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my type 1 story

draddog1988

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
So nearly 4 years ago I was having some issues, issues that I know now are hypos, I went to the doctors and had bloods taken, after 3 days of my bloods being taken I get a answer phone message "Mr.Goddard could you please contact the surgery" so I called the docs and get seen the same day, by this point I'm nervous, worried and thinking ***?! I went to the docs to be told my blood test had come back that I had a high psa result which would suggest I had prostate cancer, at the age of 23 this was very rare, I asked for a second opinion, had more bloods and was deemed fine. Fast forward 12 months I am constantly peeing, drinking and losing weight, go for another blood test and get called to Mr docs the next day, I have type 1 diabetes and need to be admitted to hospital. That's a lot to take in. I see a consultant who explains it all gives me myglucose monitor ect and sends me on my way, all I can think is WOW! What has happened, and I still feel the same three years later, any way I'm getting to the point of why I started this thread, I have been a ***** diabetic, bloods always in the teens, feeling ****, not knowing how much insulin to take in fear of a hypo, and wondering if I can look look after my wife and 3 amazing Kids as the sole bread earner! I have done some reading into life expectancy of a type 1 and the AVERAGE IS 15-20 Years that as a normal, well I'm 26, had a miss spent youth, smoked, drank, and all that goes with that lifestyle plus the 3 years of bad glucose control so where does that leave me! Bit of a ramble on I know, but nowhere else to have a good rant!
 
Hi

I got scared stiff on diagnosis when I was told I would get a medal if I got to 25 years living as a diabetic. I was told I would get complications.

Well, the good news.... Medals.. Well you have to pay for your own now at 50years of living with D. Complications? -30 years and none. I have not been an angel either.

Now yes. You can still have a **** good life despite not initially towing the line. Diabetes doesn't have to rule your life either. It lives with you.. You are in control and it should not control you.

The most important things are testing and being confident with altering your insulin as necessary.

As a T1 (i think) it's slightly less tedious thinking about foods providing you match your insulin. However, as you know its pretty horrible having to inject all the time for your food. However, it is necessary so you're just going to have to knuckle down n do it now you've lifted your head out of it being buried in the sand.

You'll get great help, support and advice here. I just wanted you to know that sh*t doesn't have to happen with diabetes.

Are you now going to have your check ups etc.. Please make sure you get your eyes n feet checked annually.
 
Had my 1st blood test in over 12months 2 days ago, being self employed I cant afford time off so always looked at the short term, but recently I have come to the conclusion, what is money if I am not there to spend it? I would happilly give everything I own to be rid of this disease but that isn't going to happen is it
 
Well my dad 30 years ago kept cutting out newspaper clippings for me and telling me to be ++ that they would find a cure. Well, they haven't yet but heck, its a lot better treatment nowadays than having a blood meter carried in a shoe box that took 5 mins to give a reading! And having to pay for plastic syringes that drug addicts didn't.

I was like you in the fact that I thought "holy ****, I'm not going to get to 50"..... I was absolutely positive for 30 years I wouldn't. However I am now 51 and still **** fitter and healthier than the majority of the people around me!

Have a look around at suggestions of lower carb foods (lchf) and these because its lower carbs, less insulin, less room for mistakes... You do have to be confident at altering your bolus's. You can't be on a fixed dose of bolus otherwise you will just hypo.
 


So you do get a medal at 50 years I did go to a hospital buffet 10 years a ago for someone who'd reached this so the big question can I do another 10 years of this "of course I can" yeahh a reward for being Type 1 who said there's nothing good about Type 1
 

Aaah, but you got to buy it!!
 
My goodness you've had a lot to contend with over the last few years Draddog

To keep things short, it's never too late to take control of your diabetes and wherever you read that the average life expectancy is 15-20 years is totally wrong, provided you take good care of yourself from here-on you can enjoy a full and active life, if your on a basal/bolus insulin regime ask about going on a carb counting course such as DAFNE, to get an idea of what's involved take a look at the following and register with the site:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/

For a great book to read on controlling type 1 diabetes get yourself a copy of the book Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner, it's a must read for anyone struggling with their diabetes control. Good luck.
 
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