35 Comments
Have you been diagnosed with any of the following diabetes complications? Please select all that apply to you.
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I was born with plycyctic kidneys. Being Dxd with T1D at age 30 didn’t help. My kidney function has worsened, but impacted my life in any real way. I knew at age 15, I would not do dialysis, and when I turned 18 my father (a civil judge – and yes he was a civil nice guy) drafted an advanced care directive for me (this was in 1970 – probably one of the first). I was away at university 000 miles away, and my parents weren’t close enough to advocate for me and my wishes. I am so very grateful. I carried copies of that document everywhere. Turns out, they had asked physician friends who said they wouldn’t do dialysis if they were in my position. I believe that made it easier on my parents to accept my adamant refusal.
Frozen (adhesive capsules) shoulders, hips, trigger finger.
Wow…lots of those.
Does “peripheral retinopathy” — treated with laser and now a non-issue — count?
Oh! Now that I’ve read the previous comments, also frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis which, according to my endo, affects diabetic WOMEN at an alarmingly higher rate than any other population.
With controlled blood glucose levels any complications have resolved.
Cataracts diagnosed a year after T1D. Had surgery for it.
Also frozen shoulder(s), trigger finger/Dupuytren’s contracture…
I have a host of diabetes related diseases and complications. I have frozen shoulders, celiac disease, gastroparesis, something called pemphigoid which causes blisters inside my mouth, tears in my retina which were repaired with laser, hypothyroid. Now, high cholesterol, although I eat a very low fat and cholesterol diet. I have cataracts. But, they may or may not be directly related to my diabetes (just had cataract surgery, last week). I also have respiratory issues, including asthma. Again, I don’t know the relationship to diabetes. And, it goes on and on …
I hope you heal quickly from your cataract surgery.
I have been diagnosed with a few listed, but they are attributes to my other autoimmune diseases, which came about the same time as my T1D, about 6 years ago.
Frozen shoulder
My last endo believed some people were genetically predisposed to complications and some weren’t and, luckily, I wasn’t. I had frozen should a few years after I was diagnosed. I currently have trigger finger-not bad enough to treat- and mild neuropathy in my feet-loss of sensitivity to vibration. I feel lucky.
“Your foolish questions which don’t have no brains.” Is a famous line from Kipling’s Captain courageous.
Without assuming a persona that makes Grumpy Cat seem genial . . . but a lot of comorbidities and conditions arise because of age as well as long-term T1D. You reach a point where preparation forgoes itself. Acceptance, coping, and managing become paramount.
Or, for those of you more religiously rather than scientifically inclined: “and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
Hi Ahh Life –
The last “religious” quote… it’s beautiful… where is it from, if I may ask?
Thank you!
KarenM6 — KJV Isaiah 64:6
Thank you, Ahh Life!! 🙂
I have had cataracts in both eyes and was told diabetes was probably a causative factor. Both treated successfully. Not bad after 53 years T1.
Frozen shoulder (in each one, resolved after PT), high blood pressure.
Both shoulder’s frozen about 10 years ago. They never really recovered and the last few years knees & hips seem to be trying to freeze. Seen several different specialists and they have all said it is some sort of connective tissue disorder. Maybe due to T1D and maybe not. Also I have had “delayed” gastric emptying for ~5 years. They say maybe from T1D and maybe not, seems like gastroparesis to me!
T1D 45 years, A1c’s around 6 and 60 years of age.
Both shoulders frozen for 6 years but they eventually unfroze. Many trigger fingers and I had the surgery on them all.
I have been diagnosed with level 1 neuropathy (micro aneurisms) which have required no treatment. The original diagnosis occurred in the late 1980s and has remained relatively constant since that time.
Retinopathy, not neuropathy!
also, trigger finger
I should have read others’ comments first as I put “no complications”, but I have had trigger finger and frozen shoulder and those didn’t even come to mind when I first read the question. Trigger finger required surgery and frozen should resolved on its own after a few years.
Bad hip & knees (knees maybe because of age?), trigger fingers and thumbs (all the treatments possible for that), carpal tunnel, cataracts (no surgery yet), one point away from having glaucoma, DR (both eyes), Low (and deficient) calcium and D3 levels… probably more, but that’s what I’m remembering right now.
If bad memory is a diabetes “thing”, I have it!
Hope cataracts would be included with diab eye problems?
Mild cardiovascular, gum recession and dry mouth.
Frozen shoulder both of them 20-22 years ago- had 2 surgeries and has never bothered me since.
I had gastroparesis before the onset of diabetes, then frozen shoulder about seven years after.
Diabetic Neuropathy wasn’t listed for some reason, but it was the diagnosis for the pain in my hands.
I have lived a very full and active life with T1D since the age of 8 years. As an older adult approaching age 70 I have neuropathic and osteopenic joints in my hands, fingers, feet and toes. And another challenge not listed above: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy – slow heart pump function. Have a pacemaker to keep my heart rhythm in sync. Also have chronic dental issues, resolved background retinopathy and lower than normal kidney function. Other than that I am a lot healthier than a lot other Baby Boomers my age who don’t live with TID.
I chose “None…” but some people tell me that my hypoglycemia unawareness is a complication. Not everyone thinks it is though, so I am not sure.
No matter how well you keep your numbers in check, the Eyes always suffer. Every six or so weeks I get a shot of Eylea in both eyes. (57 years of the disease, five insulin pumps, been on a CGMS for over 11 years. Both eyes’ cataracts operations performed (Over 20 years ago). Both cataract lens growth removed via leaser (Most people do not know this happens, a film the grows under the lens and my cause your sight to change. surgery in the left, I went blind in the eye because the small veins started to bleed, over 350 quaternizations performed, Thank God my insurances cover(ed) most of the medical procedures.
This question really should be banded (in 10 year bands- E.g. for those with t1D 10 years or less…, for those with t1D more than 10 years but less than 20…,) by duration of the individual’s t1D experience. I didn’t have any complications for the first 30 years, then things started showing up.
I was diagnosed with retinopathy but that has resolved following being placed on an insulin pump and CGM over 15 yrs ago. Currently I have some neuropathy in my feet but nothing serious as of yet.