Hi all,
It's hard these days not to know several people personally - or through a friend/colleague, etc - someone who has type 1, or indeed type 2. I was diagnosed age 6 so it's difficult, impossible nearly, to remember what my life was like when I didn't have diabetes. All through the major 'incidents' in my life my diabetes has been with me; puberty, teenage years, my partying days (I still have quite a bit of party left in me at 25, although it's calmed down),etc and now adult life.
A lot of the people I speak to who have problems in controlling their diabetes were diagnosed during their teenage years or as an adult. I regularly meet up with a school friend, who was diagnosed more or less at the same time as me, when we are in the local diabetic clinic and he has never had any significant issues with his condition - just like me. We are both very hypo aware and sugar level control is second nature - it's our life because we've had it so long and it's done without much thought.
I suppose this is more of an observation of mine and I wondered if anyone agreed or disagreed with me. Anyone been diagnosed at a young age and feel the same? Or maybe entirely differently?
I would put my good control and general health down to my mum. She was very regimented in my control - but not to the extent that I didn't have a life or hated her for it. I suppose I have a lot to thank her for because she's set me up for life. I also think because I don't really know any other way than being diabetic that I never had the big lifestyle change. It's always the no sugar products I purchase and I automatically adjust my insulin depending on what my movements are and I don't find it requires a blood test. The trauma (if that's what I can call it) of being diagnosed diabetic was all taken on by my mum. When someone said I had to inject every day for the rest of my life I just shrugged my shoulders, said "ok" and went back to colouring in! Whereas my mum I think just about fainted.
Wondered what people thought? Has it been a blessing in disguise to be diagnosed so young? Are there any parents of young children who would agree with this? I can't imagine what it must be like to have a child who is diabetic. I salute you as the responsibility and worry must be frightful.
Thanks for reading,
A ponderous Jenni
It's hard these days not to know several people personally - or through a friend/colleague, etc - someone who has type 1, or indeed type 2. I was diagnosed age 6 so it's difficult, impossible nearly, to remember what my life was like when I didn't have diabetes. All through the major 'incidents' in my life my diabetes has been with me; puberty, teenage years, my partying days (I still have quite a bit of party left in me at 25, although it's calmed down),etc and now adult life.
A lot of the people I speak to who have problems in controlling their diabetes were diagnosed during their teenage years or as an adult. I regularly meet up with a school friend, who was diagnosed more or less at the same time as me, when we are in the local diabetic clinic and he has never had any significant issues with his condition - just like me. We are both very hypo aware and sugar level control is second nature - it's our life because we've had it so long and it's done without much thought.
I suppose this is more of an observation of mine and I wondered if anyone agreed or disagreed with me. Anyone been diagnosed at a young age and feel the same? Or maybe entirely differently?
I would put my good control and general health down to my mum. She was very regimented in my control - but not to the extent that I didn't have a life or hated her for it. I suppose I have a lot to thank her for because she's set me up for life. I also think because I don't really know any other way than being diabetic that I never had the big lifestyle change. It's always the no sugar products I purchase and I automatically adjust my insulin depending on what my movements are and I don't find it requires a blood test. The trauma (if that's what I can call it) of being diagnosed diabetic was all taken on by my mum. When someone said I had to inject every day for the rest of my life I just shrugged my shoulders, said "ok" and went back to colouring in! Whereas my mum I think just about fainted.
Wondered what people thought? Has it been a blessing in disguise to be diagnosed so young? Are there any parents of young children who would agree with this? I can't imagine what it must be like to have a child who is diabetic. I salute you as the responsibility and worry must be frightful.
Thanks for reading,
A ponderous Jenni
