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Recently diagnosed Type 1 at 35

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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Katie1979

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Type 1.5 LADA
Hello!

I'm a 35 year old mum with a 16 month old. I was diagnosed with Type 1 or LADA in March this year. I'm now on insulin for meals (Novarapid) and Levemir for background. I am also carb counting.

It started as gestational diabetes picked up in a random blood test, then it was suspected Type 2 after my daughter was born (though I was not overweight, not in family etc). Anyway I was pretty shocked to be told it was Type 1 after having the antibody test. I am under the care of St George's (Tooting) and they have been amazing.

I'm getting used to it and feel positive but I find it quite isolating as I know nobody with Type 1 and obviously it's a huge lifestyle change. My family are very supportive but some friends just say 'Oh sorry to hear that' and move the conversation on. I find that a bit frustrating and wish some people would try to understand it a bit more.

I'd be interested to know where and how people have met fellow Type 1s, made new friends and sought helpful advice after being diagnosed. Is it mostly online or are local groups helpful?

Thanks
Katie
 
Hi Katie, welcome to the forum 🙂 Well, you have just 'met' loads of new people with Type 1, who know just how you feel, and won't 'switch off' when you want to talk about it!

Sounds like you have had some good support from your healthcare team, which helps a lot, but also being able to share the ups and downs and find the answers to puzzling questions is a huge help too. I was diagnosed aged 49, so it was a bit of a shock to me as well - I was due to run a marathon that week! This place started up about 4 months after and I have met loads and loads of people, both 'virtually' and in real life because of this forum. The forum was actually started by a lady who had had Type 1 for 35 years and never met another! 😱 In past years we have organised Forum Meets across the UK where people can just meet up and chat. Hopefully we will be able to organise more later this year, but you may find a few people in your local area who would also like to meet and there's nothing to stop you from doing that 🙂

Have you got a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents by Ragnar Hanas? If not, do get one (doesn't matter what age you are, it applies to everyone). It's the best book available covering all aspects of living with Type 1.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help and we will be happy to do our best 🙂
 
Thanks so much! Look forward to being part of the forum and will check out the book you mentioned.
 
hello Katie
I'm another Late Developer, I was 50 when I was diagnosed with type 1.
Welcome to the club nobody wanted to join!
 
Hiya Katie. Welcome to the forum.🙂 I was diagnosed at 41 and was also frustrated by friends' sympathetic but dismissive attitudes at first. The best thing for me was finding this forum (2 years ago) where everyone understands and has similar experiences. 🙂 Now I'm quite happy to forget about my diabetes when I'm with my 'muggle' (non-diabetic) friends!😛
 
Well of course D is silent and invisible - and 99.9% of the time there is no need for anyone else to even know we have it.

BUT - 0.1% of the time it's essential because it really could actually be a matter of life or death, in the worst case scenario. And so of course that means WE have to put ourselves out more to ensure we stay in the larger group and not the smaller one.

I really don't see a way to get round this - I've never been able to - because primarily - I am ALWAYS Jenny - NOT A Diabetic !

I do have one of the car stickers we (DSF forum) had made years ago with our logo and the words 'Diabetic, and dealing with it' but that's no help when I'm on foot LOL - and I don't want it tattooed on my face ......

Local DUK groups - I was 22 and they always seemed full of old people so nowt to do with me. Now I'm 65 - they somehow seem a lot more user-friendly to me! No seriously - our group is run by a T1 - but they get all sorts of people to come and talk to us, doesn't matter what Type we are - so it can be really quite interesting. People don't 'lecture' any more, they talk - and everyone can ask anything that occurs to them.

All you can do is give it a go.
 
Welcome to the forum Katie 🙂
 
Thanks everyone! There seem to be a few people here who developed T1 post 35. For about a year I was being told I was probably Type 2 or borderline. Then I switched hospitals, the consultant took one look at me and said she suspected I had LADA. She was right.

For a while I cut out carbs and felt exhausted. I am now carb counting and using the book Carbs and Cals to help. I feel much better and am delighted I can eat a little bit more freely.
 
Katie1979 said:
Thanks everyone! There seem to be a few people here who developed T1 post 35. For about a year I was being told I was probably Type 2 or borderline. Then I switched hospitals, the consultant took one look at me and said she suspected I had LADA. She was right.

For a while I cut out carbs and felt exhausted. I am now carb counting and using the book Carbs and Cals to help. I feel much better and am delighted I can eat a little bit more freely.
Click to expand...

That's fortunate that your new hospital were more on the ball Katie! Unfortunately, there are a lot of places that still refuse to accept you can be a slow-onset Type 1 as an adult, and some people can end up having a real battle. Even worse, some people just accept the diagnosis and believe that they have to feel dreadful or feel they must be doing something wrong. We even had one person who was told their diagnosis must be changed from Type 1 to Type 2 when they turned 40! 😱
 
Hello and welcome Katie 🙂

It's wall to wall with diabetics on here who all 'get' diabetes in all its many forms. There's a wealth of lovely people with great experience to help you with any questions you might have.

It is very hard to meet fellow diabetics in the wild anywhere other than at diabetes clinics or local meetings so it is great to have a forum to use.
 
Diagnosed at 54 last year. This place is invaluable. Good luck.
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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