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In honor of World Diabetes Day, what is a piece of advice you would share with someone who is newly diagnosed with T1D?
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You are not alone, it is not the end of your life, nor the end of the world. Seek, meet and befriend others who live with T1D to learn and grow from real life shared experience. Keep up to date with diabetes science advancements, treatment and self-care options, most importantly use of applied technology. Live life to your fullest potential by making sensible and healthy choices. Once you get past the initial shock of it, you will quickly learn what works for you. You can do this and live a long and healthy life!
Learn all you can, don’t necessarily depend on “professionals” because there’re different levels of experience, training, and preferences (preconceived opinion on what indicates control and techniques for it).
We’ve got professional football players (DeAndreCarter), professional “wrasslers” (KyleO’Reilly—Greenwood), politicians (KimSchrier), national leaders (TheresaMay-former UK prime minister), actors (ElizabethPerkins), and my future wife and super model (HalleBerry).
We’re in great company, even with all the struggles right now is the best time to work and live with diabetes. It’s “part” of us but but all of us: it’s not who we are. Allow yourself to be human and have good and bad times and days.
And no Halle Berry doesn’t even know who I am but a guy can dream!
You forgot Mary Tyler Moore.
Fight like hell so they don’t take your prescription for insulin away. Many doctors refuse to believe that anyone but a little kid could have autoimmune diabetes. This is the second time my insulin prescription is gone. I still had 4 Novolog refills available yesterday and had asked for my Levemir to be refilled. Now no refills of either. I fought to be correctly diagnosed LADA in 2004. Why do my doctors keep doing this?
Have you had a recent C peptide test that shows you make little or no insulin or a GAD antibodies test?
I’m astonished reading this and encourage you to contact everyone you can to help you with this. A diabetic without insulin will end up hospitalized and during this pandemic that’s not where any of us want to be. Call local media to ask for their help in publicizing your current dilemma, call the state medical board to discuss it and ask for their input on how to resolve this, stay strong.
You’re in the club, like it or not. Some of the rules are severe, like it or not. But like the sea turtle that carries his home along with him for two or three hundred years, you will carry the load.
Information masquerading as knowledge will not lead you to wisdom of the T1D condition. Only from your own sense of things do you come to realizations about reality, the reality of challenges good and bad.
You can do it. And best of luck! 💪 👍
Never give up plus Never be discouraged or disappointed in yourself or your blood sugars. Make each blood sugar a healthy game of trying to keep it down and how you can keep it normal. Make each failure a lesson to learn to live and exercise more.
I can only speak as a type one but live your life. Understand you have control over your numbers, not your doctor, an educator, or device maker. I encourage a pump and CGM but learn them and manage them yourself. DO NOT depend on a doctor or anyone else. Play with it until it works right for you. No doctor or educator and know what each day is like and do that. Only you can, if you OWN IT!
Stay strong. Insulin and food are your lifelong friends
Educate yourself!
My thoughts exactly. Educate yourself as much as possible and stay on top of what is newly available information on pubmed or ADA. Go on to the basics mandatory for medicine: biochemistry, digestion, nutrition after you have read all you can on T1D.
The teens years are tough but you can get through it (if you haven’t already!). People with diabetes can live a very long time. We have Joslin Medalists who have had it for 75 and I think one had it for 80 years. I am at almost 65 years and we can do without complications even when we did not do well (obey the experts) as a teen.
Pay attention to details.
It can be overwhelming. It’s a rough road to travel. But don’t lose site of the fact that in time you will learn how to control your situation. It can be done.
I am going to say what the endo told me at diagnosis, “It’s not cancer, you can go home and work with this”. That was 24 years ago and I have read and learned so much about T1D. Watch your diet, exercise, and medication and get a CGM as you become your own Dr. and care giver. Lastly, celebrate the 100th Birthday for insulin because T1D used to be terminal before the discovery of insulin which is life saving, but not a cure.
It’s work, but it works! You can stay healthy and have a normal lifespan, but it takes planning, persistence, guidance from knowledgeable sources, acceptance of the fact it will not always go as planned, and faith that you can do this. A sense of humor does not hurt, either…:)
Like it or not, you are in this for life. The better you are at managing T1D, the better T1D will be to you. Find an endocrinologist you can work with. They will teach you quite a bit. But you must learn to rely on yourself. every high and low has a reason, cause and failure. Learn from each one and do your best not to repeat. Watch out for fat laden foods. Subscribe to diabetic stuff. YouTube is full of stuff. Learn to trust yourself, no one knows you like you. Be careful of under educated Dr’s. Find a T1D mentor with A1C under 6.5 and time in range over 80%. they know as much if not more than anyone. Follow Adam Brown! he provides very simple easy to understand concepts that are excellent for diabetes management. we all have a cross to bear and this one is now yours.
Take one day at a time, work with your educators, talk honestly with your drs -they will try to help you if you try to do what they ask and tell them if for some reason you can’t do what they ask. Read well documented experts not just blogs. Others have survived very well snd you can too.
Take control of your care immediately! Don’t hesitate to get into a doctor who specializes in diabetes right away.
Take care of yourself!!!
First, accept that it is part of yout life and you can’t change that. Learn to be ok with it. Next learn as much as you can about the disease, risks associated with it and treatment options. After that just put forth the effort to make conscientious, informed decisions regarding all aspects of your shiny new disease.
You’re not alone! Ask for help from your medical team, friends, and family members, when needed, and they will be there to support you. This is a major life-changing moment for you, and everything may not go perfectly for a while. That’s okay! Keep putting one foot in front of the other and it WILL get easier. Everyone’s experience with diabetes is different, and you will figure out what works best for you and your body. There is also always exciting news on the horizon about how medical advances continue to make living with diabetes easier. You will be okay, and your personal community and the diabetes community are here to support you!
Switch to a low carb diet sooner rather than later!
Don’t panic! Soon you will take the new regimen in your stride — on par with brushing your teeth!
Trust that things will get better.
You control it and don’t let it control you.
With determination and a positive attitude and the medical advancements, YOU can do anything. 56 years T1DM and still running marathons and climbing mountains.
DIET, meaning eat good nutritious food;
EXERCISE, I find aerobic exercise to be the most beneficial. I like to run.
ENDOCRINOLOGIST, regularly see a doctor who specializes in diabetes
INSULIN PUMP, the most profound and beneficial device that helped me control my diabetes
CGM, Continuous Glucose Monitoring system, I recommend Dexcom G6, as it is the most accurate and reliable way of measuring your body glucose levels. It’s better than just blood tests. I also like the Control IQ system available on the Tandem pump with the Dexcom G6 CGM system.
GET CONNECTED: A website like T1D exchange is good. Most of us went for decades, lifetimes, alone not knowing any other Type 1 diabetics. It’s nice to know you’re not alone.
I have seen diabetics who do not take care of themselves. They all died young. However, on this site, I have met many diabetics who have lived full lives, 70, 80 years with diabetes, who are still going strong.
Good luck and best wishes.
Learn as much as you can about managing your diabetes. Gary Scheiner’s book “Think Like a Pancreas” provides excellent information and has become my go-to manual to better understand what I can do to live and age well with my Type 1 diabetes (dx’d in 1976)
Sometimes Type 1 D has a mind of it’s own. Don’t beat yourself up about a blood sugar too high or too low. Tell yourself “oh well” and go on doing the best you can do. I used to analyze every blood sugar and it was hard to go forward. I’m much healthier putting it in the past. Be your own advocate. Run from a Doctor who doesn’t understand what you’re going through or who doesn’t listen. Set long term goals so every decision you make gets you a little closer to that goal.
Learn to laugh at it all – you can do the same exact thing (food, exercise, insulin) two days in a row and get wildly different blood sugars! The first 6 months are the hardest – be patient and gentle with yourself.
Have fun living a healthy lifestyle. Keep congratulating yourself for all the things you do to stay healthy.
You can outlive non diabetics
Unfortunately this question can’t be answered as a blanket statement. Tooo many varying factors apply … ie ….. relationship ( if any ) / age / time frame since diagnosis / persons thoughts & concerns / to list just a few.
Technology is everything. You can have control, do everything. Also need an endocrinologist who is up on the technology.
Control what you can, do your best as often as you can, and let the rest go.
The ball is in your court it’s all up to you. You are in charge be the best you can be . Keep tabs on everything and make decidions for you. Be independent ask questions just keep strong. Technology’s catching up with diabetes use sll the tools available to you. Learn all you can sign up for classes through your doctors or community Never never give up. I just celebrated 60 years with diabetes and I thank everyday for the next. Stay well my friends.
Happy World Diabetes Day !
I really love everyone’s comments and agree with them all. Whether you’re new or old to T1D, let’s have a wonderful day celebrating our awesome Type 1 community – we’ve got this 👍👍👍
Be calm, find support, talk with people, you can do this.
As soon as possible you should learn how much 1 unit of insulin lowers your blood sugar and how much 1 carbohydrate raises your blood sugar.
Controlling your blood sugar becomes an arithmetic problem. You have to become vigilant to low blood sugar symptoms and over time they change.
Always, Always, Always keep glucose tablets on you when you leave home and next to where you sleep.
Check out Juicebox Podcast. And then find other people local to you who have t1d and make sure to spend time with them.
Diabetes is like a car. gas is food you eat, insulin is like the spark, from your spark plugs. Your spark plugs got broken and can’t be fixed. Insulin is your new fake sparks. They dont work real good, but always remember, no sparks, your engine won’t run
Just because you can’t feel it damaging you, doesn’t mean it isn’t! Take heed and be mindful.
This is a very self-managed disease. Read all the books and learn all you can about T1.
You can live a full healthy life with T1D. I was diagnosed 53 years ago when none of today’s treatments and technological advances existed. Today, you will have so many tools to keep you healthy.
Remember that YOU control your diabetes. Don’t let diabetes control you.
It’s worth it to keep your blood sugar around 100. This means learning what a gram of carbohydrate does to your blood sugar and how many points a unit of Humalog will reduce it. It means figuring out what long term insulin like Lantus can do. I’m 92 with no complications.
Get a CGM as soon as you possibly can. It will really help you to understand the relationship between your BG, food, exercise, illness and many other things! Without it you are basically flying blind with poking your finger only a few times a day.
I also highly recommend a pump but I know it’s not for everyone.
Find your people
It’s a long haul, start early by identifying a menu of cardio activities/exercises you like, including walk/run, strength, sports etc that you can do regardless of weather, seasons, access to gym an/or people; learn about healthy eating, not diets, that emphasize leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and let yourself have treats on occasion as you learn what impacts your blood glucose. Lastly find something, an app, a class that helps you learn to be mindful, grateful, and lowers anxiety as you roll with bumps in the road.
I wish would have been honestly told how my old life pre type 1 was so over. You can still build a life however freedom and spontaneous decisions are a thing if the past.
This also depends on your perspective and age at diagnosis.
I was dx at age 4, 33 years ago. Being diabetic is all I have ever known. I can’t remember “life before”. Also, compared to the medications and technology that were available in the late 80s-90s, I feel like I got my life back with what’s available to me now compared to them. I can eat when I want, I don’t have to eat if I don’t want. I can run to the store and monitor my bs and take insulin without anything else but my pump in my pocket. I’m way more casual and on the fly than I have ever been. But, again, it’s perspective based on experience. Hope you get in a grove and get the therapy right for you to make life easier for you!
I think what you mean is that spontaneity is no longer an option. I agree. but on the other hand, I feel I have as much free3dom as anyone else on the planet.
Listen to the Juice Box podcast. The pro tip series first, and then move on to all the other that interest you.
Treat Diabetes like a pet rattle snake, do what it needs, respect it,, but it still might bite you.
Make exercise a daily part of your life. Stay away from high carb foods Keep track of what your numbers are.
Try to get and use the latest technologies…. ie pump with IQ and a CGM.
My advice for all T1D diagnosed (no order of importance):
be engaged in your care; become the expert in your T1D; be optimistic and keep a positive outlook; know that you’re not alone and that you can be successful managing your T1D; use a pump that integrates CGM to assist your basal and bolus dosing; perfection does not exist so don’t beat yourself up or give up trying.
Be patient with yourself and make changes as you go. Figuring out how your body responds to food and medication will take time. And you’ll learn something new all the time. Also, don’t be afoot ask for help from your doctor or from online groups that have a wealth of knowledge and experience. You’ll do just fine, I’m 33 year in and am still learning and improving.
Don’t be afraid… afoot!? Autocorrect is weird. Lol
Find an endocrinologist you can relate to and find a support group.
Dont blindly trust your Endo, do your own research on diabetes, medications and how they work. Be very proactive in your treatment plan and medications they want to put you on.
Sorry you’re here but glad you found us. It doesn’t get easier but you’ll get a lot better at managing T1D. Listen to the Juicebox podcast. Scott Benner really helped me with my T1D management.
Deal with it – because of the advances in insulin therapy you can live a somewhat normal life. Sure, people like the FAA who are medically advanced to the 1920s will limit you, yet in most areas of life it’s just a big annoyance you can deal with.
listen to your body and learn what works for you….Dr’s can teach you the basics but they cannot understand your personal variables. You have to learn to be your own DR.
You can control your diabetes OR it will control you. Knowledge is power.
Eat low carb and take your insulin!
Learn how to eat properly. Treat your body well. Yes, with insulin pumps and CGMs you CAN possibly do whatever you want, but it is best to do the basics and live by them: eat right, exercise, drink plenty of water, get sleep. And, cheat occasionally without feeling guilty: birthday, holidays, anniversary, but don’t make it a habit. Get an Endo that will listen to you as well as you listen to them! And listen to your body. Get your eyes, teeth checked regularly.
It gets better – get mental health – work on routine – never be too critical of yourself and others
Find a trusted confidant you can say/discuss anything to/with, that will give honest feedback without judging, and knows when to just listen.
Having a good and thorough endocrinologist, who educates you on quality of care and knowledgeable about the latest technology, along with networking with other T1Ds, is very important.
Knowing what the problem is, is the main solution. It is treatable and you can live a normal life. Wonderful developments in the last 30 years!
Be patient with yourself. Every day living with diabetes bring new challenges. Do the best you can, but don’t beat yourself up. Enjoy life!
Get tp know other diabetics, preferably in your community and near your age. Making friends with other diabetics and keeping in touch can be very rewarding. Online support groups are also good.
I have attended the Friends For Life T1D conference in Orlando. It is a wonderful!!! It is held every July.
Read everything you can about T1D, join knowledgeable and trustworthy online forums, and be your own advocate with your health care providers.
First after the shock wares off, please don’t panic. Once you get your insulin regiment set. Remember nothing is one hundred percent there will be good days and bad days. Don’t beat yourself up, if your sugar isn’t spot on. This quit normal no matter how good or bad you are, Give yourself a break
Don’t go through this alone. Share with people you can trust and lean on them when you need too. Ask your doctor/Endocrinologist any question that comes to mind, Wikipedia is NOT the best source for answers…
Do not have your expectations firmly set on perfection right away with BGs. You need to learn what foods you enjoy and don’t raise BGs your too much or cause long lasting highs. All the new learning will take time and experimentation. Each person reacts differently to different foods.
It’s a difficult adjustment. Mind your mental health as well as your physical- it’s a long road.
Follow the technology, changes will only make living with T1D easier
Diabetes = carbohydrate intolerance. You can explain it however you want, but that is the truth.
Educate yourself well on what it is and the latest methodologies for control of the condition.
Nothing you did gave you T1D so don’t feel ashamed. Find an endocrinologist and start talking with your insurance company to see what medical devices are covered since they take forever to approve things. Your endocrinologist may have some supplies for you to try out as well. Find a nutritionist or educator who can help you learn to read nutrition labels. There is nothing you can’t do, you just have to plan ahead a bit more than before.
Every day is an education, live it fully and positively.
Learn all you can about managing diabetes and be open to trying all the newest technologies such as automated insulin pumps and CGMs as they can make your life easier overall.
Eat low carb and low glycemic index. It makes things so much easier.
Get a CGM right away and a smart insulin pump. Do everything you can to have great time in range. You’ll live forever . . .
Diagnosed at 13 years old in 1961. Knowledge was limited, technology was someone’s dream. Learned to keep a game face on and started high school. I did not know it then but good therapy was what I needed most, to explore with someone capable what had happened and what futures could be: good , bad, and the other. Maybe that is still a critical need despite the tech.
Diabetes is rough, having diabetic friends helps a lot.
Also keep up on the emerging technologies, as a lot of times your doctor won’t even know about. Also be honest and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions.
Learn everything you can about how to manage you T1D. Don’t be afraid to try all the newest technologies available.
Don’t give up on yourself during the hardest times. Learn to count your carbs diligently and work hard to calculate your insulin. It’s not all about a 3 month A1C- it’s about taking care of yourself, lol and when you do- your numbers will reflect.
In addition to all the other good advice here, don’t settle with just a GP. Find an Endocrinologist. Look for one you can work with and if possible one who has a PA who really knows how to use the new technology.
As I have done in the past, I would put my hands in the air, twirl around and say [now], “well I got T1D at age 21, and I am now age 891/2 !!!
Take it seriously and listen to an Endocrinologist
That it seems overwhelming right now, but shortly EVERYTHING about T1D will become second nature. You may have T1D, it is only 1 part of you. What is other 99%?
Technological devices (CGMs, pumps and even new insulin pens that help with insulin dosing) have made living with diabetes easier to control, but absolutely nobody is perfect, so don’t expect your blood sugars to be where you want them all of the time. Do the best you can, enjoy treats occasionally (even non-diabetic people should only enjoy treats occasionally), and hang in there as there will be a cure some day.
Take advantage of the technology now available (insulin pump and CGM) right from the start, which will assist you in managing your BG levels, and reduce the chances of having diabetic-related complications in the future.
After 51 T1D yrs here is what has kept me going.
– Laugh at the funny stuff, there will be plenty.
– Pat yourself on the back for your successes, you’ve earned it!
– Learn everyday, it will help and give you the knowledge and confidence to overcome the challenges.
– Be proud of coping with and managing the T1D 24/7 experiment.
– Celebrate the good stuff, no matter how small.
It may seem daunting, but opportunities will arise. Make it work for you.
My advice is to get to know your new condition of Diabetes as well as it can be, that is to read timely measured amounts of information, listen carefully to all members of your diabetes care team and ask plenty of searching questions. Accept you new condition, get to know the carbohydrate values of food, include fruit and look to consume as much wheaten & only brown breads into your daily diet. Stay fit and adopt and maintain a daily exercise regime into your living. As well as educating yourself do inform and educate those people around you, family friends and workmates. Most of all maintain a good mental health state because there will be times when everything will not go your way in your new found Diabetes life.
I will tell you what I have always told my boys growing up. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!! Diabetes will not stop you from living!! You will stop you from living! Our lifestyle is a bit different than the norm, but its nothing to be ashamed of. Always hold you head high! YOU CAN DO THIS!! And you know what, they did, now 34 and 26 they have climbed mountains and you can too!!!
Learn what your body needs and research the disease. An understanding of what is happening with diabetes makes management SO much easier and turns it into something that is back of mind instead of front of mind. There are a lot of fantastic resources…Sugar Surfing (book), Think Like a Pancreas (book), Juicebox Podcast, etc.
Above anything else, don’t be scared. If you get too caught up in your fear about what’s to come, you’ll forget to live. In many ways, your life will be no different than it was before you were diagnosed. In some, it may even be better.
Here’s some advice to parents with young kids who are diagnosed….be calm and confident. Your kids will match that energy and then will rebound into new normal in no time.
You’ll be just fine… eventually, Diabetes will just be another part of your day. Find a way, in the long term, to live your life. Don’t let diabetes manage your life. Lots of help out there and lots of tools that will fit your daily lifestyle.
Learn to eat in a way that allows you to keep the carbs low for daily intake and then insulin consumption will be better for you in the long run.
Be kind to yourself! There is a learning curve, use trusted sources for your education. Be your own (your childs’) best advocate. Your lifestyle will most likely change (medications, devices, diet, exercise, budget) but it might be for the better! I was diagnosed almost 30 years ago, I continue to learn, advancements have been made, new technology is available, new medications are available – try to stay current. Your diabetes experience will most likely not match someone else’s, learn what is best for your scenario. Again, be kind to yourself.
Read a lot, listen to the Juicebox podcast, find others in your shoes, get a CGM as soon as possible, breathe!
Don’t freak out every time the blood sugars fall outside of acceptable range. Just treat it (with food or insulin, depending on whether you’re hypo or hyper, figure out how much units [for insulin] or grams of carbs [for food]) and move on.
Get a CGM!
Thinking back to when I was diagnosed as an adult 44 years ago, I’d say finding a good doctor. In today’s world, there are many sources of information and tools out there, so I’d say, learn as much as you can and stay engaged in managing T1d.
Learn to take advantage of technology. Find a good endrocrologist. Find good health care. Find a balance between T1D and other interests.
Diabetes is not the end of the world. It is just something new you have to deal with. But, don’t let it stop you! You can be who you want to be and do anything you want, as long as you learn how to keep your blood sugars in range. So, my advice is, “Don’t let it stop you from doing what you love!”
There are ample virtual and in-person T1D communities out there. Make it a point to join one for support and learning. Also, breathe and take it one day at a time. You are not your number.
Education for you and your family members about Type 1 diabetes is so very important. Having an endocrinologist whose decision making you trust, and who takes the time to work with you to manage your diabetes is critically important. Realize that you are going to be learning a lot and ask questions about teaching points you didn’t 100% grasp. CGM is an absolute must have device, and insulin pumps make diabetes management better for many. Day by day experiences that encompass both sides of the coin, the good and the bad blood sugar days, will making living as a Type 1 diabetic easier.
Diabetes is not a death sentence. You can live your life and accomplish anything even with diabetes. It takes management not surrender! 🙂
It will never be easy but it does get easier. Remember to be kind to yourself.
Be patient and watch your numbers!
Ignoring your diabetes because you are embarrassed, or ‘don’t want to be dependent on something’ is only hurting yourself. Embrace your diabetes, realizing that it sucks, and be open about it- management and treatment will improve if you view it this way.
Do not strive for perfection.
T1 diabetes is a challenging disease but if you stay fit, eat a well constructed diabetes diet, take your medication as prescribed by your doctor/Endo and the most important thing is staying positive…. There will be good days and days that are challenging, but if you stay at focused on the good practices mentioned above, you can lead a healthy, happy productive life with you T1 diabetes
Learn the rules and don’t be stupid.
You are going to be ok. Don’t ignore what you need to do to keep yourself healthy, but don’t let this diagnosis define you. You are able to learn and able to thrive with this disease despite the added layers of challenges to your life.
This is a manageable condition. You will get better and better at it with time. Be kind to yourself on the harder days. It doesn’t change who you are or what you can do, just sometimes how you do things. I still swim, backpack, cross country ski, and bike long-distance, as I did 29 years ago when I was diagnosed at age 35. You define your diabetes journey, it doesn’t define you.
And ALWAYS have glucose tablets with you 🙂 This is your backpack to carry and no one else’s.