Has anyone here been a diabetic for more than 40 years?

[Barrie Smith]

Yes was diagnosed July 1960 , had 20 years trouble diabetes but that all changed after being forced to go onto synthetic (Human) Insulin in 1980 ,was abandoned by NHS to 34 years of ill health was finally forced get a private 2nd Opinion , diagnosis Poly Glandular Auto-Immune damage to 5 glands caused by the Insulin , the 229 Insulin Coma`s caused by destruction of the digestive section of Pancreas ,Hypo Thyroid , Pernicious Anaemia , Adrenal damage , loss of Vitamin D production . Plus in 2009 was given Ciprofloxacin for an ear infection ( 3 bags /day 4 days ) which left me unable to process Levothyroxine tablets (check Wikipedia known to react with Levo/T) , also 2 serious muscle tears , the Thyroid problem was finally fixed by an NHS prescription last month .
I keep soldiering on still playing bowls walking my dog , making every day count , but after the fights I have had with the Establishment don't tell me how good the NHS ,Novo ,Abbott , and Beyer are because commercial interest comes before patient outcomes .

 

[catsbd]

Been type 1 since April 1973. Whoo hooo. Very proud.


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[Radge21]

I have been type 1 diabetic for 40 years, I am 53 now.
I worked as a postman most of my life and I am sure the constant walking has served me well.

I have had no complications yet, but have over the years been put on enalapril and a statin.
I have noticed over the years not to eat grapefruit as it makes me ill due to one of the two tablets I take.

Eat well, walk as much as you can, and check your blood sugar levels often.
But don't eat grapefruit in my case.
Once I stopped eating grapefruit, or drinking grapefruit juice and realised it did not agree with my statin i felt much much better.

 

[nutmeg]

I became a diabetic at age 12 now it is starting to take it's toll. I can no longer work because of neuropathy. What is a person to do?

I was diagnosed at he age of 14 that's 42 yrs ago. I have no complications, luckily enough, cos when I was in my teens I did everything that you were not supposed to do. There was not such a variety of Insulin's available then, and you had to stick to a very strict diet. The progression in Diabetic care has come on in leaps and bounds, and there is not any reason, I think, to not lead a healthy active life. Don't get me wrong I do have my off days when the Diabetes does get on my nerves, but it is part of me & feeling down about it won't make it go away.

 

[norwaycook]

I've been a type one diabetic for 52 years Just gone on to the pump 3 months ago and really liking it.
Always good to revitalise your interest. Had a few heart problems but apart from that doing well. Started with diabetes when I was seven. Haven't always been well controlled especially in my teens.



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[nutmeg]

I've been a type one diabetic for 52 years Just gone on to the pump 3 months ago and really liking it.
Always good to revitalise your interest. Had a few heart problems but apart from that doing well. Started with diabetes when I was seven. Haven't always been well controlled especially in my teens.



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I was diagnosed in 1972 at the age of 14.
It seems that most of us who are in our 50's say that our control when in our teens was not very good. I think that the main reason for this is, apart from thinking that we knew it all, we never had the pleasure of Quick Acting & Long Lasting Insulin's, and being able to adjust our doses easily. Having gone from 2 ( what I would call )proper injections with a syringe, a day. I know have 5 but you don't really class the Pen as an injection as you virtually don't feel a thing.

 

[crunchieice]

I had no idea that the life expectancy for type1's was 69!!!

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[happy girl 1949]

Omg what is it for type 2


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[yingtong]

I have been Type 1 since Feb 1964 and I am a few days away from my 65th birthday,I have a few minor diabetic problems but I am still going strong.I will not let this pain in the **** disease get me!


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[Pinkerbell]

This thread is so inspiring and reassuring! After spending most of my adult life keeping fit and eating healthily in order to avoid my family history of type 2, much to my disgust, I was diagnosed with likely type 1 at 38! I have been so frightened and overwhelmed by the possible long term implications, but after reading these stories, I'm feeling much more confident that I have a good chance of staying fit and healthy, provided I stay on top of it!

 

[CarbsRok]

I had no idea that the life expectancy for type1's was 69!!!

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I wont tell my Uncle that, he has had type 1 for almost 50 years. He was diagnosed about a month before me and will be 80 in January

 

[sharonlmartin]

43 years in September for me

 

[noblehead]

I had no idea that the life expectancy for type1's was 69!!!

Where did that come from?

 

[crunchieice]

I wont tell my Uncle that, he has had type 1 for almost 50 years. He was diagnosed about a month before me and will be 80 in January

Earlier in this thread. ..

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[Ladybirdy75]

I'm just past the 40 year mark as a T1. I'm 45 and was diagnosed at 5. I confess I've had quite a lot of eye problems (all the laser I'm allowed on my left due to lots of bleeds culminating in a vitrectomy 2 yrs ago due to an old blood vessel tugging on the retina causing lots of haemorrhages), i had a heart attack requiring a stent in March this year and now have coronary heart disease, my kidney function is on the high end of normal but does cause me high blood pressure but other than that I'm fighting fit and feel i am blessed with a strong constitution. I would say a lot of that is down to my own bad management at times of my levels but there's plenty of life in the old dog yet ;-)

You just have to keep a really positive attitude and try your best whilst you just get on with it. You're doing great, don't let it stop you.

 

[Omnipod]

I just turned 21 9 minutes ago, I've had type 1 for just over a year and I've been regimented ever since, I workout, cook all my food and my hba1c is always in the 5's. I'm absolutely determined to never let it slip though I know realistically this is impossible but I've got the tools at my disposal in this day and age, I want to keep this regimented lifestyle with regard to control for as long as I possibly can I really feel like I'd be betraying myself in the future if I didnt take full advantage of whats available to me now.

Thank you for all your insights guys, I definitely needed the motivation.

Omar...how do you keep your HBA1C so low with such high carbs?

 

[mammamia2006]

Wow!!

I have been t1 since I was 3 so, 25years and have been a terrible diabetic until lately but my god you are all an inspiration!

I used to think I would be dead before I was 20! Thank god for this site and all you lovely kind people

Hope we all keep kicking diabetes' ass for many more years to come

 

[Gaz-M]

since I was 2 so 43 year for me this year

 

[humaject]

I became diabetic type 1 Insulin October 1968 age 13 47 years this year i played football and swam when i was younger,1978 i started weight training and still do i was made redundant 4 years ago and trying to get a job has been impossible my wife works and the house is paid for.For the last 4 years i have been going to the gym Mon to Friday 5 mornings i started dieting February and from 14 stone i am now 12 stone 5 lbs I had the diabetic clinic last Tuesday and the consultant said everything was excellent my HbA1c was 4.8 I do suffer from a few Hypos but that is the price of keeping one`s blood sugars as near to normal as one can.I think the best thing you can do is try and get out of the hose dont sit around or you`ll start getting depressed and that will make things seem a lot worse.Try and find a weights gym not the council places or the Big Name ones just a good old bodybuilding Gym. Dont be put off by the big blokes there they all started as newcomers and most of them will help you through the first few months once you get a routine going you`ll start to enjoy the training and the improvement in yourself.And the diet most of the trainers use is very close to a good diabetic diet................ Good Luck and Take Care.

 

[Marling]

Had T1 since sge 10 and am now 64 and feeling very well and healthy. I feel I'm very lucky. I keep an eye on what I eat, am on DAFNE, inject accordingly, usually 5 times a day and keep my weight down. My GB varies, but as long as I know why it's too high or too low, that's ok and I can take measures. I know I should exercise more, am a bit lazy in that department. On the whole, I have not allowed diabetes to rule my life. Retinopathy is the only side effect, but this has been well controlled with laser treatment some 20 years ago. So I am a happy and grateful member of this group and would like to encourage any newcomers and newly diagnosed people.