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John S

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Type 1
Hello everyone,
My name is John, I was 65 in June and diagnosed Type 1 in April. At this stage in my life, quite a shock! From being fit and healthy looking forward to my new life, it seemed like a death sentence. As I now know, it is not by any means. I do have my new life, but just a bit different to the way I had it planned. Apart from absorbing a wealth of information on the subject, my main problem has been that I have always been blood and needle phobic! (Wimp) Every time I had an injection at the doctors/clinic, I had to lie down or I would pass out! Even at the dentist I would have a filling without an injection and endure the pain. As you all know, it is something which you just accept and get on with. I am still not very good with the needles but can look now and again without keeling over!
Aftercare at the hospital has been a bit hit and miss, but my diabetes nurse at my local health centre is brilliant.
Thats it for now. Happy stabbing!
 
Hi John welcome to the forum! I'm sure you must hold the forum's record for being the oldest person to be diagnosed with type 1??

Great to hear you have an excellent DSN, we could all do with one of those!
 
Hi John and welcome to the forum.🙂

That must have been a huge shock for you being diagnosed at this stage of life. Mostly people are diagnosed type 1 a lot earlier.

My son is 12 and uses an insulin pump - so no needles - well other than every few days for the canula insert. Looking forward to reading your posts and dont be shy - no question is silly and you will get lots of support on here.🙂Bev
 
Welcome John from another John and also an oldie, I am 71 🙂

This is a fantastic place to join and I hope that you get as much enjoyment from the forum that I have had over the past 2 years.

Best wishes
John.
 
Hi John and a warm welcome from me to you to the forum x
 
Hi John, I think I have welcomed you elsewhere, but welcome again! 🙂 I too was shocked at the diagnosis, aged 49 and a week before I was due to fly out to Stockholm to run a marathon! In a way, I consider myself to be very fortunate, having had the opportunity to live my younger years without the burden of diabetes. Similarly, I think a lot of people diagnosed very young feel lucky in some respects as they have never known anything different.

It's not a great thing to happen, but I have found it has made me much more aware of my health, and the food I eat, so the diagnosis has probably prevented me from developing other health problems that might have manifested themselves if I hadn't been forced to review my lifestyle.

There is a huge diversity of people here, and we all help and support each other whatever the problem - diabetes-related or not! - and have become a community of friends. We're very pleased to make your aquaintance! 🙂
 
Hi JOhn. Welcome

Must have been a real surprise. Glad you're managing to get on with it.

Rob
 
Hi John, I too have welcomed you elsethread.

I'm just a couple of years younger than you - diagnosed 2 years ago - it was (as you said) one heck of a shock. I'm 5ft, 8st 6oz and - otherwise - fit and healthy - "me ? I can't be diabetic" I said ! However I was diagnosed by my Dr as Type 2 but the consultant at the hospital where I was admitted for gall bladder op said I was a 1.5 LADA. My Dr still says I'm too old to be "late onset diabetic" but the consultant says it's "Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood", in other words the pancreas is giving up but still working a bit. Whatever fancy name they give it, it's still diabetes !

Glad to hear your care team has been helpful - this forum is great too as it's written by people who are living/dealing with diabetes on a daily basis. No question is too silly for someone to answer - in fact if it's something that's a question it's never too silly. Hope you get the same help on here that I have and good luck on your new path (you're never to old to learn eh ?)
 
Welcome from me too.🙂
 
welcome

golly i can't imagine having any dental work done without an injection - you must have a super high pain threshhold.

Sending lots of hope that you'll be able to deal with the needles in time and that maybe you'll develop your own kind of coping strategy. If not my non diabetic son suggests blowing your worries into a pretend balloon and letting the balloon go - if you don't tie a knot in the end it will make that kind of deflating raspberry sound and at least give you something to smile about even if the fear still exists!!!

Good luck John,

Rachel
 
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