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

D

Dynamite

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Perthshire, Scotland
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Depressed People, Girls my age who think everything is about them and always whine about "Awwwwww, he's cheating on me!" and blah, blah, blah..
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
 
Hi Doug,

This might sound like a silly question, but do you know much about your diabetes? ie, what insulin you use, when you take it, how much you take and why you take that much?

Are you on a basal/bolus regime? ie two different insulins... one background, one for meal times.

If you know your insulin:carb ratio and you learn how to count your carbohydrates, then your control should improve.

Do you know what your last HbA1c result was?

If you tell us a bit more about your treatment regime and what kind of numbers you get when you test, we will be able to offer you more help.

It's unlikely that your numbers are that bad and have been for just 4 years that you legs will need to be amputated... it generally takes years in a fully grown adult for the sort of vien damage by excess glucose to be done to have an amputation. You are still very young and growing. Although that's not to say you can take it easy for a while and not look after yourself!

Have you thought about trying alternative things to snack on other that sweets? I know it sounds bored, but fruit is much better for you, and as a type 1 you can inject some insulin for the fruit (if your ratio dictates so) so it wont affect your blood sugars too much, also things like blueberries (no insulin there! not for me anyway) are good snacks i find.

Anyway this is turning into a very long post so im gonna shut up now lol.
 
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.
 
yeh avoid "diabetic" chocolate!

If you must have chocolate... i would eat it with a meal, like at lunch time for instance... beleive it or not, a mars bar or snickers of something similar, actually has fat in it as well, which does slow down the breakdown of the sugar/carbs, so it's better to eat things like that with lunch or something, rather than a snack.

If you try to cut out the chocolate slowly, eventually, the less chocolate you eat, the less you will crave it... it's true, but you will have to do it to beleive it!

with Number of 4 - 12... you dont have anything to worry about in terms of limbs dropping off. Sounds like you're doing well considering your age and puberty!

An HbA1c test is when they take blood, and test the heamoglobin(sp) for glucose. Essentially, it's your average blood sugar over the past 2-3months (average lifespan of a red blood cell). anything under 7% as a result is good. It's only when that result is over 7% your chances of complications start to increase.
Do you know what your average blood glucose is by your meter for the last 30days? Generally, an average BS of 8.5 equates to an HbA1c level of about 7%.... Obviously that can vary with hypo's and very high sugars.

The professionals will usually tell you (or so i've experienced so far) that as long are your BS is always under 13mmol/L then you're doing well and they wont be worried about any complications developing.

That doesnt mean that if you want tighter control, you shouldn't aim for it, its always good to aim for as tight control as you can.

It's great that you know your insulin to carb ratio and what it's all for, that's essential for good control, as is testing... information is power! Especially if you use the information you get when you test you sugars to make decisions on how you treat your sugar levels.

Sounds like your doing very well... keep it up!
 
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. :P
 
Hi Dynamite,
I'm a grandmother and been married to a T1 for MANY years. In all that time, I've known 1 diabetic who had amputations. He was diagnosed as a toddler and eventually died of his complications in his early 60s. He never had the chance to be a grandparent. He'd have been a lovely one, he was a lovely person. However, when his diabetes was diagnosed, treatments weren't as good as now and basically he didn't stand a chance. He was careful with his control.
If you want to live to be a healthy grandparent, you need to keep your diabetes under tight control. you write like an intelligent young person, so I'm sure you can do it.
Becoming a grandparent seems forever into your future I expect, but i was thinking today, when out with my ganddaughter, thaat it only seems like 5 minutes since I was doing the same stuff with her mummy.
Read through this forum. look at my pieces on blood tests and learn all you can. then you will be equipped to make wise decisions.
You can get off sweet stuff. Just don't have any for a few days and the cravings will reduce.
 
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
 
hello everyone :)

i completely understand what you mean about getting distracted and it being hard to find the time to look after diabtetes Doug!

I'v had type 1 for 9 years now and find it really difficult sometimes. Im in my final year of school so have a lot to be doing and somehow diabetes is always last on my list!

Its great haveing forums like this, really helps to know other people are feeling the same as me :)
 
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. :)
 
I have my final exams in june so not too long to go and finally il be free :D

im in 6th year =] what about you?

yeah, it is cool having something like this .... as much as my friends put up with me i dont think they really understand where im coming from sometimes .... :)
 
****, 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
 
All the complications are a result of *uncontrolled* diabetes. Over time I have known many Type 1s who have gained awesome control, some have better numbers than me (Type 2).

My uncle was the sole Type 1 in that side of the family and lived into his late seventies with no complications despite the ****** insulins, lack of testing etc. so a certain amount of luck and genetics is involved. My mother's Type 2 uncle had appalling control and numerous amputations.

Have a read around here for starters

http://www.dsolve.com/

see which uncle you would rather emulate!
 
lucky girl :)

sorry to hear about your friends, they obviosly just dont understand. its hard trying to explain it to people sometimes.

in general, if i can, i avoid telling people. i know its not the best way of dealing with it but i just kinda prefer it that way :)
 
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. :)
 
good to meet you too :)

i was diagnosed when i was 9. To be honest i was diagnosed by a complete coincidence .. i remember pretending to be sick just to get the day off school at the time ... went to the doctor ... and was sent to the hospital :) i think i was about 29 too ... cant really remember now though ... :)
 
Hi Doug, Hi Roisin,
Welcome to the forum, you sound like two teenagers who have there heads screwed on the right way :D . An inspiration for our younger members, i'm a parent of a T1 10yr old, and by reading your posts i now have an idea of whats in store for us both in his teenage yrs, thankyou.
You two may like to choose a time and link up together on the chat forum, so much quicker than this posting lark,
Take care,
Suzi x
 
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.
 
Hi Doug,
gosh i wish i was 20/30 something, but have recently hit the big 40! :lol: Anyhow i have a good relationship with my son, i'm one of these mums who takes it in her stride, i never panic, i'm laid back and the only time i get cross at him is when he fails to do his bs before dinner, after being told half a dozen times!, he does its to wind me up really lol.
He also has coeliac disease which means he can't eat anything with wheat, gluten, barley ect. and thats harder to cope with than the diabetes, but we manage. He still gets a share of sweets, tho its smaller, we carb count and if he's happy then i'm estatic. If we could lower the Habc1 levels i'd be over the moon, but were trying at present there 8.7.
Its all about having the right balance, and it's something all kids and parents need to work on, weather its to do with diabetes, rules, friends, homework ect, gosh i sound like one of those "how to raise children" experts, i'm not and neither am i perfect, but like everything in life, if its worth it, you work for it.
I'm sorry your parents have gone down the route of blaming you for your diabetes, that must be very harsh on your emotions towards them. To me you sound like a very charming intelligent young man, and even tho i already have 2 sons 10 & 12, i could quite easily become your surrogate mum :D i'l listen to you when you want to let rip and help you when you feel down.
Take care,
Suzi x
 
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