Heart conditions and type 1 diabetes

[NinjaLee]

Hi All,

This is my first post on this forum and I was hoping to get some advice from people who have been in a similar experience to me.

I have had type 1 Diabetes for nearly 34 years now, I was diagnosed when I turned 1. I generally live a pretty active lifestyle - am reasonably fit and test my blood sugars around 5-8 times a day. I do carb counting when injecting and find my results to be reasonably good but theres always room for improvement.

I was put on a statin tablet when I visited my diabetic gp last year and was told its because I need to start thinking longer term because of my age etc. My cholesterol and blood pressure are good but I was concerned about why I was being put on this.
I know there are huge complications relating diabetes to heart attacks / strokes and I am really concerned that this is a route I might go down. I do get pains in my chest from time to time but after several vists to my GP I have been told its not heart related.
I know that controlling my blood sugar is the best preventative thing to do with heart conditions but after having diabetes for so long, can I only expect to live a much shorter life? Has anyone else been paranoid about the side effects it causes and if so what can I do to help control it?

Really appreciate any help with this.

Lee

 

[EllieM]

I know that controlling my blood sugar is the best preventative thing to do with heart conditions but after having diabetes for so long, can I only expect to live a much shorter life?

As @Knikki said, there is a lot of debate about statins on these boards, both for and against. As regards the inevitability of a shorter life span, there's plenty of us on the boards in good health after 50, 60, 70 years or more of T1, and I think the main factor is keeping a reasonable hba1c. My T1 mother died at 78 in 2012, I think she'd be alive today if she hadn't smoked for 50 years of that life span, and remember that her first 20 plus years of diabetes were pre glucometer. Personally, I wasn't diagnosed till I was 8, but I'm hoping to continue in good health for another couple of decades (at least as far as diabetic side effects are concerned, there's nothing anyone can do about random illnesses that are not diabetes related).

I know that controlling my blood sugar is the best preventative thing to do with heart conditions

And exercise, don't forget that. (Though it sounds as though you're fine on that front too.)

 

[NinjaLee]

Thank you for both getting back to me so quickly on all of this

 

[Deleted Account]

@NinjaLee I just have one thing to add to the great advice above.

A few years ago, I was offered statins because "everyone over 40 with diabetes" is offered them.
However, the consultant elaborated on this advice to explain that this is based on research with "unfit' people with diabetes and no research has been done with very active people (such as you and I) and their risk of heart disease.
Based on this and no other health issues, I declined the offer.

Like you, I focus on my BG and anything I would do regardless of diabetes such as exercise and diet.
So far, I have not become paranoid about getting complications whilst I try to live a "healthy life" but I have only been part of the club for 15 years.