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I really like being Diabetic because...

I am grateful right at this moment because it stops me eating the entire tin of ginger biscuits from IKEA that are in front of me in one go.

And on the "less sucky" things to have - I also have severe hearing loss (it's really bad) and even though I have super duper hearing aids, I spend a lot of my day asking people to repeat themselves, smiling inanely as though I'm following what they're saying, and possibly agreeing to do something I had no idea I was agreeing to. I imagine most people who meet me think I'm incredibly rude and/or have more than a screw loose. Avoiding the ginger biscuits doesn't provoke the same level of reaction...

But that is my particular diabetes. My mum had type 1 and I watched her inject enormous syringes of insulin in the '80s; I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
 

I remember those syringes. I was diagnosed Type 1 in 1981 so remember them well. Big glass syringes, glass and steel that had to be boiled in water first to steralise them. Oh and the needles that had Fatima Whitbread holding them!

Anyway, I am glad I have diabetes because when I was diagnosed in 1981 there was a treatment for it. It was first used to treat Diabetes in 1922 so anytime before that it would have been a death sentence..
 
Smallbrit said:
But that is my particular diabetes. My mum had type 1 and I watched her inject enormous syringes of insulin in the '80s; I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
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I vaguely remember them - though only vaguely as I was very young at the time - I was diagnosed in 1977 at the age of 2, but despite the fact I remember very little from my early childhood I remember those huge humungous things (especially when compared to a small child).

I'm one of those people that is not glad I have diabetes and never will be, I was always classed as a brittle diabetic which meant as a kid my control was um 'not control', many hypos, so my parents had to force me to drink a sugary drink because I'm a stubborn so and so when I'm hypo and even more picky than normal and even now I'm still really picky about what I'll eat and drink - my parents must have had an awful time.

And although I'm now a lot better controlled I will still never be glad of it, yes it is a lot better than many things but I still wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
 
I hope you remember me.

You were one of the first people here who really helped me and I want to thank you again.

Anyway if you remember I was put on insulin Glargine for just 13 days when my bg levels read between 5s and 6s. I’m now on Metformin and they are still reading between the 5s and 6s.

Unfortunately I was told by my DN they suspect Type 1.5 (LADA) a slow onset T1.

They will carry out C-peptide and GAD tests end of Jan 2028.

I am so nervous right now and will be confirmed 13 Feb next year.

Any advice?

Andrew
 

I hope you remember me.

You were one of the first people here who really helped me and I want to thank you again.

Anyway if you remember I was put on insulin Glargine for just 13 days when my bg levels read between 5s and 6s. I’m now on Metformin and they are still reading between the 5s and 6s.

Unfortunately I was told by my DN they suspect Type 1.5 (LADA) a slow onset T1.

They will carry out C-peptide and GAD tests end of Jan 2028.

I am so nervous right now and will be confirmed 13 Feb next year.

Any advice?

Andrew
 


Hi Andrew

Gosh,if they suspect T1 or LADA why are they making you wait so long???

How are you feeling? More importantly how's your levels??

Crikey, I am really shocked at delay in getting aconfirmed diagnosis and treatment.

Hope you are ok though, good to hear from you...hope that you can remain as a T2 rather than late onset.
Metformin wouldnt (in my opinion) be keeping you in 5-6's if you were a T1...
 


Type 1.5 is a slow onset of T1.

I really hope and pray I’ll remain T2 so that I can reverse it or put into remmision.

But I’m now preparing for whatever happens so that I won’t be too shocked next year!

Will be asking you a lot of questions about basal/bolus measurements.
 

I’m feeling ok except that my body is still weak. If you remember I went on a starvation diet for 5 -6 weeks on 400/500 calories per day. Zero carb so I’ve lost so much energy that I could hardly walk and gave up my job.

I’ve now slowly reintroduced carbs so I’m getting my energy levels back but not yet 100%.
 

Very unlikely you will need basal/bolus.

Have you changed eating at all?
 

Yes, Sorry, I remember now.

What plans are you making for xmas eats??
 
donnellysdogs said:
Very unlikely you will need basal/bolus.

Have you changed eating at all?
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Yes I have changed my eating. I’m eating more but still low carb. Plenty of vegetables, 2-4 ounces meat, nuts, no bread, potatoes, pasta and starchy stuff.

My bg levels are still reading between 5s and 6s and it’s now 6 weeks since I was taken off insulin Glargine.

Do you think I’m T1?
 
donnellysdogs said:
Very unlikely you will need basal/bolus.

Have you changed eating at all?
Click to expand...

Just had my A1c last Monday since diagnosis/ Ketoacidosis last September.

If my daily bg levels are reading between 5s and 6s do you think my A1c has gone down?
 

Hi Jeremy,

How did you get into being a youth worker for diabetes? It’s something I’d like to explore and my nurse mentioned it to me in our last meeting. I’m in my final year of university and studying childhood and youth studies, as well as working part time in youth work. Where abouts are you based?
 
I'm new here, but felt I had to comment on this topic.
When I was first diagnosed, I really felt like nothing good could come from being diabetic. It was like I was strictly worse than a non-diabetic version of myself.
13 years later, as a masters student in engineering, I'm glad to have grown up learning almost daily about statistics, tendencies, complex systems responses, having immediate effect on my health related decisions (as opposed to, say, waiting years for the consequences to show): basically, if something messes with my blood sugar readings, it is probably bad for me, and forcing myself to a rotine of self care and exercising (it had great effect on my appereance). It's a level of awereness that would not be possible for a non-diabetic me.
I like this awereness, I like that I learned to love and care for myself, I like that I have an understanding of physiology and nutrition far beyound my peers and I like that, by definition, I have an unusual way at seeing and dealing with life.

I'm also glad to have excuses to missing appointments I don't really want to attend.

(english is not my first languange, sorry if something doesn't make sense in my reasoning)
 

I have to agree with you @porl69, When I was first diagnosed in 1989, I was a new single parent with 2 children, so I just got on with it. but lately it has taken it's toll and I find it quite difficult at times. Don't get me wrong, I still get on with it, I still keep ploughing on and I won't let it burden me, but Like It, really as John McEnroe used to say........you cannot be serious, it's just
So, I can't say 'I really like being diabetic because'............... some have turned their lives around with big lifestyle changes, that's great and good for them

ps that's a whole lot of injections, incredible so keep on swimming up stream
 

You're a tough cookie DD and a lovely person too
 
@MauroM, may Young's modulus always be with you!!!
 
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