying to do the job of a pancreas and we can only do our best. Perfection is impossible. You don’t need tales of Type 1s scaling Everest or becoming head of a multi-million company. Just know that you can deal with this and that gradually the diabetes will take more of a back seat in your head and you can still live your life and enjoy it.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Glad reading others’ experiences has been helpful @Morgan444
I was diagnosed at the start of my 20s and I’ve just clocked up 30 years with T1 and like others, still don’t have any significant d-related nasties.
Complications are always a risk with T1, and it is a balancing act between developing strategies and approaches that help to keep your BGs in range for as much of the time as you can manage, vs getting diabetes to fit into the life you want to live (rather than you having to fit everything focussed around diabetes).
Here are some forum-favourite phrases to bear in mind:
- Perfection isn’t possible
- It’s a marathon, not a sprint
- Your diabetes may vary
- To achieve greatness - start where you are, use what you have, do what you can
Such a lovely upbeat thread, always nice to hear such positive experiences.
Im 19 years I from my type 1 diagnosis. Although it has been hard, emotionally I am fortunate to have no long term effects from my diabetes, I had a good pregnancy with a gorgeous baby boy too which was unplanned and stressful at the time (my diabetic team hated that I hadn't planned alongside them).
I am also very active, cycle, gym, dog walks and lots of other outdoor activities and do my best to do what I wish although does require a tad more planning.
I hope everyone's comments on your thread have helped, they definitely gave me reassurance
Im 19 years I from my type 1 diagnosis. Although it has been hard, emotionally I am fortunate to have no long term effects from my diabetes, I had a good pregnancy with a gorgeous baby boy too which was unplanned and stressful at the time (my diabetic team hated that I hadn't planned alongside them).
I am also very active, cycle, gym, dog walks and lots of other outdoor activities and do my best to do what I wish although does require a tad more planning.
I hope everyone's comments on your thread have helped, they definitely gave me reassurance
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richardmillar11
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Hi I am in the same boat. I am 41 wasn't over weight. At first was diagnosed as type 2 and later told type 1 the week before Christmas past by my GP. Massive shock know how you are feeling. Like everyone above has said this can be managed. Physically I feel good again but I understand the mental aspect can be much different but there are more positive stories here than negative ones.
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