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Newly diagnosed type 1 in 30s

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
A

Alistina

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed with Type 1 almost two weeks ago when admitted to hospital with DKA. Thankfully I am out of hospital and I am now starting this seemingly long and daunting journey of trying to figure everything out.
I have been in contact with a diabetic nurse and I have heard from so many people about the support this forum offers. My sister has been diabetic for over 30 years so I am familiar with diabetes but never thought it would ever apply to me. My body thought otherwise!
I guess my main point here is that any message of support or positive stories would be great, I am fed up of people's reactions of pity when they hear I've been diagnosed with diabetes. I understand the life change but I've no desire to join a pity party, I have to get up and get on with it!
 
Welcome! It’s a great group here.

I was diagnosed at 29 and it hasn’t stopped me doing anything yet 🙂I’m sure people have many inspiring stories and they’ll be along shortly.
 
grainger said:
Welcome! It’s a great group here.

I was diagnosed at 29 and it hasn’t stopped me doing anything yet 🙂I’m sure people have many inspiring stories and they’ll be along shortly.
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Even your comment is good enough! It's great to hear people talk about their lives going on as normal. Why is it that since I've been diagnosed, I'm so afraid of every kind of food and totally clueless about it too and yet all i want is a big piece of chocolate cake!!
 
Welcome to the forum @Alistina . I started a bit later than you (53) and there was lots to learn very quickly. As others have said it doesn’t need to stop you doing anything, it just takes a bit of organisation and planning. Glad that you have found us, and look forward to hearing more from you.

On here any questions are very welcome, and nothing is considered silly. There is plenty of experience to draw on.
 
Why do you want a big piece of chocolate cake? Because your brain says it will give you comfort - but actually, will it?

OTOH with Type 1, if you would like a piece of cake, you can have one as long as you account for the amount of carbs in insulin. I gradually started to regard insulin a bit like money. I don't waste money - but if it's something I really want and really like - then I'm not scared to spend it. See what I mean?

So therefore I wouldn't be tempted that much by choc cake and if it also had choc buttercream you can stick it. OTOH a really light fatless choc sponge, sliced and sandwiched together with thick whipped cream, add some luscious black cherries and a good ole drizzle of Kirsch - now I'm willing to spend !!!
 
Hi and welcome from me too.
I'm another late to the Type 1 party, age 56yrs, just over 2 years ago. I was also a sugar addict and carb monster pre diagnosis so my diet needed to change and the diagnosis was the kick up the pants I needed to get my lifestyle/diet in order. I was initially assumed to be Type 2 due to my poor diet, so I commenced a very low carb diet to try to control it. I kicked my sugar and carb habit in those first few weeks. By the time I was started on insulin 6 weeks later, I didn't want to risk slipping back into my old unhealthy ways so I stuck with low carb and for me it has been beneficial in many ways. I feel 30 years younger and as fit as I ever have been in my life and I love my new slimmed down self.

Yes, it is scary sometimes and frustrating rather more often and doing calculations and injections almost every time I want to put something in my mouth is a chore but it is becoming more automatic like cleaning my teeth, that I don't have to consciously remember to do, it is just part of the daily routine. I personally feel that it has probably added years to my life rather than detracted from it because without that diagnosis, I don't think I would have got my act together and tackled my dietary issues. I had suffered from acute migraines for the past 20years which occurred about once a month. I haven't had one since diagnosis when I changed my diet and I can even have the odd glass or two of red wine, which was my only known trigger, without problems. My joints don't ache anymore and I can even run down hills now, when I was struggling to walk without pain some days.

Oh and I made virtual friends with a whole load of lovely people here on the forum, who have been wonderful in supporting me through difficult times and generously supplying me with knowledge and tips from their own experience to help me manage my diabetes better. So.... lots of positives have come from my diabetes diagnosis. I hope you are able to find some from yours.
 
Alistina said:
Even your comment is good enough! It's great to hear people talk about their lives going on as normal. Why is it that since I've been diagnosed, I'm so afraid of every kind of food and totally clueless about it too and yet all i want is a big piece of chocolate cake!!
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I dreamt about treacle pudding when I was first diagnosed - and jam roll poly pudding, and sponge cake! My subconscious was obviously afraid I’d never have dessert again :D

That fear was unfounded 🙂 I can still eat desserts. I just choose carefully and eat a moderate portion. So yes, you can have chocolate cake once you get on top of the whole insulin thing. In fact, I was thinking about chocolate cake this morning, reminded by another thread here. If you choose a gateau-type one, you should have no problem. I ate a lovely slice and my blood sugar only went up to 6.5.

But for now - take things slowly, learn how your body works, and learn how your insulins work with it.

I’ve had Type 1 almost 30 years and it hasn’t stopped me having children, swimming and doing other exercise, teaching, doing long-distance hikes, travelling. Don’t let it rule your life. Yes, you have to control it and that takes thought and work, but keep the little b^*@*# in its place and enjoy your life.
 
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Hi @Alistina (great name by the way)

I too was diagnosed with Type 1 in my 30s. It came as a huge shock, especially as there is no history of it in my family. Actually, my Mum remembered a great aunt with it but she was not a blood relative so we decided she didn't count.
That was about 15 years ago which has given me time to look back. It has not hindered me in anyway - socially, sports-wise, culinarily (is that a word?), adventurously, career-wise. As others have said, it requires a little bit of planning but to tell the truth that all comes so naturally now it doesn't feel like planning. And it hasn't stopped me doing this at short notice - Go out for a 10 mile hike, now? Why not - I don't have anything else planned and the weather is great. Go to a meeting in Seattle tomorrow? Sure. Try out this Persian restaurant where I don't recognise anything on the menu? Let's get in there while they have a spare table.

You can only be diagnosed once so I never experienced a diagnosis in my childhood or teenage years. I can't say "diabetes is all I have known" so it took some time to adjust mentally to having it and remember to take out more than a credit card, phone and key when I leave the house (I had to buy a handbag!). But, on the other hand, I was able to go through school and university without the added burden, especially when you consider the leaps and bounds that diabetes treatment has come along in the last 20 years. So, I think I am glad I was diagnosed later.

I would never wish diabetes of any type on anyone but, the more I have come to understand it (and I am continuously learning), the more I admire the way a healthy human body works and the more I admire the technology and treatments that we have to manage it.

My final comment comes from my DSN the first time I met her and my diagnosis was confirmed - "diabetes should not stop you doing anything you want."
 
Alistina said:
I guess my main point here is that any message of support or positive stories would be great, I am fed up of people's reactions of pity when they hear I've been diagnosed with diabetes. I understand the life change but I've no desire to join a pity party, I have to get up and get on with it!
Click to expand...

Never wanted pity or attention, but got just that on diagnosis. Believe me after while no one will mention your diabetes or not very often, natural for folk to act that way on hearing someone's been unwell or diagnosed with long term condition, bet you do it yourself, I do.

As for chocolate cake nowt stopping you eating some, no food is off limits within reason, know this speaking with 4 decades of type 1 behind me.
 
Welcome to the forum @Alistina

I’ve been playing this silly, and occasionally infuriating game for 30 years now. Some times I have reflected that if I’d been taken into a side room at the hospital in my 20s and told that my number had come up and I had to have one of these long term conditions, then had to pick one from a selection of choices laid out on a table, I think T1 diabetes wouldn’t have been a bad one to pick.

Yes it can have potentially serious, and devastating consequences, but it is also one that I can actively manage to reduce that risk. I can still eat pretty much what I like... I can still travel, and exercise, and have a family, and run a business, and do pretty much anything I could do before, but some things will just take a bit more planning and a bit of flexibility.

Plus being T1 has introduced me to you lovely lot, and given me some amazing opportunities to meet with others in different parts of the world. It has given me more empathy, and helped me understand the importance of health. It’s also done wonders for my mental maths skills, my ability to analyse and spot patterns and improved my stickability when things get tough.
 
Alistina said:
Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed with Type 1 almost two weeks ago when admitted to hospital with DKA. Thankfully I am out of hospital and I am now starting this seemingly long and daunting journey of trying to figure everything out.
I have been in contact with a diabetic nurse and I have heard from so many people about the support this forum offers. My sister has been diabetic for over 30 years so I am familiar with diabetes but never thought it would ever apply to me. My body thought otherwise!
I guess my main point here is that any message of support or positive stories would be great, I am fed up of people's reactions of pity when they hear I've been diagnosed with diabetes. I understand the life change but I've no desire to join a pity party, I have to get up and get on with it!
Click to expand...
Hello, and welcome! I was diagnosed with T1 age 26, and I was devastated. I thought my life was ruined, but I'm happy to say in the 14 years since, I have... Eaten lots of cake, walked miles and miles (including some long distance paths and Yorkshire 3 peaks) , did the Great North Run twice, completed some sprint triathlons, driven lots, been to Canada and Zimbabwe, as well as lots of less exotic but lovely holidays nearer to home, got promoted, got a new job in a new location, and had a gorgeous baby boy too.

I would say education and gadgets are the key! Go on any courses you are offered about insulin and carb counting, get a pump if you can and you think it will help you, and get a Libre sensor too! Oh, and post any questions on here too.

A good friend (who had had T1 for 10 years when I was diagnosed) said "doesn't change a thing, just put your pen and your sweets in your handbag and away you go" and I have tried to live with that philosophy! Not always easy and there were some low points especially early on, but you can totally do this!
 
Alistina said:
Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed with Type 1 almost two weeks ago when admitted to hospital with DKA. Thankfully I am out of hospital and I am now starting this seemingly long and daunting journey of trying to figure everything out.
I have been in contact with a diabetic nurse and I have heard from so many people about the support this forum offers. My sister has been diabetic for over 30 years so I am familiar with diabetes but never thought it would ever apply to me. My body thought otherwise!
I guess my main point here is that any message of support or positive stories would be great, I am fed up of people's reactions of pity when they hear I've been diagnosed with diabetes. I understand the life change but I've no desire to join a pity party, I have to get up and get on with it!
Click to expand...
Exact thing happened to me, DKA etc. Your attitude is spot on, get up and on with it. Only annoying thing I have noticed, is we seem to get put in the same bracket as type 2 diabetics which is annoying.
 
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