When will my legs fall off, also; A Cure?

Hi there,

My name is Douglas (Doug for short), and I'm a 14 year old, Type 1 Diabetic, and I have been for the past 4 years.

Recently, I have gotten into excercise, specifically, Wrestling. And since this has been started (a week ago) I have had a lot of concerns that my legs will soon get problems and have to be amputated. I have never been good at controlling my diabetes, as it is hard for me to resist sugary items, and I can never get the knack of doing regular blood tests, much to my parents anger. Basically, I was wondering, how long does it usually take before someone like me begins getting problems with their legs? I noticed the soles of my feet's skin used to peel, and was quite crusty, but since doing regular washes and more excercise, that has gone. Otherwise, I don't seem to have any symptoms of it, but I've heard it can strike at any time.

Also, I've been reading reports that a cure is in the works for Type 1. One way was through the injection of a chemical unknown to me into Diabetic Mice, which restored them to full health, and the other, through (again, an unknown name to me) cells being injected, I believe through a certain vein into the Liver, which cured patients, although this was only tested on a small scale.

Is there any chance of a cure being released to the public, or at least, is one being developed?

Thank you, and I apologize for the question title. I couldn't think of any other wording.

Doug

Hey Stu,

You shouldn't have stopped there. I was liking the post, and I thank you for the support so far.

Anyway, to answer some questions..

I usually take my insulin before each meal (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner), and then I have one I take at night time which covers me slowly for a 24 hour basis. The insulins I inject are Novorapid and Lantis. (Novo being my daily, while Lantis is my night time). Normally, my daily injection is around 8-10, which may seem like a lot, but it's 1 unit for each 8g of carbohydrate, lowered from my previous 10g of carb seeing as I am growing, and I am going through (if not finishing) puberty. My night time injection is always 28 units. I believe I take it to control my blood sugar levels, and help maintain a healthy level to prevent a sugar overload, where the sugar cannot be turned into energy Although, I'm guessing that was a rhetorical question?

Yes, I am on one of those. lol I have a background insulin and ones I take ones for each meal.

The thing is, a lot of what I eat doesn't have a label, and shamefully, I am too lazy to count it out, although for a lot of foods which DO have the readings on the back, we eat regularly, so I know them off by heart, and inject the neccesary amount, while calculating how much I should have based on what I ate earlier.

I don't even know what a HbA1C test is, to be frank. I've never heard of it before now. :S

My numbers change all the time. Lately, when I test, they've actually been very good, within the range of 4-12, with only one above that, which was 23. However, before this time, they have been very high, probably a result of my sugar grazing diet, one which I still follow, sadly.

Thank god! Thank you. I was very worried that I'd have to pop in to hospital one day, and lose my legs. Thank you, very much for re-assuring me, although, of course, I want to keep my legs, which is one of the many reasons I have for trying to improve me health, something you're helping me with greatly.

Well, I used to LOVE fruit, but recently, all we've had is hard apples, and I have two mouth ulsers at the moment, so it's very ahrd to eat them. I love Grapes, Soft Apples, Bananas, Berries, etc. But I never ask for them while at the shops with my parents, due to the fact that I know I'll probably buy chocolate later in that same shop. And besides that, I've always thought that nothing compares to Chocolate. I've tryed Diabetic Chocolate, but it doesn't taste as good, and always gives me the runs.

I hope this answers a lot of the things you asked, thank you.

Doug.

Ha, I'd like to think I'm doing very well, but remember - The tests I'm doing, may be good.. But they aren't regular.

Ahh! That's a HbA1c! OK, my last one, which was in either December or Early January, I can't remember, was about 12.4, a drop after a couple of bad months, up from 10.2 or so.

It is very stresfull on me, especially with school, to keep up with everything.

I usually do eat chocolate with a meal. I never would have even TRIED to guess it would actually help at all.. That's a huge surprise!

4-12 is just some of my latest ones. I'll try to do more tests over the next few days and give you more accurate readings.

As far as I can remember, I don't believe my HbA1chas never been lower than 10 in the four years I've had it.

Sorry for the short post, but my dinner's ready.

Hey Han,

Thanks for the advice. I am very sorry to hear about one of your friends dieing. I may write like an intelligent person, and my grades in classes may be some of the highest in my year, almost as good as my social life, but I still find it surprisingly hard to control.

I don't know. I have exams right now, and I always have SOMETHING to do, which stops my progress with diabetes. I just wish I could start fresh, you know? Not till I'm older, I guess..

I haven't actually seen any of your posts. Would you mind directing me via. URL to the pages? I would love to read some.

As easy as you make getting off sweet stuff sound, it's hard to do when you're constantly surrounded by it at school, and chocoalte bars are for sale at Wrestling over the weekend. I suppose I could try over the holiday, where I doubt I'll be going out much, so I'll be away from sweet stuff quite a lot.

Thank you for all the help, and congratulations on becomign a grandparent (if it was recent?)

Doug

The exact same feeling comes from me, Kasbah.

It can be VERY stressful sometimes, and I'm glad a place like this exists actively.

I take it you means Year 6 of high school, where you will be doing your final exams?

Anyway, ask around, and ask for help.

I already know that this place is **** helpful.

****, you lucky guy.

I'm in 3rd year, I just have these un-important "revise-for-but-they-won't-do-anything" exams. lol

My friends never udnerstand it, and I'm very thin, so they call me anorexic. :S

Thanks for telling me I could either be great living or die early, Trink. lol

Seriously, thank you though.

I'm a boy, by the way, Rock.

I only tell people if it is neccesary, so usually they are surprised to hear it.

Roisin eh? An unfamiliar name, if I may say so myself.


Good to meet you. I've had Diabetes since I was 10. I had itchy feet and I was very tired, need to pee a lot, was drinking a lot, and then one day I woke up, I was very pale, being sick all the time. Got to the doctors, my blood was 29.7, so I was rushed to hospital after some Coke, and it was 49.8.

Hi there Suzi,

Thanks for the welcome, and I'm glad we could provide some insight just by talking to each other.

I am sorry to hear that your son has Diabetes. It must not be easy for him. If you do one thing in his teenage years, please let it be this; Don't be harsh on him.

My diabetes hasn't been great, to say the least, and my parents are harsh on me about it. They blame me for it, and are always angry, although ofc, they "just care". Now, this makes it no easier on me, and just makes me feel worse.

According to my Diabetic nurse, most kids around your sons age, and my age, and pretty much ANY childs age are quite bad at controlling their diabetes. So, if your son is going through some bad patches with his diabetes, please, instead of being angry, just sit down and work things out in a light hearted positive manner.

I don't mean to rant at you or anything, but doing this will probably make your son more willing to cooperate, and it will increase your relationship with him.

I know you probably care so much about your son, so I'm trying to help you.

Anyway.. God, here's me, a 14yo giving a 20/30odd years old a leacture. I apologize. lol

Doug.