What are your personal experiences with diabetes?

Question

How did you find out you were diabetic? Has it changed your lifestyle? If so, how?

Please don't post information from articles, or links to them. I want to know what it's like to be diabetic, beyond what I can read in an article.

Answer 1

Being age 41, I have been a type I diabetic for almost 24 years. After 19 years of multiple daily injections, I have spent the past five using an insulin pump. I was diagnosed in the summer between my junior and senior years in high school, at the age of 17. (Yeah, right on the cusp of adulthood!) I never did get sick at that time, but I did have the have the traditional symptoms of losing weight (30 pounds), thirsty, and "going" a lot. Although I was a bit stubborn, my parents were wisely concerned enough to make me go to the doctor for a diagnosis. My doctor immediately put me in the hospital, where I stayed for two weeks to fine tune my regimen and bring the glucose under control. (Insurance certainly won't allow that these days!) It was a bit of a drag, since I was hoping to graduate valedictorian or salutatorian and get a scholarship. The early days of being diabetic did affect my memory retention somewhat, but I did graduate high in my class and go off to college. Being diabetic, it was tough to work and go to school at the same time, but I got through it.

While I can hardly say my control has been exemplary, the first twenty years were fairly smooth on average. My stamina and lifestyle have no doubt been affected. Someone once said being diabetic is like being very slowly poisoned over your lifetime. At times, it does feel like that, understandably because of the glucose unnaturally floating around in your bloodstream and doing damage. I'd say the only major complication I've had is retinopathy in both eyes. Thirteen painful laser surgeries later, however, my eyes were back to normal, with minimal glasses necessary for nearsightedness. I have had some issues with peripheral neuropathy in the feet, but try to take care of that best I can. Physical activities I partake in like walking and hiking appear to help minimize it. (Unfortunately, I do have a sit down technical job.) And, of course, most diabetic guys will tell you that the condition does indeed affect your "libido" over time. There have been some hints of edema and kidney irregularities, but my doctor has done a good job of helping to keep those in check. Like most diabetics, I experience annoying side effects like dry skin and the occasional dental issue.

I have only experienced one "blackout" low glucose episode, about twenty years ago. There's only been a about a half dozen times over the past twenty years where I was seriously sick because of the diabetes. Other than that, I am rarely out from work sick. Most mornings I don't feel like going, but I know that starting a habit of staying home is a downward path of self-pity. Sometimes, I wish I didn't have to work full-time (and more), so I could commit more time to my diabetes care and have less stress, plus do the things I really want to do. However, I keep at it, so I can have a home, car, and retirement. Hopefully, we will see some real breakthroughs in diabetes treatments in the next 5-10 years which will make such difficulties avoidable. For now, I live my life as if this is something I will have to manage indefinitely. For quality of life for potentially the next 30-40 years, it's mandatory. Sometimes, it does feel as though I have missed out on some life experiences and choices over the years because of the condition, but overall I'd say my life is satisfying. I have good friends and stay active in my community. I occasionally remind myself that it's not necessarily terminal like cancer and I am fortunate to live in a time when I can actually do something effective to self-treat it.

Hope this helps you in your research.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I've been a diabetic since I was four (4) years old. I am now in my late thirties, and have rebelled against every bit of practical advice, medical or otherwise, since the age of six (6).
I don't do anything, save taking my insulin on a daily basis, that promotes the typical 'good diabetic' lifestyle; I live on coffee (w/cream and sugar), iced tea, and don't follow a diet. I eat what I want, when I want.
My daily exercise regimen consists of light housework and walking to and from the coffee-maker.
To date, the only serious complications I've suffered are the loss of an eye when I was eighteen (18), and the recent diagnosis of Level III kidney failure.
Why do I live like this? Well, people tell me that my life expectancy is greatly reduced, and I simply tell them that 'life' involves LIVING; otherwise, it's simply existing. My philosophy is that I can EXIST to be eighty or so, or I can LIVE, taking chances and experiencing things that I would have otherwise missed out on.
Life should not be defined by the number of years a person is alive; rather, it should be defined by the experiences one has while alive.
Certainly, I might die sooner than the status quo, but at least my time will not have been passed in fear and inactivity.
In most cases, this is NOT the type of thing you'll read about in any article, or find at the other end of an information link. I am neither suicidal, nor unhappier with life than most; I am simply taking the best shot that I can at LIVING.

Good Luck in your Search for Real-Life Experiences regarding Diabetes "Sweets"!

Answer 4

type 1 diabets formerly known as juvenile diabetes.....my granddaughter has it. they say it is caused by a virus that attacks the pancreas and kills the beta cells. people used to think it was hereditary or caused by eating too much sugar. my granddaughter was 8 years old when she was diagnosed, before that time she had been a very healthy child a little thin maybe but most kids are these days. . one friday her mom picked her up after school and she was vomiting (not an uncommon thing in normally healthy kids). by saturday afternoon she was still vomiting and a call was placed to her pediatrician he
said it was probably a stomach virus and would pass by the next day(sunday)
Sunday morn at 4 a.m. she went to the bathroom and passed out in the floor. She was rushed to the hospital. That is when we found out she was diabetic.
her blood sugar was over 1,000 normal is around 100. She was in a diabetic coma for three days. She lost 20 pounds that weekend. She is eleven now and follows her diet perfectly. she is what is termed a brittle diabetic because diet & insulin injections several times a day have not been successful in controling her blood sugars. she is frequently in the hospital and has now developed hypothyroid disease which is a common problem of her disease. She accepts her problems, gives her own shots (since she was eight) and does all her own fingersticks and ketosticks. she knows more about diabetes than most doctors because knowledge is power. every summer she goes for a week to a diabetic summer camp that is cost fee and supported by the Lyons club. they have doctors,nurses,diaticions and social workers there. all the children have type 1 diabetes and all the councelors were diagnosed with type 1 when they were children. there is no cure but much research is being done. there will soon be a vaccine for babies to prevent them from getting the virus that causes type 1 diabetes. my granddaughter has tried the insulin pump and it did not work for her but many have excellant results. she takes this all in stride and goes on with her life, plays soccer, student counsel, etc. she knows in a few years she may experience the complications of blindness, heart disease, vascular problems,strokes and amputations, but she is a happy little girl in spite of it. when someone tells her they are sorry she is sick she says, "Oh, I'm not sick, I just have diabetes." if you have type 1 diabetes please feel free to e-mail with any questions or any matters i might help you with. i'm a retired nurse. Good Luck to you

Answer 5

My mother is diabetic and her doctors always told her that I (her only son) would be the one to get it, they were correct. I'm a type 2 who went into denial for a few years, what a mistake that was, I wish I knew then what I know now.

I'm now in good control with my last 6 A1c's being 6.5. I also attribute some of the good control to the consumption of some alcohol. I know this doesn't effect many diabetics but it does for me. It's a delicate balance to watch that I don't consume to much or I'll become hypoglycemic, and that's not fun. So when I see my sugars dropping I try to make sure I have something to eat to get me through the night.

Tweaking my lifestyle has been a bit of a struggle, I've had to learn to stop eating , at least for a while as soon as I started to feel full. If I don't I'm going to overload on carbs. and the blood sugars rise.

I live in Tampa so when the water temperatures rise in about 2-3 weeks I'll go back to doing laps in the pool 4-5 days a week, I probably walk about 10 miles per week so I think this amount of exercise helps.

Answer 6

2

Answer 7

My close friend has diabetes and we have often talked about this matter.
She always says if you take the disease seriously and try and do most of what the doctors tell you to do you can live well. (almost well).
She has had diabetes since the age of 18 and she is now 27.
She is on an insulin pump and that helps her a lot in keeping her blood sugar levels down.
She has to watch what she eats and the amount of exercise she does. Most of the time she has to think of her health condition before she makes decisions. Like when we wanted to go on a trip last month she had to check out a few things with her doctor before we all went on the trip.
She told me she wasn't upset when she first found out, but later when she realized that she has to think before she leaps -as a rule she is a spontaneous person- it then dawned on her that life is not exactly the same as it was before her diabetes.
overall she is doing well.

Answer 8

I'm a 45 year old woman and was recently diagnosed as being a borderline diabetic. My doctor prescribed some medication, but before filling it I decided to do some research on the internet which led me to the methods. After reading this ebook and applying the methods, my scepticism turned to 100% belief. I noticed that my energy levels increased significantly and I felt more rested in the morning, my symptoms started going away.

I am very happy to tell you that I have been feeling better than I have felt in years and my doctor informed me that he will be taking me off my prescriptions if I keep this up.

I recommend you use the Type 2 Diabetes Destroyer to naturally reverse your diabetes.

Answer 9

I have been sick my whole life, when I was 4 years old I started having very bad recurring UTI's and had to see many kidney specialists. In 1989 at the age of 14 they discovered that I had diabetes. They found out I had diabetes after doing a stress test at the hospital because I was having chest pains at school.

The diabetes was so bad that my folks had to pull me out of school and home-school me ( the school and the doctor I had made it very ruff on me that we also had to switch doctors as well). I really liked being home-schooled and it helped manage my diabetes better.

Years later ( I'm 32) I am married to a diabetic ( I have to watch him - he is prone to low-sugar attacks). Being sick my whole life has given me a better outlook on things. I take things with a grain of salt or if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

I can't wait till it gets warm out. I can start my walking routine again (trying to lose weight is hard) - that also helps control my diabetes and well as insulin shots (I'm a type 1) and diet.

My physican's assistant sent me to a support group and to be honest I thought I was a waste of time and money for me - they put me with a group of guys ( I was the only girl and the only type 1) and they were all type 2. I stopped going becuase of that, also they make you feel bad because you feel crummy all the time ( the last time I was at the doctor the assistant could not understand why I take time-off (call in sick) all the time to work). My boss is more understanding than the physcian's assistant. I guess I might be looking for another Doctor soon.

Also a problem is that diabetes is a very expensive disease. You have to test your sugars multiple times aday, insulin shots plus syringes ( or insulin pens and needle tops) and hope your insurance picks it up ( or forces you to get it by mail-order). And then the doctor's office gets mad because you have to cancel the appt. you made ( because you know that you can't afford the co-pay and all the tests) but you have to see the doctors in order to get the prescriptions you need. They have you comming and going.

I wish I had someone I could talk to about this ( besides my husband) who understands.

Answer 10

Well, I got Diabetes when I was 12. I am almost 30. I have been through so much. I followed a strict 1800 calorie diet until i was 16..then I started experimenting with sugar and had laser surgery on my eyes for diabetic retinopathy when i was 21 then i had a miscarrige in 1999. ive lost alot of teeth from diabetes also. I have been in the hospital more times than i can count from not taking care of myself and i have truly paid for it. I am now on an insulin pump and it is one of the best things to ever happen to me and i thank God everyday for it. I follow my carbs everyday and things are getting better for me. I would recommend the insulin pump to every diabetic out there. I wish everyone could afford to have one. If you are diabetic and have questions just ask me i have alot of experience with things to lower sugar and to help control diabetes better. my A1C was a 7.8 so I am almost normal range when it use to be a 12. dont be afraid to ask me a question and if i can help i will. thanks for listening.

Answer 11

I was 9 years old when I was diagnosed with type 1 (they called it "juvenile diabetes"), in the summer of 1973. I was drinking alot of cold stuff, but it was pretty hot in the summer, and the A/C didn't work, so no one really thought much of it. And, I was running to the bathroom alot, but, mom thought I had gotten a cold in my stomach, from drinking all the iced tea, and iced water, and sodas, and stuff. We made the drive from our home in New Brunswick, NJ, down to the Jersey shore to Wildwood for our vacation, a two hour drive, interrupted by frequent stops so that I could go to the bathroom. When we got there, we settled into the room, and I into the bathroom. At dinner, I wasn't hungry, and was kind of tired, cranky, and irritable, but mom thouhgt it was from the long ride in the hot car. And, I looked a little pale. All I had for dinner was a piece of toast, and a tall glass of cold ginger ale. And, that night, I was up quite a bit. The next day, dad took me to see a local doctor, who took a blood sample, and urine sample, then prescribed some huge pills saying I probably had a bladder infection, but that he would call us with the results of the tests. So, we went back to the hotel room, and I just sat around, rather lethargic. It wasn't too long after that the call came -- "you need to take him to his regular doctor. right away". I never saw mom pack so fast, nor dad drive so fast, in all my life. We made the two-hour drive home in less than an hour and a half, had a quick dinner, then went to the doctor's office, wehre he did another urine and blood sample. That's when I heard that now familiar word: diabetes. I needed to go to the hospital right away. The doctor called ahead, and told them to expect me, and we went to the ER, mom with tears in her eyes, dad actually looking worried, while I really had no idea what was going on. I found out later that my glucose was 640. That was 34 years ago, funny how I can remember it so clearly still. Back then, type 1 diabetes, or "juvenile diabetes" treatment was alot different. The "diabetic diet" was different and strictly adhered to. TEsting was done with urine samples and test tape (urine dips). Insulin was either U-100 or U-40, and the prevalent types were NPH and Regular, which you drew into the same needle and mixed yourself. And, back then, the doctor said that I probably wouldn't live another 30 years, even with meticulous control. So, you can see the advances made since then.

As for changing my life, well, it's pretty much been a part of my life my whole life, so I really can't say how it's changed it. It has made me want to learn all I can about this condition, though I've always been a studious person. And, the complications have affected me physically, such as triple bypass when I was 34, kidney and pancreas transplants, laser surgery for retinopathy, etc. But, that was just added to the things I've learned through experience. And, experience is usually the best teacher. To me, though, it's just a part of my every day routine, and a part of who I am. Hope this helps!