142 Comments
When you (or your child) were diagnosed with T1D, for how long were you in the hospital?
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I was not hospitalized at diagnosis.
I was not hospitalized at diagnosis. I was in the ER and had 4 liters of fluid and some insulin. Not in DKA at diagnosis and, thankfully, have never been in my 16 years of T1D.
I was not hospitalized. Treated and trained at the Endocrinologist’s office. 1995
I was almost 30 years old when I was diagnosed (45 years ago) after giving birth to my third child . She weighed over 10 lbs. and that was the beginning of my trip with T1D.
I was in the USAF at the time and went to a civilian hospital initially for about 4 days and was then transferred to a military hospital where I remained for several more weeks. Most of the diagnosis and treatment plan was completed at the civilian hospital.
In the ’70s there was no hospitalization for D, just a glucose tolerance test, bg +1000, and here is some insulin. The good old days.
Sure there was hospitalization in the 70’s for diabetes. Luckily for you, you must not have been sick enough to need to be hospitalized.
Amazing that I survived AnitaS, wish I lived where you were diagnosed. How sick was I? 35 lbs underweight, BG of 900 bafore the 4 hour glucose tolerance test, 1k plus during, cramps, thirst, the had a great deal of difficulty getting a vein to draw blood, checked to see if I was conscious every 15 min, extreme cramps, nausea, dizziness, just to name a few symptoms. I was in DKA and the gave me insulin and an orange to practice. Everyone has a different experience, not sure arguing was the best comment Anita.
I was not hospitalized. I was 37 years old and was misdiagnosed as T2.
1993. I was 6 years old. Never hospitalized. My mom recognized the symptoms. A few visits with my pediatrician, and then a visit with an endocrinologist and that was it.
I was not hospitalized.
I never went to the hospital, I got diagnosed at urgent care and when I finally got to see a diabetes educator a week or two later she looked at my bloodwork from that day and told me I really should have been in the hospital for DKA.
In 1950, when I was 4 1/2, I distinctly remember being in the hospital for 10 days, sitting on nurses’s laps and losing a tooth and finding a quarter under my pillow.
1966 I was in DKA and the first juvenile treated in my small community. 2 weeks in the hospital, a glass syringe and an orange for practice.
Ah yes, the orange. I remember that I found injecting the orange was worse than injecting myself! It was 1971 and I was 29. I stayed in for about a week while they trained me and sorted out a treatment plan.
I never went in the hospital. I had a glucose meter on hand so I could understand what my T1 grandson experienced every day. When my BS went high and never came down after being on a 5-day steroid pack, I knew I had T1 (now my 4th autoimmune disease). My BS had been 350-400 for about a week. The endocrinologist confirmed my diagnosis.
I lived in a rural community and did not go to any hospital when I was diagnosed. A GP is the one who found out what was wrong with me in 1957.
No hospitalization was offered back in 1973.
That is strange. I was hospitalized in 1973. Must have been a totally different scenario.
was not hospitalized. treated at the endo’s office in 2003 at age 43. I knew there was trouble because they had 4 or 5 medical personnel for just me and I was the only appointment for the morning!
I am late onset. Dx at 51. I was never hospitalized.
I was 48. Not a child. So far I have not been hospitalized at all for any reason. The only times were long before I developed T1. This may explain others’ attitude toward my diabetes: that it isn’t real; or that I take it in stride so it can’t be important.
Although I selected “I do not remember” I do recall being in hospital for more than a week when I was diagnosed. This was in the days of urine testing; boiling syringes and needles the size of javelins (lol), etc.
I happened to be away at sleep away camp where I caught a stomach virus. I remember that the TID symptoms started after that. I lost a lot of weight, had excessive thirst, and kept have to urinate. The camp had a nurse and my counselor sent me to see her because of all of the open sores on my body. The camp called my mother to have her send smaller size clothes to the camp because of my loss of weight. The camp had bug juice (kool aid) which I drank by the barrel because of the thirst. The camp nurse never picked up on the symptoms. This was before the days of blood glucose meters. I was home for less than an hour when my mother said I am taking you to the doctor where he took blood and then diagnosed me. Glad that I survived sleep away camp.
I was not hospitalized – dx at age 20 years due to a class assignment (health screening) for pharmacy school. A1c was 7.2% and not in DKA, no symptoms that I noticed. Luckily I have never had to be hospitalized for my DM!
I was not hospitalized at diagnosis. My pediatrician managed everything, including several calls/day (and night) with my mom to get my dosage sorted out.
I was diagnosed at 40 with the usual symptoms. As with many in my situation, first diagnosis was Type 2. After not being happy with the medication results, went to an endo and was diagnosed with LADA. No DKA. A1c at diagnosis was 12.4.
14 days 50 years ago
I was not hospitalized when diagnosed, probably because my twin sister had been diagnosed 5 years previously.
I ate the orange. – 3 times
About 5 days in the mid 70’s.
Started on one injection of Toronto & Lente each morning.
I never was in the hospital. My father had T1D so I went to his endocrinologist for guidance of dosage amounts of R and NPH (it was 1993), and then I was sent home. I was 19 years old and home from college for the summer so he was the one who guided me in those early days of diagnosis.
Dx in May, 1960. Spent close to a month in Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
I was not put in hospital at diagnosis.
My mother was a nurse and did not have to stay in the hospital at all.
I wasn’t not hospitalized. I had epic leg cramps and went to my primary care for blood tests. I got a referral to an endo for the next day.
That was 55 years ago, but I am guessing 5-6 days.
I answered “other”. I went to work after my doctor’s appointment.
1976
Joslin Clinic 21 days… taught me everything I should know about managing my diabetes…stayed in patient…too bad they didn’t teach me that it started with food and low carb was the way to go and not eat and cover…but it set me up for managing everything else… 39 years ago
I wasn’t hospitalized when diagnosed; it actually came up in my blood work for my routine physical
I was diagnosed in the mid-1970’s at age 27. I had experienced excessive thirst, frequent urination, and lost 13 pounds in those 2 weeks, the classic signs of diabetes for 2 weeks before seeing a docto. Because my father had been dx’d with diabetes in the early 1950’s, he had familiarized me with the warning signs, so I suspected what I had. The doctor performed a glucose tolerance test which definitively confirmed my diabetes. I was not hospitalized at all and started immediately on insulin (NPH). I’ve only been hospitalized once due to diabetes in 1980. I had had a cold and wound up in the ER with diabetic ketoacidosis. Was in ICU for 3 days due to that. I had much less knowledge then about how to properly manage my diabetes.
Was not in the hospital
I wasn’t hospitalized.
I was diagnosed by a diabetic colleague in the medical school hospital where we both worked. I happened to be co-teaching molecular endocrinology at the time with the head of the endo department who handled the clinical aspects of the subject. Luckily, I was well cared for in the walk-in endo clinic and never had to spend the night.
We caught his diagnosis so early we just had a 3 hr endocrinologist/diabetes educator appt in office.
I wasn’t admitted and didn’t require it, no DKA. I was originally dx’d T2. Stayed that way for several years, then meds stopped working altogether, got referred to an Endo who ordered GAD/peptide tests resulting in T1 diagnosis, insulin prescription, etc.
9-10 days- but it was 1968 and there were no fingersticks available to regulate blood sugar. Only had blood tests the first day in ER. Another difference- the daily charge for room was $32 a day….
I was 8 year old at the time and had a BG over 500 but no ketoacidosis. Did not even have an IV- oral hydration and lots of education for my mom.
Agree that things were very different back then – I was diagnosed in 1967 and still remember them teaching me how to do urine testing with a rack of test tubes!
I answered 7 or 8, but it could have been 9 or 10. I’m not sure because I was only 10 at the time.
The doctor who diagnosed me was a personal friend. He tested and treated me with his wife’s test kit and insulin while in his home. The next day I went back to his home after filling the prescriptions he gave me. I was instructed on how to use everything, went home, and kept in touch daily via the phone until he was sure I knew how to take care of myself. So, no hospital stay for me!
We were not hospitalized
1965, Dad was a LADA from 1940 but wanted me to get the best so I spent my entire Spring Vacation to the Hospital.
I was never hospitalized even though I was in DKA at the time of diagnosis.
I was never in the hospital
I did not have to go to the hospital. I had labs done and my PCP diagnosed me when they came back.
I was never hospitalized. That should have been an answer.
I was not admitted to the hospital- I received a call from the hospital lab that I needed to go to ER – my BG was 495. The labwork had not been initiated because they suspected diabetes, but there it was!
I was not admitted to the hospital.
I did not go to the hospital. The doctor diagnosed me and gave me insulin the next day. I was an adult but with the symptoms-vision loss, weight loss and extreme thirst. Before we had blood glucose meters. I used paper urine strips.
Never. I was misdiagnosed as Type 2, due to age, then after getting very sick and almost comatose, they changed to Type 1 and gave me insulin and sent me home. This, after totally missing my diabetes diagnoses by a prominent Internist. Then to another physician who nailed it in hours, then changed to Type 1 when Rx did nothing. Insulin instantly woke me up and got me on the road to good health again.
0 days. My GP at the time gave me a stack of books, he told me to go home and read them and that I’d know as much about diabetes as he did!
I was diagnosed at age 18 months and was not hospitalized. My son was diagnosed at age 8 months and hospitalized for a week. My Granddaughter, was diagnosed at 18 months and not hospitalized.
I was not hospitalized. My blood sugar had stabilized due to the “Honeymoon” affect.
I was admitted for a week, in 1987. I was in DKA. They wanted to keep me another two days but I really wanted to get out of there. Being 19 years old, I had a say in it.
Zero days, I have yet to be hospitalized for T1D.
#BeWell
same here
As a six-year old, I was taken to my doctor because of mumps. During that visit, a blood test showed high BG. I was sent home to recover from mumps. Low doses of insulin were prescribed.
I was never hospitalized. When my GP couldn’t figure out how to treat what had been misdiagnosed as Type 2, he sent me to another doctor, who also didn’t what to do. His nurse gave me the number of a doctor 85 miles away, who specialized in endochrinology. I’ve seen him for the last twenty years. I’m a healthy diabetic,a strange oxymoron.
I wasn’t hospitalized. I was Dx at my PCP’s office and began insulin there. No hospital involved.
1988, age 4, in hospital for a week.
I put less than 24 hours but wish zero was an option. I was diagnosed as an outpatient and was never admitted into the hospital or the emergency room
Was not hospitalized
I was not hospitalized. My boyfriend noticed I was having all the symptoms and convinced his diabetic specialist to see. I had bloodwork done and diagnosed T1 a week later
Wow. Your boyfriend was diabetic and then you.
In 1955 I was hospitalized for a full month in a pediatric ward filled with leukemia patients and kids with polio in iron lungs. It was a very difficult time because none of many doctors who examined me would answer any of my questions. They only spoke with my parents. I was 8, knew enough to connect the many urine tests to kidney function and asked if I had kidney disease. No response. I left the hospital with absolutely no knowledge about diabetes.
Sorry to hear that experience! My Dx was in 1968 (Christmas Day) when I was 16 but because of a flu epidemic (not sure that’s the right word) it took 3 days for hospital beds to open up and the only space was with geriatric patients. No endo was brought in, but my pediatrician brought me all the relevant books from the hospital doctors’ library to read so I could try to understand. The nurses shared info about a (young) pro hockey player in another state who was diagnosed and hospitalized about the same time, and shared a very funny anecdote about a hypoglycemic episode he experienced. I recently figured out who he is, but I won’t share that anecdote here – HIPAA wouldn’t allow the nurses to know and share that info now – but the anecdote actually helped me relax a bit about all the info being thrown at me. After I was released, my doctor and I talked every morning at 7 am so I could check bg level (as best we could with those urine dip strips) and adjust my insulin accordingly.
I was not in the hospital. My diagnosis was gradual. From “Type II” to LADA.
I did not go to the hospital, just got a few bags of IV hydration and they sent me home with an endocrinologist appointment the next day.
Hospitalized because it was a holiday weekend and I needed insulin and Dr. Offices were closed!
Zero hours, that wasn’t an option to pick.
I answered 5-6, but it might have been 7-8
I was not hospitalized at all
Me & my son were never in the hospital at diagnosis.
I was never hospitalized. Diagnosed at my doctor’s office. He taught me how to do injections on an orange.
I was not hospitalized. My PCP diagnosed me in his office when my BG was over 300.
When diagnosed, none since my dad was my doctor. But when I needed to learn to inject insulin I was in France and had to stay a week in the hospital, per their national policy.
Like so many others have answered: not hospitalized (1959). Classic symptoms w/ ketones in urine. Elder cousin (father’s side) had previously been diagnosed & on insulin, so my alert mother took me to pediatrician for lab tests which confirmed T1D. From there to endo & nurse teaching me how to inject insulin. But 4 years later had a severe hypoglycemic seizure while college freshman & college sent me to residential diabetes clinic for a week where I learned tweaking much better control of diet and insulin interaction. My father’s National Association of Letter Carriers union’s insurance probably paid cost of clinic.
I was there 3, they wanted me another night, but my grandmother died and I had to go.
For the funeral, I had to buy theatre makeup to cover the discoloration/bruising on my arms from all the various IVs…I looked like a zombie!
I was in DKA, healthy as horse before that. I was 42yo. They took 3 additional rounds of blood not believing what was going on, namely that I was not in a coma.
I don’t remember staying in a hospital upon diagnosis, in 1975. I was 25 yrs old and just remember being treated at a university clinic.
I don’t know the answer because I’m now in my sixties , and I was 9 mos old at the time. None of my family members from that time are still alive.
I put 3-4 days, may have been more!! I was recovering from shoulder surgery on pain meds. Felt so much better with insulin I quit meds. Was still fuzzy minded. Sight blurry couple weeks. It was a lot to take in!!
Never hospitalized. Given rudimentary instructions how to inject insulin and sent home with a prescription (but they forgot to prescribe the pen needles!). Bought the books Think Like a Pancreas and Using Insulin to figure this out
There should have been an option for “No hospitalization” above.
I’m one of those people, no hospitalization. Dx at my clinic and sent home as a T2, then properly diagnosed by Endo a few days later at my first appointment.
I was not hospitalized at the time of the diagnosis.
Not hospitalized
Why assume one would be admitted to a hospital? I know there is certainly a chance but I was holding it together. I knew something was wrong because I had lost a bunch of weight in a short period of time and I was tired. I went to my doctor, she suspected I may be diabetic, had me do a glucose test the following day and had me make an appointment with an Endocrinologist. I was on insulin within a couple of days. Never went to a hospital.
I am shocked they didn’t do a random glucose test when your doctor thought you might be diabetic instead of having you do a test the next day. It seems like someone could go into DKA? I am not sure of that, but that is something I would be worried about.
Anita commented that she would have been concerned. First of all this was over 25 years ago. I am pretty sure my doctors appointment with my general practitioner was late afternoon. Because I needed to be fasting for the glucose test, she gave me a prescription for Glucophage. I went the next morning for my test. I had made my appointment with the endocrinologist and saw her the following day. So I was not concerned. I was functioning with high blood sugars for quite awhile. The doctor didn’t just kick me out the door and say good luck Based on my other vitals she was comfortable with me taking the meds to hold me over. I was on an insulin regimen within 48 hours of my visit.
I was not diagnosed in the hospital.
I did not go to the hospital
Even though my first fingerstick was 568 and I had all the T1 symptoms, I was sent home from doctor with prescription for Metformin. I was 57. Learned later my A1C was 12.75 and others tests proved I was T1. That was 2006.
When diagnosed, I went to the Clinic around 3 PM Monday, transferred from the Clinic to the Hospital’s ER around 8 PM, then was in ICU most of that week and discharged the following Sunday afternoon.
Going by day count, my time hospitalized was 7 days, but breaking it down to hours there and it works out to 7 days or partial days, but by hours actually barely over 6 full days.
Since my Dad already had diabetes my parents took me home with the dose of Lente to start with and they figured it out from there.
9 days in 1977
I was only 6 years old and it was 61 years ago! I do not remember but it seems like it was maybe 2 weeks or so. This was before they had all the devices and test we have today. Blood was taken from the arm many times throughout the day! It was awful!
I do not remember but I do know they would keep me in the hospital for a week when I was a little older if I ended up with ketoacidosis
Almost 3 weeks – from December 26, 1962 to January 12, 1963. I was supposed to be in for a week, but they put me in a room with another girl who had pneumonia and I ended up with a severe respiratory infection. I was 8 years old and I survived … still here after 60 years with T1D.
I was 7. First time away from home. Hospital was over 2 hours away.
I lapsed into a coma with DKA once I had gotten to the hospital. I believe I was only in a coma for a day. I was so dehydrated, they had to cut my ankle open to get an I.V. in me. I ended up staying in the hospital about a week.
April of 1979. My mom was taught to inject an orange. I got sent to camp the next year and took over doing the needles in my scrawny arms. Lente and Regular. Long time ago.
I was not hospitalized
I had a pediatrician and general practitioner fighting over who would be in charge of me. 1965. I was 15. They then couldn’t decide if I was T1D or T2D! I spent an entire week on metformin. Thank God I spent most of that time asleep. Maybe I was in a coma. Who knows. It is quite clear to me neither of them was treating me. They only fought over control of me. I left without any training other than sticking an orange one time. I was at a loss. Mom knew not to serve me sugar. We knew no diabetics. I was alone. I had to
Pay for my own insulin and care needs. Mom and dad only fought over what side of the family caused this diagnosis. Neither were any help or support. Public library had a couple of books on diabetes that I read cover to cover. It wasn’t until the ADA magazine came out that I really realized I was not the only one with T1D.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am only recently diagnosed, last year on my 62 birthday. The strength you must have had since 1965 is inspirational.
51 years ago, a week in the hospital was the only option!
3 blood draws per day was the basis for long lasting insulin dosage—along with diet.
Seems prehistoric now!
Like many have written, I wasn’t hospitalized at all. That really should be a choice in the poll.
Have never been in hospital for my LADA. Was diagnosed as type 2 but I was sure that was misdiagnosed. My fasting BS was 139. Two years later finally diagnosed as adult type 1. Never let it get out of control. A1c was always below 6.5 and for past 15 years has been around 5.6
In the 80’s they kept you for a 2 week education period. Had to read a book and take a test, give my mom shots of water. Then give my self shots of water till they trusted me with insulin. It was a very crazy time as a teenager.
Diagnosed in 1974 at 14. I don’t really remember how long I was in, 2-3 days only.
I was not in the hospital. I was 16 years old and my Dad’s company had a Health mobile truck set up for employees and their family to have free exams. This included blood work. Mine came back showing glucose. My father took me to a doctor and they did further testing. That’s when I was diagnosed as a type 1. I did not have any symptoms and I don’t recall how high it was. I felt ok. My parents couldn’t believe it. They were in denial because they went back in the family history and nobody in the family had diabetes. It was difficult for them to accept and that made it hard on me to try to learn my new life.
I was never hospitalized.
Never hospitalized. Diagnosed at age 40.
Same! And diagnosed at age 38!!!
Same…and also at 38 (6 yrs and counting). They ran me around my Primary Care Physician’s office, getting me all my supplies before setting me down in a Diabetes Educator’s office. No Hospital needed.
Zero days
I was diagnosed outpatient after having elevated fasting glucose then abnormal A1c and positive antibodies
4 days, mostly spent getting my electrolytes in balance.
I was diagnosed at 5 and was in the hospital for a month between American Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
My diagnosis was a traumatic experience: being called a liar and a hypochondriac at 5 tends to have emotional repercussions.
Then, because, back then, parents couldn’t stay, my 5-year-old brain considered that I was left there alone to manage my own safety etc.
I’m very glad that things have improved over the years!
As an aside… I’ve seen a few comments in the last month’s worth of questions of the Joslin 50 year medalists. I _would_ be a medalist if they didn’t insist on paperwork or statements that are difficult to impossible to get. When I went to the website to see about a medal, the fact that they wouldn’t take my word for when I was diagnosed was a bit triggering… like being called a liar all over again. I decided the medal wasn’t worth the emotional hassle and the hassle of trying to track down people who were alive back then and could give me a statement. I decided to give myself a medal! ;p 😀 ;p
I was never in hospital.
Never made it to the point of hospitalization.
Iwas in my early 50’s when diagnosed with T1D. Never was hospitalized for it. That is why my private ins at that time had a fit about approving a pump, sensor, or any supplies. I had to wait years and jump through many hoops to finally get a pump, then a couple more years for a sensor!
I was only 2 years old, so I really do not know how long I was in the hospital.
Wow! After reading through the comments I thought I should clarify, I was hospitalized when i was diagnosed. I think in the early ’60’s that was standard. I just don’t know for how long.
Diagnosed by family practitioner. Never admitted to hospital.
Lost 10 kilos in two weeks, spent 2-3 days at UCLA medical center. The endocrinologist insisted I learn about food values, in addition to the training. (1970)
Eight days in October 1970. I was several months shy of 4 years old, and these are my earliest memories. I remember having a board strapped to my right arm, ostensibly to hold the IV in place. (My mother told me that I asked how I broke my arm.) I also remember having a roommate who needed an oxygen tent, and wished I could be in there with her because it looked like fun. Finally, I remember an unpleasant nurse roughly turning me onto my tummy to take my temperature rectally. I clenched and refused and she yelled at me and told me the doctor would have to come in. I still refused and the doctor never came. It took me YEARS to recognize that the shame I felt about that should have been directed toward her BS behavior.
I’m not sure why zero was not an option. I knew when I went to the doctor I had it. Ignored the symptoms until I dropped 10 lbs without trying and couldn’t bury my head in the sand anymore. Are a big piece of chocolate cake before I went because I figured that’s the last time I would be able to. Luckily, I am in control and can still have desserts every once in a while.
Ate
I became a T1D after having Whipple surgery. I was in the hospital for 11 days.
Diagnosed at a Dr visit. No hospitalizations