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    • 24 minutes ago
      LizB likes your comment at
      If you have ever had extra supplies from a device you no longer use, what did you do with those extra supplies? Please select all that apply.
      A familiar story. I've been holding onto my old Medtronic supplies for ten to twenty years. They're still sitting in the closet.
    • 25 minutes ago
      LizB likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      Diagnosed in September, right after Labor Day, in 1946. I'm 88 and still active, driving, and in general living a 'normal' life for someone my age.
    • 3 hours, 47 minutes ago
      Barb Robertson likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      Diagnosed in September, right after Labor Day, in 1946. I'm 88 and still active, driving, and in general living a 'normal' life for someone my age.
    • 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
      Mick Martin likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      It was almost 50 yrs ago. I was 4 when diagnosed - my family doesn’t celebrate or even discuss the dx as it was a very sad day for the entire family. They told my parents I would never have children and that I would never live past age 40. In my teens whilst full of surly attitude, I decided to prove them wrong. So I had a baby at 40 and am living a great life (with some restrictions) at 50-something. Celebrating another birthday in a few days. Glad they were wrong!
    • 4 hours, 19 minutes ago
      Mick Martin likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      May 8th at 4:30pm - I was at work when I got the call from my doctor. I was fired from my job at 5:00 pm. A day that will live in infamy.
    • 4 hours, 28 minutes ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      It was right before my 5th birthday. I returned from sleep away camp and was looking forward to my birthday party with a Baskin Robbin's ice cream cake and my mother's Hershey's best ever brownies, but instead. My mother took one look at me and took be to the hospital where I was diagnosed with T1D. Oh well. As the saying goes, shit happens. At least we have so many new treatments options available to use now. The doctors told my mom that I probably wouldn't make it to the age of 30 or 40 (I forget), and I am now 62.
    • 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      It was almost 50 yrs ago. I was 4 when diagnosed - my family doesn’t celebrate or even discuss the dx as it was a very sad day for the entire family. They told my parents I would never have children and that I would never live past age 40. In my teens whilst full of surly attitude, I decided to prove them wrong. So I had a baby at 40 and am living a great life (with some restrictions) at 50-something. Celebrating another birthday in a few days. Glad they were wrong!
    • 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      I had been telling my medical professional parent for a month about my symptoms. My mom commented that it could be diabetes since her great-grandparents had it, but no. I was working at my dad's clinic, he was a doctor, and he had me go get a blood draw in the afternoon. After his birthday dinner, we stopped by to get the results. He said my BG was about 450. I started on oral medications right then. About nine months later I needed insulin injections. I was 18 and vowed it wouldn't change my life. It has changed every aspect of it. Every year on my dad's birthday I remember how it started and what's happened over the last 38 years.
    • 4 hours, 32 minutes ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      May 8th at 4:30pm - I was at work when I got the call from my doctor. I was fired from my job at 5:00 pm. A day that will live in infamy.
    • 4 hours, 35 minutes ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      I do not understand why this data is important.
    • 8 hours, 2 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      It was right before my 5th birthday. I returned from sleep away camp and was looking forward to my birthday party with a Baskin Robbin's ice cream cake and my mother's Hershey's best ever brownies, but instead. My mother took one look at me and took be to the hospital where I was diagnosed with T1D. Oh well. As the saying goes, shit happens. At least we have so many new treatments options available to use now. The doctors told my mom that I probably wouldn't make it to the age of 30 or 40 (I forget), and I am now 62.
    • 8 hours, 2 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      It was almost 50 yrs ago. I was 4 when diagnosed - my family doesn’t celebrate or even discuss the dx as it was a very sad day for the entire family. They told my parents I would never have children and that I would never live past age 40. In my teens whilst full of surly attitude, I decided to prove them wrong. So I had a baby at 40 and am living a great life (with some restrictions) at 50-something. Celebrating another birthday in a few days. Glad they were wrong!
    • 8 hours, 39 minutes ago
      Jeff Marvel likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      I had been telling my medical professional parent for a month about my symptoms. My mom commented that it could be diabetes since her great-grandparents had it, but no. I was working at my dad's clinic, he was a doctor, and he had me go get a blood draw in the afternoon. After his birthday dinner, we stopped by to get the results. He said my BG was about 450. I started on oral medications right then. About nine months later I needed insulin injections. I was 18 and vowed it wouldn't change my life. It has changed every aspect of it. Every year on my dad's birthday I remember how it started and what's happened over the last 38 years.
    • 8 hours, 40 minutes ago
      Jeff Marvel likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      December 1983. Not sure the exact date, but it was about 6 weeks after becoming symptomatic. Didn't know what it was, but felt awful, plus the peeing/thirst thing, which I didn't even know was related to the other symptoms. I was in grad school at the time and it was nearing end of term. I thought student stress might be making me feel so sick. Doc said "Probably your wife wouldn't have been able to wake you up tomorrow if you hadn't come in."
    • 8 hours, 40 minutes ago
      Jeff Marvel likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      April 1. Happy April Fool's Day!
    • 10 hours, 22 minutes ago
      Gary Rind likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      It was almost 50 yrs ago. I was 4 when diagnosed - my family doesn’t celebrate or even discuss the dx as it was a very sad day for the entire family. They told my parents I would never have children and that I would never live past age 40. In my teens whilst full of surly attitude, I decided to prove them wrong. So I had a baby at 40 and am living a great life (with some restrictions) at 50-something. Celebrating another birthday in a few days. Glad they were wrong!
    • 11 hours, 16 minutes ago
      jo likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      70 years. I hope you are doing well. This gives the rest of us hope.
    • 11 hours, 19 minutes ago
      jo likes your comment at
      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      The 13th of December 1973, lucky number 13 🍀 and I was thirteen at that time.
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      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
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      During which month were you (or your loved one) diagnosed with T1D?
      It was almost 50 yrs ago. I was 4 when diagnosed - my family doesn’t celebrate or even discuss the dx as it was a very sad day for the entire family. They told my parents I would never have children and that I would never live past age 40. In my teens whilst full of surly attitude, I decided to prove them wrong. So I had a baby at 40 and am living a great life (with some restrictions) at 50-something. Celebrating another birthday in a few days. Glad they were wrong!
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      Himmm.. About 70 years ago... I am even not sure of the year exactly...
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    If you are an adult with T1D, how much has type 1 diabetes affected your thought-process and decision to have/not have children?

    Home > LC Polls > If you are an adult with T1D, how much has type 1 diabetes affected your thought-process and decision to have/not have children?
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    How much do you think your close friends know about T1D? Select all of the statements that you think are true for you.

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    If you use an automated insulin delivery system (also sometimes known as a hybrid closed-loop system), how do you feel like your sleep changed when you started using your current device? Share more about your experiences with sleep and automated insulin delivery in the comments!

    Sarah Howard

    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 Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange. Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.

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    80 Comments

    1. TomH

      Doc at age 58, too late daughter was 30.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    2. AnitaS

      I decided not to have children because of another disease I have, but diabetes would not have mattered to me in deciding whether to have children if I did not have my other disease. Because I have never married, I would not plan on having children even if I hadn’t had any diseases. Lastly, with so many children needing a home, I think I would have wanted to adopt a child/children if I were married and my husband and I would have wanted children.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    3. Rex Franklin

      Being T1D, having CF didn’t play a roll in having children.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    4. Ahh Life

      I would not let the negative valence of a T1D having children be dictated by either the certainties or uncertainties of so-called genetic determinism. Events always conspire to defeat glib certainty.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    5. qachemist

      I was diagnosed with LADA at age 65. The window to decide whether to have or not have children had long-since been closed.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    6. Nichole Pleisch

      I had kids years before I was diagnosed

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    7. Gary Taylor

      My wife and I have three children, all adults now. Our oldest was diagnosed with T1D at age 23. I was 18 when diagnosed.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    8. Meerkat

      I did not get Type 1 until 6 years after I had my children.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    9. Lawrence S.

      I was diagnosed at age 23, just after getting married. The doctor told me I might live another 10 years. We decided not to have children. After five years, and no signs of an early death, we had one daughter. She’s in her 40’s now, and I’m 69 and still kicking.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
      1. Joan Fray

        Good for you!

        1
        2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    10. Mary Dexter

      My daughter was 15 when I was diagnosed with LADA.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    11. Ginger Vieira

      DEFINITELY! For many years, I thought I should NOT have children because of T1D — but I later realized I was just afraid. Once I’d seen enough people sharing their experiences, I realized I could do it, too!

      I wrote the first-ever guide to pregnancy with T1D because we absolutely need specialized guidance that other generalized diabetes/pregnancy books can’t offer:
      https://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Type-Diabetes-Month-Month/dp/1544267347/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35FSV7JNPJVEF&keywords=pregnancy+with+type+1+diabetes&qid=1675046322&sprefix=pregnancy+typ%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-1&asin=1544267347&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1

      3
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
      1. Amy Jo

        Ginger, I love your book!! I have read it during all 3 of my pregnancies and it has been incredibly helpful. Educational and encouraging – I actually recommend it in my comment above! Thank you for this contribution to the T1D community.

        1
        2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    12. Mary Boudousquie

      I did not have T1D during my child bearing years.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    13. Marty

      I was diagnosed in my 30s, when my husband and I were just starting highly demanding jobs. We barely saw each other for weeks at a time and I knew he’d be no help with a high risk pregnancy or kids. Growing up as big sister to three younger sibs, I had no illusions about the amount of energy it takes to raise kids. My window of opportunity passed before I figured out how to make it all work.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    14. Jorge Macias

      I was 12 when diagnosed. My parents were told that I was not likely to live passed 25, but also said a cure was only 10 years away.
      I did have kids anyway.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    15. Katrina Mundinger

      Growing up, I never wanted kids because of my emetophobia. When I was diagnosed at 21, I realized that T1D could now be my “reason” to tell people why I didn’t have kids. 😉

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    16. StPetie

      Not at all. I was dx’ed just before turning 61. I’m not sure what my decision would have been otherwise.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    17. beth nelson

      My T1D began in 1963; I was too heavily influenced by my mother’s fears and decided to have a tubal ligation. On Feb. 26, 1979, when I was only 21, I had my tubes tied. February 26, 1979 was also the date of the last total solar eclipse over the continental U.S. in the 20th century. The waning and waxing images from that day stick in my mind: the total eclipse of the sun became the perfect metaphor for a mistake I still regret.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    18. Lyn McQuaid

      I’m almost 50 now but was diagnosed at age 20 and married at 23. My OB/GYN told me at the time that, if I wanted children, I should have them before I turned 30 but I was in grad school with no plans of kids anytime soon. My first child was born 6 weeks before I turned 30, so I did manage to beat that “deadline” but I had my second at age 34 without issue. My kids are now ages 20 and 16 and are (knock on wood) perfectly healthy.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    19. Modee

      When I was diagnosed in 1970 at age 12 having children was not immediately addressed but I grew up with the impression that if I was going to have children it would be better to have them before I was too old (old was thirty back then!) I made up my mind I was not going to have children before age 24 or after age 27. I had my daughter 1 month after turning 24 and my son 2 months before I turned 28. Both pregnancies were difficult and my children were both delivered by c-section about 10 days before my due date. I am thankful that both babies were healthy and neither has shown any signs of t1d and are 41 and 36. But wait… my daughter married a t1d’er! I didn’t want them to have children (I did not tell them that!) but my granddaughter is 21 and my grandson is 14 with no signs! (kow)

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    20. Amy Jo

      My husband and I knew we wanted to have children, and I was not going to let T1D prevent us from doing that. I did make sure to have a pre-conception appointment with an MFM and worked hard to get my A1c well below 6% before trying to conceive. I educated myself (can’t recommend “Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes” by Ginger Vieira and Jennifer Smith highly enough). With a lot of hard work, patience, and a solid care team, I am in trimester 3 of my third very healthy pregnancy – and hopefully not my last!

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    21. jlofstrom

      I am 70 and had my children at ages 34 and 40. Tyoe 1 diabetes played a large factor in my decision but I felt comfortable having children after consulting with my endocrinologist and OB/GYN. I went to a high-risk OB/GYN for both pregnancies. I followed his guidance, and my pregnancies went well. I also was in good control of my diabetes, which also affected my decision. I was diagnosed at age 25 with T1D.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    22. GLORIA MILLER

      I was diagnosed at age 7. I had one child by C-section at the age of 21 and had my tubes at the same time he was delivered. It was the right decision for me.

      4
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    23. Joan Fray

      I got pregnant before we had made the decision, so we went ahead and had one. Had my tubes tied after that. Our son is 45, no T1d, with three teenage grandkids, no T1d. Happy endings.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    24. Thomas Cline

      My wife was past reproductive age when I got diabetes (I was 56), so my answer would be NA. I had other reasons for not having children.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    25. Sondra Mangan

      Diagnosed T1 at 57, I had my children long before then.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    26. Karen Newe

      Not at all because I got T1 age 51. 🙂

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    27. Kevin Stephani

      Diagnosed at age 45 as a T1D I had already built my family and had 4 kids. I would say they are one of the main reasons I have taken such good care. The day I was diagnosed I came home and told them “will this change me, sure it will, but just you watch while I kick diabetes’ ass.” I think back about making this commitment to them, and still maintain it is a big part of my success managing this disease. (my TIR has typically well above 80% for 4 years now. My a1c has never been left the 5’s after 7 years of being a T1D.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    28. Glenda Schuessler

      Our/my 4 children were born prior to my T1 diagnosis. Diagnosis for me was at 40 years of age. I did not experience gestational diabetes.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    29. Jneticdiabetic

      I was diagnosed in 1995 at the age of 18 y. I was never told I couldn’t or shouldn’t have children by my doctors. I understood that like most things, a T1D pregnancy would be higher risk for me and baby and that I would have to work a bit by harder to keep my sugars in control. I had 2 boys in my early 30s. They were both BIG (~10lbs) but healthy. They are now in their early teens. No T1D and no T1D autoantibodies. The pregnancies did not seem to promote any diabetes complications for me. I’m fortunate to still be retinopathy-free and kidney function good.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    30. swamigreg

      I wasn’t diagnosed as T1D when I become a parent.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    31. Vicki Andersen

      Yes, I had only one child due to the struggles with low blood sugars while sleeping. I went into convulsions on a few occasions b/c we didn’t have the tools we have today. My husband wouldn’t agree to having a second child after the first experience.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    32. Marthaeg

      Diagnosed with T1D long after having had children.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    33. Sue Herflicker

      I was diagnosed at 56. I had already had my 3 boys. 2 of which are T1d’s

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    34. George Lovelace

      Dx @15 1964, had Beautiful Valentines Girl in 71 and Vasectomy in 84. Daughter had Gestational Dm with first Birth, nothing since.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    35. Karen Marsh

      Not at all, I was diagnosed a an adult and already had two children.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    36. Lynn Smith

      I was diagnosed at age 12 and I don’t remember anyone talking to me about having or not having children. I married at 23, had an unplanned pregnancy that began when I was 24. I was not seeing an endocrinologist at the time (in 1979), but my OB doctor sent me to one. Both of the doctors made comments to me about maybe ending the pregnancy, but my answer was a definite NO!!! It was a hard pregnancy without the better insulin and technology that is available today. I went into labor approximately 6 weeks before my estimated due date. Since a Caesarian had been planned, no one had explained anything to me about going through labor, so that took longer and was harder on me than it should have been. Anyway I delivered a 7 pound, 11 ounce boy. He had jaundice and a slight heart murmur at first , but that cleared up after a short stay in the hospital. My son is 42 now and bloodwork has indicated he will not become a T1D. Same with his 2 children. That was my only pregnancy. I am now 67.

      6
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    37. Angela Naccari

      I did not get married until I was 30 in 1985. I had been diagnosed since I was 6 years old in 1961. Due to my age and the length of time since diagnosis I decided not to have children. I was fearful. I was told that a pregnancy would be high risk – that I could not be “too emotional” and that I would hospitalized if my blood pressure went up for monitoring. I did not think I could do that!! Also, no pump or CGM for me at the time. My husband and I adopted a beautiful baby girl when she was 1 week old////1

      5
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    38. Patricia Kilwein

      Was diagnosed after having kids….I was almost 50.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    39. Bob Durstenfeld

      Interesting question. My dad, who had T1D, dx’ed in 1931 was upset when we told him my wife and I were expecting. Not the response I expected, considering he had three out of four sons with T1D. My oldest, of three sons has T1D and his oldest of two daughters has T1D. It has not stopped us. We love our kids and grandchildren.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    40. Trina Blake

      T1D actually helped me in my family planning. I knew from a very young age that I was not mommy material. All throughout my 20’s I tried to get my tubes tied. Back then, it was an elective hospital procedure requiring approval by “the board”. The board was all old white doctors, who insisted they knew me better than I did, and knew that I would change my mind. They also knew that since I wasn’t married, someday I would meet “the” man and would want to make him happy with babies! My OB/GYN attended those hearings with me, having my back.

      Then… at 31 years old, T1D Dx. I got a phone call from my OB/Gyn. He said he was sorry about my Dx, and told me I would do well – praising my intelligence. Then he said he had good news for me.
      With my T1D Dx, not only could I get the sterilization, but insurance would pay for it. We scheduled it straight away.

      4
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    41. cynthia jaworski

      I was diagnosed at age 10 in 1962. When I reached my 30s, my life was good. I enjoyed an incredible sense of well-being and health, despite having had a few problems along the way. I had been warned that I was unlikely to ever become pregnant, so my husband and I were surprised but delighted to become 30-something first-time parents.
      My doctors were amazingly subtle about the high-risk adventure. More than one asked me “are you happy about this,” at the outset, but never acted any way but pro-active and positive once it was established that I was indeed very happy.
      My healthy son has been a delight.

      4
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    42. mojoseje

      I was diagnosed in 1969 at 7 and was “counseled” by my internist at 21 to never have children. I listened. In the meantime, two of my college mates with T1 went on to have children. One has two who do not have diabetes and one who had one who has T1.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    43. Yaffa Steubinger

      I got T1 after I had kids. My kids don’t have T1 but my son’s 2 sons have it.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    44. Anneyun

      I was diagnosed at 14. I never even considered not having children, and didn’t know some diabetics were advised not to. I had my first child at 28, second at 30 and third at 32. None of them have diabetes. I love being a mother and can’t imagine not having them.

      3
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    45. Amanda Barras

      Some. We decided one and done since the first pregnancy went so well we didn’t want to risk any future complications with subsequent. Plus me and kids are expensive. Lol

      4
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    46. jo

      I always wanted to have children, but I didn’t get married till I was 42, we tried everything but couldn’t. So now we have cats. None with diabetes yet.

      3
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    47. Becky Hertz

      The sequelae of T1D kind of made the decision for me. By the time I was ready to have children, I was on BP meds and it was cautioned not to have children if taking these meds. We adopted instead.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    48. Maureen Helinski

      Adult onset T1D. I already had children, thank goodness.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    49. Pauline M Reynolds

      I had my five children before I developed LADA diabetes.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    50. Samantha Hunter

      The thought of bringing a child into the world and them getting diagnosed with T1, and then having them look at me and say, “So, you knew there was a good chance you could pass down this disease and all the hardships that come with it, and you still had me?” is what keeps me from having children. It’s selfish.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    51. BARRY HUNSINGER

      I found out I was T1D and a few weeks later we found out my wife was pregnant. So T1D was never a consideration.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    52. kim bullock

      I was 90% sure at age 13 I was not going to have kids. Getting diabetes just added to my overall feeling on not having kids.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    53. Kathleen Juzenas

      When I was diagnosed in 1975, my gynecologist recommended I not have children. I refused to accept his advice and was open to pregnancy.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    54. KarenM6

      It affected me SO much! All my life, doctors and caretakers put the fear of death into me about having children. They also weren’t shy about sharing how T1D would affect any children I might have. (I also thought subconsciously that I would die by my 18th birthday… didn’t realize I had this subconscious thought until I turned 19.) So, through my teens and 20s, those negative words translated to I _should_ _not_ have children. (This was in the era before BS meters, let alone CGMs.) I became very, very afraid of having kids. I purposefully married a man who did not want children because of this.

      A few decades passed and, now past child bearing years, I was asked a question (by a therapist) about my lack of children and I started balling and couldn’t stop. I guess I had buried some sort of maternal need very, very deeply.

      I’m glad there is more knowledge, more resources, and more health tools for T1Ds now!

      As an aside, societally speaking, I find it interesting that we must have an “excuse” for _not_ having children… but we don’t have to have an excuse for _having_ them.
      It’s also interesting how it brings a conversation to an awkward, screeching halt when someone asks if you have kids and you say no.
      Yay to me! The conversation killer! ;p (jk)

      3
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
      1. Sue Martin

        I’m sorry you felt badgered like that. I think all humans have the desire to procreate. I hope you are able to help those young people around you who may need an extra parent.

        1
        2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
      2. KarenM6

        Thank you, Sue! That’s very kind of you.
        And, yes! I do try to help those around me who need an extra parent. 🙂

        2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    55. Juha Kankaanpaa

      We had our first child before I was diagnosed with T1, but it wouldn’t have affected the decision to have children, and we did have another one later.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    56. Sue Martin

      I decided not to have children due to kidney damage caused by my T1D. I was traumatized by the Steele Magnolia’s movie.

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    57. Chris Albright

      I had 2 boys before being diagnosed. With that said, both have tested negative for T1 antibodies (Trialnet)

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    58. Jan Masty

      Disposed with type 1 in 1960 at age 10. Married at 20, and pregnant , by accident, at 21. Had excellent care by specialists in Madison, WI . I was a senior at the university at the time. Is spite of the best care you could get back then, I lost that baby when 7 months pregnant. We purposely tried again a few months later , had so so care cause we had moved, and had our son 3 weeks early, 8 lbs 11 ounces, who stayed in the nursery for about another week with lung issues and issues with having been producing insulin for both of us.. oh, and bruises on each side of his head from forceps. He’s now a very healthy 50 year old man with no sign of any autoimmune issues. Life is amazing sometimes!

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    59. Molly Jones

      We tried once to have children even though I have numerous autoimmune conditions. After the miscarriage, it was decided that we stick to pets.
      If I only had diabetes and Hashimoto’s, I assume we would have children.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    60. Donna Condi

      I was 42 when diagnosed with Diabetes and had decided not to have children at age 28.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    61. Janis Senungetuk

      In 1969 it was a great concern and because of that, as newly weds, had an appointment with my physician. He advised us that there would be risks, but because after 14 years living w T1D, I was healthy, in my early 20’s and my husband had no medical history of diabetes in his family, if we wanted children we should have them within the next 6 to 8 years. We both still had a year of undergrad studies left and had planned to wait several years, but, surprise, surprise the following year I was pregnant. I saw a high risk OB who simply looked at my urine test log and monitored my blood pressure. In April of 1970 I started experiencing edema in my ankles. I started seeing the OB every other week. In May higher education in the S.F. Bay Area went on strike, so I didn’t have classes to attend, and because of elevated blood pressure was told to maintain bed-rest as much as possible. June 20, schools were still closed, but the San Francisco Art Institute still held graduation ceremonies and my husband and I received our degrees. I was very swollen, not eating much and running high urine tests. I started having weekly OB appointments. July 17 at my weekly appointment my blood pressure was so high the OB told me to go directly to the hospital. At the hospital I was told I had preeclampsia. Baby wasn’t due for 6 weeks. Sunday evening my water broke and I started labor. Monday morning at 6:30 our daughter was delivered by c-section. Although she was 6 weeks early, she was a 7 lb. 15.5 oz. preemie. She was kept in the Neonatal ICU for three days until I was released and we went home together. In her mid-thirties she was dx with lupus erythematous, an autoimmune disease. Her three children are in their 20’s , show no signs of any autoimmune diseases. My endo thinks the chronic kidney disease she dx. 3 years ago started with my pregnancy in 1970.

      3
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    62. Shelly Smith

      I have never been married, so having children was never a question for me.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    63. Linda Pease

      After 2 children born premature and my diabetes getting worse we decided not to have any more but neither of my boys are diabetic and after slow start esp if youngest we are thankful they have no lasting effect of my t1d

      1
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    64. Joan McGinnis

      I had 2 children when I developed type 1 diabetes at age 35. I was hoping to have 3-4 at that age but after talking with my primary doctor he kind of scared me (1978) regarding possibilities. I decided that maybe i should be grateful fro the two I had and adopt another.. We tried but it was prohibitively expensive which really surprised me. We did not have the money to pay for the adoption at that time. I am very content that I had the two healthy ones I have. (one developed type 1 diabetes at age 13) She is doing very well and had two beautiful girls herself with all the technology available to her.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    65. Mick Martin

      At the time of having our first child I was unaware of the genetic makeup of T1 as I was newly diagnosed and didn’t receive adequate information with regards to it, so it didn’t affect our decision to have a child.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    66. kilupx

      I had children years before I got type 1 diabetes.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    67. Bea Anderson

      Other- I had 4 children and and developed T 1 sometime after pregnancy. I did not develop gestational diabetes. I did develop Hashimoto’s thyroiditis at age 21.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    68. Cristina Jorge Schwarz

      I developed T1D a few years after giving birth to my last child! But, had I already had T1D first, I likely would not have had children of my own – adopted instead.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    69. Twinniepoo74

      My twins were born before I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes . I found out that I was a diabetic after a year of giving birth and not suffering gestational diabetes either.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    70. Andrea Hultman

      ME/cfs, endometriosis, and adenomyosis were the biggest culprits to my deciding not to have children at all—not even through adoption or fostering. T1D concerns added to the other concerns. I just didn’t (and don’t) have the stamina to raise children. Plus, I wasn’t sure I could conceive.

      Being child free is best for me.

      2
      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    71. Kelly Wilhelm

      Diagnosed after I had my 4 kids so no answers really worked.

      2 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    72. Karen Brady

      Having T1D didn’t impact my decision to have children, but did impact my decision re: the number of children I’ll have. Pregnancy was stressful for me trying to keep such tight range 24/7, and doing that with an “incumbent child” was even harder!

      1 week ago Log in to Reply
    73. Elizabeth T.

      I was diagnosed when my 3 sons were adults!

      1 week ago Log in to Reply
    74. Wanacure

      Born during WWII I was a a member of the lost generation which preceded baby boomers. My mother was influenced by Eugenics., a correlative social movement to Nazism which exists today as white supremacy. After her first borne (me) developed T1D, she gave up Eugenics ideology. Nevertheless, the Eugenics ideology influenced my thinking and I decided to never have children, a statistically stupid error. This “pure race” or caste BS or religious nationalism is manifested as Zionist genocide of Palestinians, Trumpism, Putin’s White Russian Orthodox Christian nationalism as well as Buddhist Myanmar human rights violations of Muslims. Please view the PBS documentaries on Eugenics and read at least one of the books explaining its basis on social Darwinism. Want a perfect baby? Today’s DNA CRISPR technology makes it possible. Can you define “perfect”? Blue-eyed and blonde? Do you “qualify” as a sperm doner?

      1 week ago Log in to Reply
    75. T1D4LongTime

      Diabetes never seemed like an ‘disease’ to me as a child or as a young adult of childbearing age. I asked my endo if it was ok to proceed with childbearing, but since T1D can be treated and is not a death sentence, I saw no reason to not have children. My 41 year old son is not diabetic.

      5 days ago Log in to Reply
    76. mrthnmn

      My child was born about 7 weeks after I was diagnosed with T1D. Having it did not affect my decision not to have more children.

      3 days ago Log in to Reply

    If you are an adult with T1D, how much has type 1 diabetes affected your thought-process and decision to have/not have children? Cancel reply

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