How long have you had T1

[Robinredbreast]

32 years for me and I had my daughter at the age of 42 1/2 years, my best diabetes moment ever.
Unfortunately the Health system, NHS , still lives in the dark ages, where people talked about diabetes under their breath, children went to specialist diabetes establishments, cared for by medical professionals, treated as though we were delicate and feeble. Times move on and we can do anything we like, as diabetes is just a small part of who we are ( even though at times it can be frustratingly hard work)

 

[Rokaab]

I'm at 43.5 years now, the first 35-40 years of which my control was dubious at best (goddamn awful at times), and I'm definitely still here (luckily with minimal issues)

 

[SueJB]

Just seeing how long people have had T1 diabetes for, I read up it can take 10 years off your life, irrespective of what age you got it - whether you were 5 or 35. So if the average age of a man to die is 76, you recon 66 is about your life expectancy

I should be dead then @Topher, I'm 67 but funnily enough, I'm doing OK, I'm extremely positive and upbeat and want to stay that way in these somewhat difficult times.

 

[Stretford Ender]

Newly diagnosed in January 21 and finding the posts in this thread inspirational

 

[PaulAshby]

Just seeing how long people have had T1 diabetes for, I read up it can take 10 years off your life, irrespective of what age you got it - whether you were 5 or 35. So if the average age of a man to die is 76, you recon 66 is about your life expectancy

I've had it for 58 years I'm 60 and have no intention of leaving the building anytime soon.

 

[PaulAshby]

32 years for me and I had my daughter at the age of 42 1/2 years, my best diabetes moment ever.
Unfortunately the Health system, NHS , still lives in the dark ages, where people talked about diabetes under their breath, children went to specialist diabetes establishments, cared for by medical professionals, treated as though we were delicate and feeble. Times move on and we can do anything we like, as diabetes is just a small part of who we are ( even though at times it can be frustratingly hard work)

I went to one of those diabetes establishments in Hammersmith, was there for 4 years, came home at weekends but on the whole enjoyed my time there this was back in 1972 to 76.

 

[PaulAshby]

I’m 26, originally diagnosed when I was 14. Throughout my teens & my early twenties my control was poor. I would say only really now I’m starting to seriously take control of my type 1. When/if I reach 66 I will of been diabetic 52 year. I’ve lost a lot of weight, I go to the gym 6 days a week. I eat 1500 calories of healthy food per day (not including a Saturday night). If I don’t reach 66 or die at around that age I’ll happily die knowing I tried my hardest to live a happy healthy life, if it’s diabetes related that does kill me well there’s not much I can do about it.

Indeed, as a teenager I never took it seriously I remember drinking 7 cans of Coka Cola in a day which obviously put into hyperglycaemia and off to hospital but you can't tell teenagers anything and did the same again a few times but you do learn I guess, glad we've got all this amazing technology to help us out and live to a ripe old age.

 

[Maco]

Indeed, as a teenager I never took it seriously I remember drinking 7 cans of Coka Cola in a day which obviously put into hyperglycaemia and off to hospital but you can't tell teenagers anything and did the same again a few times but you do learn I guess, glad we've got all this amazing technology to help us out and live to a ripe old age.

I used to to drink 1 2L bottle of Pepsi a night, alongside chocolate crisps takeaways etc etc. Grab my insulin pen twist it too a high number and hope for the best. Pleased them days are over.

 

[PaulAshby]

I used to to drink 1 2L bottle of Pepsi a night, alongside chocolate crisps takeaways etc etc. Grab my insulin pen twist it too a high number and hope for the best. Pleased them days are over.

Indeed, I was a horrible little diabetic back then, thankfully saw sense.

 

[bmtest]

Into 5th decade as type 1. i will live as long as i decide to, unless I am denied insulin by GP surgery for some reason or other even then you can survive on boiled cabbage.

 

[KK123]

I went to one of those diabetes establishments in Hammersmith, was there for 4 years, came home at weekends but on the whole enjoyed my time there this was back in 1972 to 76.

Wow, Paul! I would love to hear more about that. Whipped off to a 'special place' because of diabetes?, how did they treat it? x

 

[KK123]

Into 5th decade as type 1. i will live as long as i decide to, unless I am denied insulin by GP surgery for some reason or other even then you can survive on boiled cabbage.

For a week or so!

 

[KK123]

Interesting post. When you take diabetes out of the equation, 'ordinary' members of the public die at different ages, 70, 80, 90 etc. Many times that is due to a wide range of issues or simply because of differences in human beings and their lifestyles & DNA. As far as I am concerned that's the same for all of us. All we can do is keep ourselves as healthy as possible and if we are able to do that (not easy or that simple I know) then I am not convinced that we will suddenly pop off at '66' specifically because of diabetes. I do think as someone else implied, that this life expectancy deficit is based on people with diabetes who for many reasons could be described as totally uncontrolled despite all efforts, so probably had the various other associated conditions too. A shout out to @Maco, believe me, when you're knocking on 60 then '66' seems very young indeed.

 

[PaulAshby]

Into 5th decade as type 1. i will live as long as i decide to, unless I am denied insulin by GP surgery for some reason or other even then you can survive on boiled cabbage.

Don't mind boiled cabbage

 

[Antje77]

Into 5th decade as type 1. i will live as long as i decide to, unless I am denied insulin by GP surgery for some reason or other even then you can survive on boiled cabbage.

No you couldn't. A T1 will die without insulin.

 

[Jaylee]

Into 5th decade as type 1. i will live as long as i decide to, unless I am denied insulin by GP surgery for some reason or other even then you can survive on boiled cabbage.

Blimey, that is an old pre Banting way to prolonging a demise..
I heard somewhere, chicken was allowed too?

 

[powerley]

To be completely honest I am just entering my second decade as a Type 1. I am a hopeless diabetic with regular readings of 30+ I have lost so much weight (6st 12) ..it has made me hate eating anything ..I constantly feel like xxxx . And I don't really care anymore. But am still here lol

 

[35yearsofType1]

36 years this week - I am only 37 - I was the youngest to be diagnosed in the north west in the 80's!

 

[CherryColaZero12]

I'll have had it 20 years in June. I was diagnosed aged 17.

 

[Biker74]

Type 1 for 45years this year. Pig insulin and peeing on a stick for sugar levels to start with