New to the site, but not to T1D

[bkit]

Hello everyone,
As the title says, I'm new to the site but am a diabetic of nearing 30 years.
I was diagnosed with type 1 or "juvenile" as it was referred to me as, in the late 90s, I was 13 at the time, knew no other diabetics and as odd as it may sound these days was the only diabetic at my entire school at the time. By the time I left there were at least 5 and they kept eating my biscuits (they were ridiculously kept in the staff room as I/we were not allowed to carry them with us).

Anyway, until fairly recently I treated my condition via Pen therapy or injections, but have had to stop due to issues that can be traced back to the 90s, and I'm now using the Omnipod, however with severely limited placement site options.

I joined the site/forum in all honesty, to ask questions and seek fellow advice etc as I've felt pretty unsupported as of late, though I hold no grudge or ill will to my care team, such as it is, as I know they have such little time, resources etc. it's grim up north, as they say.

So yeah, my more detailed questions or requests for anecdotal advice will be in the more suitable threads or boards, so for now, Hello!

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Hello and Welcome @bkit.

 

[Mumpie_olgran]

Hi and welcome @bkit

Ask away, I'm an omnipodder too

 

[SB2015]

I am very pleased that you have found the forum @bkit from a newbie compared to you (only 16 years)
Do ask any questions that you have, there is plenty of experience to tap into on here, including lots of ‘podders’.

 

[rebrascora]

Welcome from me too, a real newbie of just 5 years with Type 1. At 55yrs old I definitely think they would have been stretching it to call mine "Juvenile Diabetes" 🙄

Sorry to hear you are feeling unsupported by your team and that you have issues as a result of your early treatment. Hope the Omnipod is working out well for you.

I find this forum is pretty much all I need sup[port and knowledge wise and apart from requesting a change of insulin or a bit of new tech occasionally from the consultant I don't feel that I really need or benefit from my annual 10 min telephone appointment because this forum provides everything else I need. I hope it can provide that level of support for you too.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @bkit 🙂 I’ve had Type 1 just a tiny bit longer than you and have used a pump for more than 20 years. Is it absorption problems you’re having?

 

[bkit]

Hi and welcome @bkit

Ask away, I'm an omnipodder too

Thanks, I may very well do just that in the coming weeks

 

[bkit]

Welcome from me too, a real newbie of just 5 years with Type 1. At 55yrs old I definitely think they would have been stretching it to call mine "Juvenile Diabetes" 🙄

Sorry to hear you are feeling unsupported by your team and that you have issues as a result of your early treatment. Hope the Omnipod is working out well for you.

I find this forum is pretty much all I need sup[port and knowledge wise and apart from requesting a change of insulin or a bit of new tech occasionally from the consultant I don't feel that I really need or benefit from my annual 10 min telephone appointment because this forum provides everything else I need. I hope it can provide that level of support for you too.

Thank you,
As I said I don't really hold any resentment to them for the support or lack there if, as I know they're rushed off their feet, but obviously at the same time, very happy to have a source of it elsewhere.

 

[bkit]

Welcome @bkit 🙂 I’ve had Type 1 just a tiny bit longer than you and have used a pump for more than 20 years. Is it absorption problems you’re having?

Sort of, or at least that's kind of the end result. It's more to do with deep scarring and abnormal layering of fat caused by needles that were... Far too big, for... well far too long.
I'll go into it all, I guess, in more detail in a more appropriately situated post at some point.

Thanks for the welcome etc

 

[nonethewiser]

Sort of, or at least that's kind of the end result. It's more to do with deep scarring and abnormal layering of fat caused by needles that were... Far too big, for... well far too long.
I'll go into it all, I guess, in more detail in a more appropriately situated post at some point.

Thanks for the welcome etc

Can relate to that as can many others here can.

Maybe not recommended by Insulet but you can try alternative sites, sometimes wear my pod on chest area & sometimes upper back but towards sides, get wife to stick it on there as cannot reach round but get good absorption as these sites were never used for injecting.

There's youtube vids where pod users discuss experiences of using alternative sites, worth having a look if interested.

Btw welcome.

 

[trophywench]

I need no intro to non absorption issues, bugrit to put it politely and the ONLY thing I've ever found of any help is resting all the sites that do that thing which of course none of us recognise from the outside. So I've always had a tubed pump since I had to swap and I was horrified when I discovered about the 3 days you're supposed to keep the pod in place. Usually by Day 3 it's getting decidedly iffy so I should change on day 2 to attempt to get anything decent - Day 3 today and now I have to fill yet another cannula and swap everything (just as I'm awaiting the return of my beloved who's been in hosp having his AAA fixed - sitting around with big daughter and SIL awaiting drugs to bring home aaarrrgghh. Not much fun chez nous right now)

BUT! I'll be mega interested should anything I don't already know about and have tried, comes of your question 🙂

 

[Ieva DUK]

Hi @bkit and welcome to the forum from me too!