Type 1 vs Type 2

noblehead said:

Both types will have their challenges @jamesfitz.

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Robinredbreast said:

It's constantly there 24/7, but have always tried to be upbeat and positive, but lately, I have had bad feelings towards diabetes

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BeccyB said:

I've often thought about this issue - usually when I'm treating myself to a big meal and dessert!

I think most people without Type1 would say the injecting must be the worst thing but I totally disagree - you really do get used to it and it doesn't bother me at all. The worst thing I think is all the calculating of how much and when to inject - it's just exhausting having to think about the effect of absolutely everything you do. I'd love to have a spare brain that I could devote to the diabetes while the other gets on with 'normal' things.

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Robinredbreast said:

When you see a heading with 'type vs another type' it can cause alarm bells to ring .
Both types are different. As a type 1 :-
Adults and children being misdiagnosed and then dying. Or admitted to hospital in a critical/serious condition or near death and fighting to stay alive. The constant finger pricking, decades and decades of it and injections too, which others have said is not a 'horrible experience' (it's something that you do get used to and doesn't really hurt), but injection sites can get lumpy, causing problems. Hypo's, hypers, weighing food, you can't just 'eat something' (most foods for me), without injecting. Working out the carbs for foods, eating out and trying to guesstimate without any massive highs or lows. Any stress, worries, shock,illnesses, operations, accidents and even hot weather can make the BS soar. Many other auto immune conditions that are associated with diabetes, especially with type 1, depression too, diabetes burnout ( especially with the younger generation)
I would rather not have diabetes, but I try and manage as best as I can, but have been going through a bit of horrible time recently and It's been more of a roller coaster ride and I want to get back on the merry go round. It's constantly there 24/7, but have always tried to be upbeat and positive, but lately, I have had bad feelings towards diabetes

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DunePlodder said:

I suppose if we were living in a very poor country or a war zone & couldn't get hold of insulin, the comparison might look a little different.

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Daibell said:

Hi. I was on tablets for years as a 'T2' and found the struggle to keep the blood sugar down even with low-carbing a real problem. When I went onto insulin MDI as a late onset T1 I found it a great relief and wouldn't go back. Yes, it's a nuisance but my control is quite good and I can now actually eat food!

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julie56 said:

I was diagnosed T2 at the age of 57 although my doctor thinks I am almost definitely slow evolving Type 1 and has put this on my notes. Whatever the final diagnosis I think I am lucky that I can at the moment control it with meds and low carbing and in fact feel generally healthier than a couple of years ago. I personally have a great deal of sympathy and admiration for the young people diagnosed Type 1 who have to deal with the daily routine and traumas that it can bring, when I am sure all they want to do is just be like all their "normal" peers. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I think Type 1 can be much harder to deal with.

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Juicyj said:

Absolutely - completely agree, they both have their own set of challenges.



As rightly said by Auckland 'you are a voice of reason here', so I am sorry to hear of your struggles recently, I too have found type 1 to be a real strain recently and am trying so hard to stay positive. It wont last so try and stay positive RB

I have found that being a type 1 has changed my whole life, professionally I had to change careers, i've changed my diet and i cannot express to anyone how hard it is to manage, it is a constant for me and with me in my every waking minute and I feel at times I get no respite from it, I only seem happy when i'm within my target range, and this doesn't happen as often as I like as I struggle with my hormones. I have stopped worrying about the future as it's demanding enough to live with every day, I worry instead for my daughter's future and hope I stay well so it's never a worry for her, it's not something that should affect her life. Type 1 doesn't just affect us it affects everyone around us too. I'm sure for other type 1's who have better control that it's easier for them to manage but sadly not me.

However with that said i wouldn't wish either condition on anyone.

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ElyDave said:

Having "good control" doesn't make it any easier to manage, it just removes one part of the worry i.e. am I high. I still find an inordinate amount of my thinking time and brainpower devoted to trying to keep this on track and then I go and have a yesterday where the meter said 3.4, but I had no strong hypo symptoms, maybe a bit hungry and slightly light headed, so then you start getting thoughts running through your mind "am I losing hypo awareness?" " is it just a meter uncertainty issue, I could be >4.0 really". I'm about to eat XXX, my BG is good now, what if I get the dose wrong etc etc etc.

And then devoting brainpower to this means that I have less available for other things like work or family. As you mention, effects on career - I've been struggling to maintain my offshore status since I went on the pump, considering I'm the discipline lead for oil and gas in my company, that's quite a big thing really.

Overall T1 is a *****.

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