Hi
@Nina8786, I was diagnosed at age 13 and remember learning about diabetes complications, having them used by health providers as a weapon to make me comply with
their idea of treatment. Doing a medical degree at Uni made me even more worried when diabetes came up repeatedly in the course.
I was diagnosed in 1966 and now 51 years later I have no kidney, heart or substantial eye problems.
I had cataracts treated about 6 years ago (and I partly blame the Aussie sun for that)!!, carpal tunnel releases (tissue build up where a nerve goes through a tunnel in the wrist causing some nerve pressure), pesky things like triggers fingers (localised tissue swelling in finger tendon causing difficulty of tendon slipping through tissue pulleys with sudden slipping through causing a triggering movement). Just as well I did not have to use a gun in my vocation.!
Furthermore, back in 1966 there were no glucose meters, fancy insulins, insulin pens or pumps.
My endocrinologist tells me he welcomes all his new T1D patients with the advice to make sure they arrange good normal age retirement plans once they start employment. The lookout is that good these days.
The other thing is the teenage years are the second most rapid growth phase that us humans go through. I recall vividly the growth spurts where growth hormones ramp up, insulin requirements increase sometimes 3 times usual, appetite goes crazy and then some weeks later the hypos start and I was scrambling to reduce insulin doses fast enough.
How can any diabetic not have challenges keeping BSLs in range during this stage in their lives? And sometimes health professionals just do not get it.
To have survived teenagehood, not had major problems with BSLs, no hospitalisations or very few, is a major achievement.
I assume you are now through the worst of that phase but regretful that things did not go as well as you would have liked (or as well as your HPs demanded).
But ... you have learned a lot. One of my favourite cartoons shows a guy sitting in an office with a sign on the wall reading "Training Agency". Interviewer: "Mr Jones, what makes you think you are the best candidate for this head of management position" Mr Jones, "Well, I believe we learn from our mistakes. And I make enough to train everybody here"!
On this site plenty of us have made mistakes, learnt from them and had regrets. By sharing those experiences we can all learn, we can show that dire outcomes are not inevitable, that we are not alone.
Also, if we worry about the future, how can we enjoy the present? We do the best we can, we appreciate that sometimes things work out because we have learnt what went wrong last time, sometimes it works out well accidentally. Sometimes no matter what we do things go awry.
I have sometimes said that my body is like an orchestra or rock band with mischievous players. Sometimes the tune is harmonious but I cannot guarantee that yesterday's CD will sound the same as today. I can do what I can today, tomorrow is coming no matter what and I take steps not to come to harm (like wear ear protection).
Try not to take things too seriously. Self humour can be a wonderful salve: e.g. I used to hum an old, old pop song 'Needles and Pins' whilst I was giving myself injections. Or imagine I was practising javelin throwing. Sometimes. if my bsl was near low before an evening meal I would swop things around. dessert first to get bsl up more quickly (Topsy-turvey dinner) and I heard of one family where the son and husband of the mother with diabetic would bet on what her pre-dinner BSL would be and the loser did the washing up !
Finally, develop interests and hobbies - my avatar tells you of mine. Having some exercise component to them helps but also some socialising element ? photography ? craft work ? sport / gardening/ etc. I do however say that I draw the line at painting garden gnomes !! Distraction, social interaction, achievement all can be healthy.
Welcome to this site, fellow warrior. And a special tribute to all ladies with diabetes who are a great resource for you (and who would quite rightly hang me out to dry if I did not acknowledge them). I am not a chicken just a wise (deniably old) coot.