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touchett

Active Member
Messages
28
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
May I just ask anyone out there, if they've had diabetes for 40-50+ years with no complications? NO retinopathy or neuropathy? Have any type 2s here been living with the disease 30+ years without insulin? Was anyone here diagnosed in their early 30s, and if so, have you had to increase your medications, and how many years after initial diagnosis?

I'm particularly disheartened by articles and academic journals that publish results stating that "duration of diabetes is a factor", even in patients with no retinopathy at the time of diagnosis, 5, 10, 14, 20 years down the line: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/suppl_1/s84.full

I realise that type 1s must face these kinds of probabilities in a more heightened and pronounced way, and I just wonder how anybody copes with the fear and the uncertainty.

--
 
I think a few people posted their experiences on your last thread.
 
Avocado Sevenfold said:
I think a few people posted their experiences on your last thread.
Click to expand...

The impression I got was that many members here have older relations who were diabetics, with few if any complications. Which was encouraging to hear. These relatives seem to have been diagnosed a little later in life. I'd like to hear from anyone who was diagnosed earlier, in their 30s, who are currently in their 60s or 70s, or have lived with the diagnosis for 30+ years, with no retinopathy or neuropathy.
 
I think you will find that Type 2 diabetics were always in the older age group and the newer explosion of Type2 worldwide is when people of a younger age were diagnosed.
 
I realise that you are concerned as you are young and recently diagnosed. I would recommend, to anyone, to just take it a day at a time and not overthink it. Do your best and enjoy the new menu.
 
Now this is probably sound harsh, but reality sometimes is.


To be honest, I think you have to get your head around the fact that anyone else's experience will be just that. Their starting point and experiences in their post diagnosis life are unlikely to be the same as yours, so comparisons may not actually be helpful.


Your life has an extra dimension to it which means you now have to do things just a little differently to before. I would suggest you invest all this time and energy into discovering slightly different ways of living and eating; rather than worrying about something that may not happen. Research suggests the sooner, post-diagnosis, we embrace the management of our condition, the more rapidly we will see the improvements we crave. Don't waste this golden window and make things even harder.


I was only diagnosed in October and went through a period of anger and denial, but it wasn't getting me anywhere, apart from unhappy and frustrated. Since then, I am trying to accept I now have a passenger on my life journey. This passenger and I may not necessarily be the best of friends, but we're stuck together (probably) for the balance of my life, so I have to make the best of it, and try to keep this passenger in a trouble-free demeanour. This passenger is not going to be the centre world.


I hope I can stay this positive. I have seen good numbers on my meter, I have got trim and my blood pressure and cholesterol readings are significantly improved. That provides great motivation. I'm sure I will have my moments. Declining a particularly cheeky champagne at Thanksgiving was a bit hard, but one glass did virtually nothing to my bloods, but I won't push my luck too often.


There is a bit of trial and error involved in finding your way forward, but concentrating on the end-game downside in everything has a great danger of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.


I wish you good fortune and happiness, but much of that is already in your own hands. Don't reject the opportunity.
 
AndBreathe: Not harsh at all. I'm not sure how I can better manage the condition, as I've already cut out all carbohydrates from my meals, apart from vegetables, and increased physical activity--walking daily, and cycling. I certainly hope I'm not making things harder for myself, nor creating a Merton-esque scenario of the self-fulfilling prophecy. For me, hearing anecdotal evidence of longevity and good health is helpful, even encouraging, though I understand that we are each our own person, and that such statistics do not necessarily apply in our case.

Avocado Sevenfold and catherinecherub: Thank you for the advice.
 
What an excellent post. Great to see someone adopting such a positive approach to living with diabetes.

This is not a criticism of Touchett. He is very new to this game and he needs some time to get his head straight.

Diagnosis was a shock to all of us

Pavlos


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
In fact a she, though I realise the avatar makes that confusing. Many thanks for your kindnesses Pavlos.
 
I like the ethos of this person's comment. Great attitude.
 
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