type 1 diabetics diagnosed later in life
hi. anyone get diagnosed with type 1 later in life? i got it at 32 yrs old. it hit me fast.within a few months i lost about 20lbs...lost most of my eye sight...couldnt remember anything. so exhausted....thirst beyond belief.....it was a huge adjustment b/c i lived 32 yrs without it. i felt like i litterally started my life over. it was so overwhelming. id love to hear from ppl tht got it even in their early 20s. ive only had it 5 yrs so it took me til now to finally get things under somewhat of control. i am very outgoing n always felt very insync with others...now having diabetes i find a part of me feels very "alone" even though im not. even when i explain what im going threw at times..i know tht ppl dont really get what im goin threw. wld love to hear from ppl in the same boat as me. :))
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melitta on
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Hi Jessica: You are in good company here on TuD, because so many of us were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as adults, including TuD founder Manny Hernandez. And just think, Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 33. The LADA group here is a good place to vent or ask questions or not feel so alone. Even though you are 5 years post diagnosis, maybe my top ten tips for the newly diagnosed Type 1 would be useful?
I was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 35, and I am now 17 years into this ride. Keeping motivated can be challenging. I have found the TuD and events like DiabetesSisters can be really helpful. I also attend a local Type 1 women's group that meets once a month, and that is such great support and bonding and sharing of experience.
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Permalink Reply by HannaPancreaticallyChallenged on -
I got it a month before my 17th birthday just 7 weeks ago. Although that's still pretty young, other diabetics gasp when I tell them because they are used to seeing it diagnosed in young children. Also for whatever reason it's a little less common in my town of 24 000 people. Out of the two high schools (both of which I have attended) and 1800 students between the two of them, I am the only type one diabetic. :(
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Permalink Reply by Nel on -
Although I completely understand why people do this, I still think it's funny when someone is surprised about my diagnosis because of my age. I've had people surprised because they thought I was too old for diabetes and I've had others surprised because I'm so young! But it can hit at any age. I was diagnosed at 22, my uncle was diagnosed in his late 30s and two of his kids have it as well (one diagnosed at age 7 and the other diagnosed just last year at age 16).
That being said, it still does come as a shock when some is diagnosed in their late teens or older. My family had unconsciously assumed my 16 year old cousin was in the clear before she was diagnosed so we didn't clue into her symptoms, even though there are two other t1s in her family. I probably wouldn't have caught mine either if it weren't for my cousin's recent diagnosis. I think the shock is part of what makes it so overwhelming. It seems to come out of the blue.
How are you doing adjusting? I know those first few weeks are rough. Are you getting the support that you need?
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Permalink Reply by Stress on
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Yes, I too won the diabetes T1 lottery when I was 32 years old. Life definitely changed because up to then I was partying with the best of them, eating whatever I wanted,etc. After shots and pens I've been on the onmipod pump since Dec 2011 with the best control since being on the pump.
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Permalink Reply by jessica on -
im one of the few that did not do good on the pump. im much better in control w/ injections. i had no shut off button w/ partying myself...lol those days r over lol
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Permalink Reply by suezq1949 on -
Hi:
I got it at the age of 59, three + years ago. Initially diagnosed as T2 because of my age, but after my test results were in I was told I was T1. Other than my health care team, I've only told two people that I have it. Don't want to deal with all the "advice" from folks who don't have a clue.
Sue
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Permalink Reply by jessica on
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yeh tht advice futrates me. i dont understand y ppl throw in their two cents but know nothing about this...
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Permalink Reply by nel on
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I was diagnosed in Jan. 1983 at age 42 1/2 ; put on insulin next March ...the norm then was one shot daily ...I recall the summer of 1983 , vacationing to the US with bicycles coming along ; we peddled a lot ...all I needed was 2 units of insulin daily , no other meds .My Specialist shared several years ago that a 65 year patient of hers was diagnosed with type 1 .In my circle of friends/acquaintances not unusual to be diagnosed in mid forties and later .
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