Did you ever feel isolated as a type 1 diabetic? I did for more than 60 years until I discovered the diabetes online community (DOC). Most of what I know about type 1 was learned online. It is wonderful to be able to communicate with other diabetics. The picture below depicts my place in the world of diabetes before I discovered the DOC.
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I have had several other serious ailments, diseases and medical conditions before diabetes, so after I found TuD, I feel like this.
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The video is a hoot… You can see that kitten thinking… “It’s a fish dammit! I should be able to eat it.”… That’s not so far off from “It’s a cookie dammit! I should be able to eat it.”. 
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Exactly. Twenty years before I even met another T1 but as for any kind of ongoing interaction more like 28, and that thanks to the DOC.
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I’ll be honest, I have only known one other T1 diabetic around my age (in my 20’s) for most of my life. I’ve felt pretty isolated. I’ve always wanted that one other diabetic friend I can text at 3am with my crappy diabetic jokes
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I have only recently spent very little time online so I still feel kind of alone. I have had type 1 since I was 4 so I got it just after I learned to walk. It has been through toddlerhood, childhood, teen years, adult life and now middle age. I knew a type 1 for awhile many years ago but never really got to see him very often. It is wonderful reading about other peoples struggles with it and nodding my head as I read. But thinking about it now, all the reading I do here certainly does make me feel less alone.
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I can totally relate to feeling isolated. As a Type 1 for almost 30 years, I have only met in person 2 other Type 1’s and totally by accident. While there is diabetes research conducted at the biomedical research facility in my area, all of the research centers around Type 2 and there are no support groups in my community. I’ve accepted over the years that my diabetes is mine and my responsibility. My husband is wonderful, supports me and never complains, but he doesn’t and really can’t fully understand.
Even my endocrinologist says that I know more about managing diabetes than most medical professionals in my community because I live with it 24/7. Honestly the most he can do as far as guiding me is to offer experiences that other patients have shared with him. But, I try to keep it positive and really believe that diabetes has made me a stronger person.
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Good to hear other members discussing this topic, thanks!
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