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    • 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      Moderately. My doctor and pharmacy are awesome, my insurance and durable medical equipment supplier, not so much. The excessive red tape of paper to get DME supplies shipped is almost always a nightmare!
    • 5 hours, 18 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      Run, don’t walk from Edgepark! Read my response to Nevin Bowman above! (Hint: the company I was referring to in that post was Edgepark)
    • 5 hours, 18 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I once had a supplier withhold old pump supplies while refusing to ship the order for a new pump and I was on a 3-way call with insurance and got to listen to DME lie directly to Insurance about it and then I had the pleasure of interjecting and getting to call them a liar! I would have been more vindicated if it actually accomplished anything, but after I finally got my shipment I fired that DME and never looked back. The red tape that insurance insists on for DME is excessive for chronically ill patients!
    • 5 hours, 27 minutes ago
      kristina blake likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      After doing this weighing and measurements you get pretty good at estimating
    • 6 hours, 48 minutes ago
      Patricia Dalrymple likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      I chose "Often". If I eat something packaged with a nutrition label, I'll use the carbs listed on the label. If I eat a plate of food, at home or at a restaurant, I estimate.
    • 7 hours, 59 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      Been doing it for so long it's mostly estimation at this point. Every once in a while at home I'll measure out exact portions of rice, pasta, etc to remind myself just how SMALL portions should be as I tend to let them get a little bigger over time. (wishful thinking) Very helpful to have that image in mind at restaurants where portions tend to be way larger than a single serving.
    • 7 hours, 59 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      Yes, for me never weighing or measuring but actively using the Calorie King book and app for several years I have most things memorized or I can make a decent assessment.
    • 7 hours, 59 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      After doing this weighing and measurements you get pretty good at estimating
    • 7 hours, 59 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      I chose "Often". If I eat something packaged with a nutrition label, I'll use the carbs listed on the label. If I eat a plate of food, at home or at a restaurant, I estimate.
    • 8 hours, 54 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      I chose "Often". If I eat something packaged with a nutrition label, I'll use the carbs listed on the label. If I eat a plate of food, at home or at a restaurant, I estimate.
    • 9 hours, 34 minutes ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      Well, since I'm waiting on pump supplies for 2 months now, my confidence is slipping.
    • 9 hours, 34 minutes ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I am confident about access to my medical needs in the immediate future. I am not a fortune teller and have no idea what my access to medical supplies will be like in a year or longer. I don't take my spoiled lifestyle for granted.
    • 9 hours, 34 minutes ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I've often said that "hoarding": is a character asset for T1D people. I try to purchase (paying out of pocket) a 60-90 day supply - just in case). I have a new health plan,. effective 1/1/26. AS we know, getting an appt with an HCP isn't easy. They have to be accepting new patients, they have to be in network etc. Once I knew what my new policy would be (nov 2025) I made an appt. The earliest appt I could get was in Sept 2026. Thank goodness for my stash of device supplies. I had to go to Urgent care to get an Rx for insulin (my old HMO plan "doesn't do bridge refills"). So yeah, I worry, and plan for hiccups in the supplies process.
    • 9 hours, 41 minutes ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I am worried about the changes to Medicare making no provision for getting an immediate replacement if a pump fails. It sounds like we will have to get these from the suppliers instead of a warranty replacement from Tandem themselves (or whatever brand you use). Pumps will be rented and will have to be returned so they can verify the problem before replacing them, which is ridiculous. Meanwhile, Medicare would not pay for us to get long acting insulin as a temporary replacement for the basal.
    • 9 hours, 47 minutes ago
      Amanda Barras likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      After doing this weighing and measurements you get pretty good at estimating
    • 9 hours, 51 minutes ago
      Derek West likes your comment at
      How often do you guess or estimate carbohydrate amounts rather than calculating precisely?
      I chose "Often". If I eat something packaged with a nutrition label, I'll use the carbs listed on the label. If I eat a plate of food, at home or at a restaurant, I estimate.
    • 12 hours, 23 minutes ago
      Ahh Life likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      So far since Jan 1, ‘26, I’ve spent nearly 30 hours on the phone battling and trying to get Medicare covered diabetes supplies. Called 5 different suppliers t get what I need to use my pump.
    • 12 hours, 25 minutes ago
      Ahh Life likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      You are too modest. That hurdle is on fire and you have to juggle chainsaws as you jump over it. Congratulations and good luck making it over the next one in 90 days.
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How satisfied are you with your current insulin pump brand/model?
      Somewhat satisfied with TSlimX2. Not because of pump shortcomings, but because of the sheer insanity of trying to get routine supplies through the American health care system. My current situation, to wit: "I am experiencing extreme frustration with Medicare that, 1) has an inoperable website, and 2) has an inoperable AI phone answering service. Consequently, I can no longer acquire needed supplies to operate the tSlimX2, particularly the T:Lock TruSteel 8mm 32.” This situation has persisted for 2 months. 😬
    • 1 day, 3 hours ago
      Kristi Warmecke likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      Well, since I'm waiting on pump supplies for 2 months now, my confidence is slipping.
    • 1 day, 3 hours ago
      Laurie B likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I've often said that "hoarding": is a character asset for T1D people. I try to purchase (paying out of pocket) a 60-90 day supply - just in case). I have a new health plan,. effective 1/1/26. AS we know, getting an appt with an HCP isn't easy. They have to be accepting new patients, they have to be in network etc. Once I knew what my new policy would be (nov 2025) I made an appt. The earliest appt I could get was in Sept 2026. Thank goodness for my stash of device supplies. I had to go to Urgent care to get an Rx for insulin (my old HMO plan "doesn't do bridge refills"). So yeah, I worry, and plan for hiccups in the supplies process.
    • 1 day, 3 hours ago
      Kristi Warmecke likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I answered slightly. I'm absolutely certain supplies and medication will be available. However, I'm doubtful they will be affordable. If I can't afford them, I can't access them.
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I am confident about access to my medical needs in the immediate future. I am not a fortune teller and have no idea what my access to medical supplies will be like in a year or longer. I don't take my spoiled lifestyle for granted.
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I've often said that "hoarding": is a character asset for T1D people. I try to purchase (paying out of pocket) a 60-90 day supply - just in case). I have a new health plan,. effective 1/1/26. AS we know, getting an appt with an HCP isn't easy. They have to be accepting new patients, they have to be in network etc. Once I knew what my new policy would be (nov 2025) I made an appt. The earliest appt I could get was in Sept 2026. Thank goodness for my stash of device supplies. I had to go to Urgent care to get an Rx for insulin (my old HMO plan "doesn't do bridge refills"). So yeah, I worry, and plan for hiccups in the supplies process.
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How confident are you about having consistent access to the diabetes supplies and medication you need?
      I answered slightly. I'm absolutely certain supplies and medication will be available. However, I'm doubtful they will be affordable. If I can't afford them, I can't access them.
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    At what age were you diagnosed with T1D?

    Home > LC Polls > At what age were you diagnosed with T1D?
    Previous

    When did you last make changes to your insulin delivery method(s)? (e.g., changed insulin pumps, added inhaled insulin, began using a different brand of insulin, etc.)

    Next

    On a scale of 1-5, how satisfied are you with your current insulin delivery method (pump, pens, syringes, inhaler, etc.)? 5 = the most satisfied, 1 = the least satisfied

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field 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 Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

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    51 Comments

    1. Steven Gill

      Originally diagnosed TYPE 2, but understandable I guess. Obese; 5’6; 255 lbs; heavy eat and drinker; workaholic. After a week on shots, 6 month of meds, three years diet alone levels went crazy (lost 105 lbs). Medical trials determined I was a TYPE 1 25 lbs underweight: 21 years on insulin.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. LizB

      I was 19

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Lena Selbrand

      At age nine, 57 years ago! 🙂

      3
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Liz Avery

        At age 10 for me, 56 years.

        2
        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Kristen Clifford

      April 3, 2008, eight days before my 24th birthday

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. Robin Melen

      My T1D was brought on immunotherapy cancer treatment! Talk about adding insult to injury! LOL

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Gerald Oefelein

      Primary care doctor diagnosed me as type 2 at age 54. Having zero success with oral meds I visited an endocrinologist who, after several tests, diagnosed me as type 1 and began insulin treatment. Well controlled using a Tandem t:slim x2 and Dexcom G6 combination.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. William Bennett

      I was dx’d in 1983, about a month after my 28th BD. Probably triggered by a virus–I’d had a nasty cold in October that took a few weeks to get over, but then these other symptoms started that didn’t seem to relate to anything. Hunger/thirst/peeing, headache/nausea all the time. Fortunately my MIL had medical training and got my wife to take me to a Dr. Fortunate for me, the Dr was up on current knowledge and I wasn’t misdiagnosed like a lot of people out of their teens. He told me about the whole “T1” “T2” nomenclature change, and why it was going to help break the erroneous association between age and diagnosis, but it hadn’t been formally adopted yet, so my dx still says “juvenile type.” Funny thing is the T1/T2 thing obviously hasn’t worked as intended. You just get people being dx’d Type 2 because “you’re too old to have Type 1,” which is hilariously ironic in terms of linguistics but not so hilarious from the p.o.v. of consequences for the patient.

      3
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. kristina blake

        Oh yeah! Now if we can ever get the insurance side of things to recognize the reason for the “new” nomenclature. I still get “you’re too old for T1D (I was 30 when Dx’d -finally correctly” with T1D, and have been thrivnhg for 40 years with it. If my health plan has to change, I am told “to old”. So I remind them that there is a reason for the name changes, that 40% of new T1D Dx’s are adults, and if Dx’d as a child, and you have access to what you need to take care of yourself, you get to grow up to be an adult with T1D. And BTW, I remind them there is no cure.

        4
        4 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. Jim Cobbe

        I was diagnosed 47 years ago at age 27 and never encountered any doubt that I was T! until I started getting kit under Medicare — the protocol says I have to have the C-peptide test thing annually. OK, it is probably there to help prevent fraud (docs and patients reselling stuff), but surely they know once you have had that test with an ‘undetectable’ result a few times there cannot be any doubt that you have T1, something with no cure!

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Mary Dexter

      48. Initially misdiagnosed as T2

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Joan Fray

      April 22, 1962. Day before my mother’s birthday. “Helluva birthday present!” Age 12, sixty years with T1d.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Lawrence S.

      Age 23, July, 1977.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Vivian Moon

      Just a very few days before my 19th birthday.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Andrew Stewart

      In June of 1990 at age 26.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Karen Taylor

      1960 @ age 3

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. BOldfield

      Only after a viral infection took out my pancreas and it was not Covid-19 related two years ago

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Donal Conway

        I was diagnosed at the age of twenty one years in 1971 and my whole family was very shocked as I was the first diagnosed with T1 on both my Dads and my Mums side, my mums brother RIP said he thought it could have been on my father’s side of the family but that statement came back to bite him big time as he got type 2 about when he was 65 years old and two of his grandchildren got it at the age of 9 years and the other got i about three years ago at the age of 24 years, so from those two diagnosis diabetes came from my mother’s family side. I have it for 53 years next month and I feel in great health overall with regular blood tests proving that’s on an ongoing basis and with compliments being paid to me by my clinical health team members. I run an average of 25 to 30 kms on a treadmill weekly as well as doing physical activities like sawing wood and plenty of garden work like doing garden drainage work to sort out garden drainage problems.

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Annie Wall

      Diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in 1980 at age 32. My doc was genuinely surprised that someone my age with nothing prior, including diabetes in my family as far back as anyone could go, to indicate this would happen. Over the years, I’ve met several people who were diagnosed at a similar age so I’m surprised it’s just 10% in this sample so far.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. William Bennett

        I was 28, 1983, and basically the same story as yours, except my doc, fortunately, was aware that age wasn’t a factor when it comes to “juvenile” even though the nomenclature hadn’t changed yet. I’ve also met a number of people who were dx’d around the same age as I was, so I was kind of surprised too, though it’s up to 15% now 🙂

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. Stuart Pelcyger

      At 36 after dx of thyroid cancer

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. pru barry

      I was fourteen. And thought being a teenager, even in the fifties, was hard enough. The embarrassment factor was probably the hardest part!

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Phyllis Donahue

      I was 35 when diagnosed. 30 yrs ago

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Bob Durstenfeld

      I have monogenic T1D and was diagnosed at age 18 months.

      2
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Patricia Dalrymple

        Heart emoji ❤️

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. MARIE

      Husband was 66 but, fortunately, has never had problem with anyone who matters confusing his condition with T2.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. John McHenery

      At 14 when I was recovering from jaundice.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Pauline M Reynolds

      Diagnosed as Type 2 at age 46. When the honeymoon was over, a C-peptide showed that I was Type 1.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Bea Anderson

      54 years old!!! I had other autoimmune problems as child and Hashimotos thyroid at 21. So felt t1 was in cards. Always remembering those who developed t1 in youth. My hat is off to those survivors!!!!

      4
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. cynthia jaworski

      i would be interested in seeing the same question asked with smaller intervals for the age range of 8 to 19. It has often seemed to me that lots of us join the club around age 10, myself included.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    25. Robert Kovalik

      At age 30, 48 years ago.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    26. Janis Senungetuk

      I was dx. in 1955 at the age of 8.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    27. mbulzomi@optonline.net

      One- and one-half years out of the US Navy.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. mbulzomi@optonline.net

        Fifty-four years ago.

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    28. KarenM6

      I was 5.
      I was in the hospital for a month (no clue as to why I was there so long).

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    29. qachemist

      At 65, primary care doc insisted it was T2. Fortunately, my sibling is a doc and INSISTED I get GAD-65 tests. Primary care doc finally gave in and tested which showed result off the top of the measurement scale.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    30. Mick Martin

      I was 22. It was discovered shortly after I left the British Army. (I used to be tested once or twice a year whilst serving having informing them, when I ‘signed up’, that I had a brother who was also Type 1. I guess it was never ‘picked up’ as I used to be something of a fitness freak. i.e. I used to be in the boxing team; I practised Martial Arts; I regularly used to be out training for upcoming sporting events as I used to run long distances.)

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    31. Natalie Daley

      My 40th birthday present — misdiagnosed by my GP as Type 2. Corrected five years later when I started insulin.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    32. Rose Lentzke

      Diagnosed at age 4 in 1956.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    33. lis be

      at age 8, about 41 years ago

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    34. Ahh Life

      Age 4 in 1951, I know no other life. Life expectancy then was 20-25 years. Being an optimist I chose 25. Exceeded the mark a tad. Now I have to stay healthy to take care of the better half. Hope she makes it.

      The “Woe is me” people just don’t get it. Real life, real people, real challenges brilliantly disguised as problems are for those of us up to the challenge. And most of us are engaged and doing it. Good job, guys! Keep it up. 😁

      4
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Lawrence S.

        The world would have been for the worse off if you had gone at age 25. Congratulations, and keep going.
        I was given 10 years when I was diagnosed, 45 years ago.

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    35. ConnieT1D62

      Age 8, almost 60 years ago in late December 1962.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    36. Mary Spencer

      4

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    37. Lisa Miller

      5yrs old.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    38. Patty Harris

      My 29th birthday present was Type 1 diabetes. I passed out (don’t remember) and ended up in the hospital with BS of 700+. 2 weeks of recuperation in hospital.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    39. Cheryl Seibert

      Age 6. I had German Measles and double-side mumps within 18-24 months prior to the T1D diagnosis

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    40. Estelle Smith

      Misdiagnosed in 2018 as T2D in the ER at age 57. I was in DKA. I have always been treated with insulin. My PCP felt vindicated that she had treated me as T1D from the start due to the rapid onset, when the tests came back positive for GAD65 antibodies.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    41. PamK

      I was diagnosed at age 2 1/2 years.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    42. Randell Cole

      I was 12 years old, my father had a urine test kit. I tested one day, just playing around with his kit and it came out bright orange which was the highest reading, went to Dr wound up in hospital to start insulin, my father never developed diabetes, my self and 2 brothers did, all type 1, forth brother never did, he is 73 now I am 76.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    43. Randell Cole

      Already answered at top, I was 12 years old,
      See comments at top

      4 years ago Log in to Reply

    At what age were you diagnosed with T1D? Cancel reply

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