Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
Diagnosed in 1977 – honeymoon ended in 1980. In my opinion, this is proof of what a low-carb diet can do. I also had an A1c of 6.0 before finger sticks were possible.
I was diagnosed in February, 1976. After a couple of weeks of injecting insulin, I went into the honeymoon phase. If I remember correctly, it was late spring when I restarted the injections.
My T1D was never romantic. I’d divorce him if I could, but he’s old-fashioned. I have wandering eyes for science. I hope to run off with him one day and have a lovely, insulin-free honeymoon then. 🌅
I’m not sure if this qualifies as a honeymoon, but I used less than 2u of insulin per day for about a year after my diagnosis. That first year was still pretty awful with no CGM, a rigid meal and snack schedule, post-meal highs, and sudden severe lows coming out of nowhere since I had to rely on just 4 finger sticks per day. I’m only remembering it as a honeymoon because my endo called it that before I started needing enough insulin to justify a pump.
69 years ago. It’s really hard to dredge up that info, but I’m willing to bet that any teenager who’s beginning a life of shots and diets doesn’t come close to describing it as a honeymoon.
I’m just glad for great training at Joslin, and a sense of wanting to live to a ripe old age. Think we need to focus on the bigger picture!
I’m not quite sure what a honeymoon period is. I know that I needed insulin when I was diagnosed and my A1C was super low (< 5.0) for years even as they titrated my insulin dosage down. Even today, I take about 20 units a day in total and I eat like a pig.
Yes, but my son’s “honeymoon “ phase lasted less than three weeks. It occurred about one month post diagnosis. He dropped from 4.5u Lantus to 1.0, and carb ratio of 1:80 if that. He was nineteen months old. I am so grateful that I had been trained to watch for this, and to not think he had been missed diagnosed.
There wasn’t that term when I was diagnosed. I was on oral meds that stopped helping about 9 months later. it took another couple of months before getting insulin injections.
The term wasn’t used in 1955 when I was dx. I was started on Regular beef/pork insulin immediately after diagnosis and have continued using insulin since then.
I did, but I don’t remember how long it lasted. I remember my Mom asking the doctor about me not seeming to need insulin. The doctor then explained the honeymoon phase where our bodies kinda try to kick start the pancreas back to life. And also then to continue to use insulin (as there was a fear that not using the beef/pork insulins would cause allergies.) But, then the doctor said it wouldn’t last. That was a bummer. Even in my 5-year-old brain I knew it was a bit of a trick to diabetics!
I was very young when I was diagnosed with diabetes and I don’t know if I have a honeymoon stage or not so I can’t see how long it lasted or anything else
Nope. I was already in DKA at diagnosis. (over 40, not overweight, no family history, and previously no health issues! Who suspected T1D? No one, except the ICU doc!)
No initial honeymoon phase. I was full blown T1D aged 15 in 1959. Could have pre-diabetes stage been detected scientifically and onset delayed or even prevented? Not possible then. But today, yes, to some extent for some folks, I believe onset of insulin-dependent stage can be detected by certain lab tests* and at least delayed by diet, exercise, and learning how to handle STRESS. STRESS, diet, lack of exercise and genetics were definitely factors for me, my sibling and 1 of 2 cousins. I’ve met adult Vietnam war vets who developed T1D in their twenties after being on the stressful frontlines of war & exposure to chemicals such as agent orange. How many vets have developed stress-T1D or chemically-induced T1D during wars?
I said, “No.” I don’t know what a honeymoon phase is, in relation to diabetes. It has been chalanging from day one.
That was 50 years ago. I can’t remember.
Diagnosed in 1977 – honeymoon ended in 1980. In my opinion, this is proof of what a low-carb diet can do. I also had an A1c of 6.0 before finger sticks were possible.
I don’t understand the question.
I was diagnosed in 1962 … I don’t know if the “honeymoon phase” was even identified back then. Personally I never heard of it until 1982.
I don’t know what that is
I was diagnosed in February, 1976. After a couple of weeks of injecting insulin, I went into the honeymoon phase. If I remember correctly, it was late spring when I restarted the injections.
I was diagnosed in 1981 then had a period of about 3 months insulin free after the birth of my son in 1982.
My T1D was never romantic. I’d divorce him if I could, but he’s old-fashioned. I have wandering eyes for science. I hope to run off with him one day and have a lovely, insulin-free honeymoon then. 🌅
I was 4 years old when diagnosed with T1D in 1956. I doubt that there was a “Honeymoon” phase;)
I’m not sure if this qualifies as a honeymoon, but I used less than 2u of insulin per day for about a year after my diagnosis. That first year was still pretty awful with no CGM, a rigid meal and snack schedule, post-meal highs, and sudden severe lows coming out of nowhere since I had to rely on just 4 finger sticks per day. I’m only remembering it as a honeymoon because my endo called it that before I started needing enough insulin to justify a pump.
Less than 3 months
69 years ago. It’s really hard to dredge up that info, but I’m willing to bet that any teenager who’s beginning a life of shots and diets doesn’t come close to describing it as a honeymoon.
I’m just glad for great training at Joslin, and a sense of wanting to live to a ripe old age. Think we need to focus on the bigger picture!
it would e hard t o say, since , once diagnosed, I was actively growing and changing.
I’m not quite sure what a honeymoon period is. I know that I needed insulin when I was diagnosed and my A1C was super low (< 5.0) for years even as they titrated my insulin dosage down. Even today, I take about 20 units a day in total and I eat like a pig.
Yes, but my son’s “honeymoon “ phase lasted less than three weeks. It occurred about one month post diagnosis. He dropped from 4.5u Lantus to 1.0, and carb ratio of 1:80 if that. He was nineteen months old. I am so grateful that I had been trained to watch for this, and to not think he had been missed diagnosed.
There wasn’t that term when I was diagnosed. I was on oral meds that stopped helping about 9 months later. it took another couple of months before getting insulin injections.
The term wasn’t used in 1955 when I was dx. I was started on Regular beef/pork insulin immediately after diagnosis and have continued using insulin since then.
Mine was about exactly 1 year to the day. I took lantus every night but if I took nearly any novolog, I’d go low every time.
I was mis-dx’d T2 for 8 years, so probably had one, but don’t know. Eventually the oral meds I was on gave up completely leading to T1 dx.
I’m 1974 there was no real way to monitor blood sugars yourself. I have no clue if I went through a honeymoon phase or not.
I was 3 years old. My parents wouldn’t have been aware of it. It was 1970
I was diagnosed LADA, treated as type one, I am still on my honeymoon 5 years later!!
I did, but I don’t remember how long it lasted. I remember my Mom asking the doctor about me not seeming to need insulin. The doctor then explained the honeymoon phase where our bodies kinda try to kick start the pancreas back to life. And also then to continue to use insulin (as there was a fear that not using the beef/pork insulins would cause allergies.) But, then the doctor said it wouldn’t last. That was a bummer. Even in my 5-year-old brain I knew it was a bit of a trick to diabetics!
Not sure what a Honeymoon Phase means but it sure wasn’t that. Mostly learning to put up with rejection for the rest of your life.
I was very young when I was diagnosed with diabetes and I don’t know if I have a honeymoon stage or not so I can’t see how long it lasted or anything else
Nope. I was already in DKA at diagnosis. (over 40, not overweight, no family history, and previously no health issues! Who suspected T1D? No one, except the ICU doc!)
Diagnosed TYPE 2, 3 1/2 years later after bloodwork was changed to TYPE 1. That was after 3 years diet alone (105 lbs lost?), one heck of a honeymoon.
No initial honeymoon phase. I was full blown T1D aged 15 in 1959. Could have pre-diabetes stage been detected scientifically and onset delayed or even prevented? Not possible then. But today, yes, to some extent for some folks, I believe onset of insulin-dependent stage can be detected by certain lab tests* and at least delayed by diet, exercise, and learning how to handle STRESS. STRESS, diet, lack of exercise and genetics were definitely factors for me, my sibling and 1 of 2 cousins. I’ve met adult Vietnam war vets who developed T1D in their twenties after being on the stressful frontlines of war & exposure to chemicals such as agent orange. How many vets have developed stress-T1D or chemically-induced T1D during wars?