I became a Type 1 diabetic at age 53. I have a theory that is was caused by stress due to the death of my father from cancer. I was very close to him and was so devastated. Plus I then had to take dare of my mom who was very helpless and dependent. She couldn’t even write a check. It was such a stressful time. 6 months later I found myself in intensive care and was later diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I was wondering if anyone who became Type 1 late in adulthood had any theories about why it happened?
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I was diagnosed at 21, at that time it was considered to be late. I had classic type 1 symptoms though, I was sick with an upper respitory infection that was still present at diagnosis and it is known for triggering type 1. I was also very stressed out at that time as it was finals time in my last year at university… I think our immune systems are suppressed by stress, but there also needs to be an underlying issue. Most who are diagnosed at your age are LADA, and the onset was probably years ago. Probably the added stress pushed you over the edge
While type 1 is “mostly” caused by several viruses and having the genes that predispose you to being able to get it. There are some unknown causes potentially too. But the thought has existed that stress is one factor that helps set the immune system off kilter and some research has been done and is being done to try to find out. But when people have asked here before, if you had a stressful event before you got Type 1, a huge amount of people say yes. For me it was my mother’s death.
I had a physically demanding type of stress (for me, actually a stress relief mentally) during the approx 6 months before I hit the wall and was diagnosed, probably a day or 2 from DKA emergency room. I was working a relatively easy desk job at the time, age 57, but was spending all of my free time on a heavy landscaping project. Literally spending my evenings carrying buckets of rocks up a ladder and similar half baked tasks. I lost 35 lbs, was continually thirsty and arm waved it all away as “I’ve been working my body harder than ever”.
So yes I believe the stress of that spring/summer may have triggered the T1 but it was not mental stress, it was physical “ work until you drop” type stress.
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same situation here
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Stress was a factor for me as well. Age 68, experiencing significant stress
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I became a type 1 at 55 while taking care of my Mom, who also had cancer. I do believe there is a connection.
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Definitely DKA will do it at any age! My wife had a sudden and initially mis-diagnosed case of DKA at age 55. After surviving the high BS and 3 days in a coma she was a T1D. We had to deal with a system that would constantly change her diagnosis records to T2D because they “were taught” the only way to become a type 1 was through JT1D. I think stress was a factor in our situation with my wife as well. Caring for elderly parents with chronic diseases. I think sometimes stress is under-rated in the cause of many illnesses and diseases.
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I was diagnosed at age 39 with Type 1 and DKA and was hospitalized for a week. Even though I had lost 20 pounds, I was thin to begin with and brushed off the weight loss to my long walks every day. At the time I had just been promoted to a high pressure job with no training whatsoever, and that combined with my then boyfriend dumping me sent me over the edge. I do believe IDDM is triggered by stress, or at least that’s when it manifested itself in my case.
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Even though I was diagnosed at 15 years old, it wasn’t hereditary for me - no one in my family has diabetes. I do however remember that the treating Dr said it was brought on by stress and/or trauma. (I lived with abuse).
I thought I was the only one until reading your post, interesting to see stress can be a common reason for the onset.
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I was diagnosed at 54 after completing nursing school. Late bloomer. Had a hard time getting correct diagnosis. Kept saying type 2 to a slender person with no metabolic syndrome. I investigated on my own and received correct diagnosis after two years. A patient of mine who was a diabetes educator suggested maybe a virus. I think the stress of school probably a factor.
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I was diagnosed at age 60 approximately 6 weeks after completing Opdivo (immunotherapy) for melanoma. I presented with DKA and was in ICU for 3 days. The endocrinologist who consulted when I was in the hospital said he was told I had type 2. He quickly corrected that to Type 1.
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Diagnosed age 42 after my mother death and surgery
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Or a combination of both?
Probably. Really who knows why we develop autoimmune conditions. 15 years later developed Graves’ disease. Truly was worse than diabetes until went into remission. Also thyroid eye disease. Thankfully was able to receive infusions and eyes fine now. Take care and happy holidays
Jane
Jane Cerullo
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My mom was diagnosed type 2 in her mid sixty’s. Changed to type 1 after they realized her pancreas wasn’t working at all. No idea what caused it.
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Two of my older brothers were dx-ed in their 50s. My sister had an elevated fasting, but H1C was normal and no antibodies…yet. I was dx-ed at 11.
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I hope for your Mom’s sake that 98% of her pancreas is working just fine. The pancreas has 2 main functions, 5 endocrine cell types secreting 6 hormones for glucose regulation, exocrine function that produces and routes digestive hormones to the duodenum to complete the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
If it is type 1 and not type 3c pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus only one of the endocrine cells has been destroyed by the immune system, the Beta cells that secrete insulin and amylin.
T3cDM is usually caused by cancer, cystic fibrosis and severe pancreatitis. If you think T1DM is the worst, wrong. Depending upon the damage to the organ those with T3cDM will have to inject/infuse insulin, possibly supplement other hormones and take oral digestive supplements before every meal so that then can digest food.
I know I sound a bit pompous, but I feel it is important to be correct in our communications.
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I was diagnosed at 55 and no stress (at that time, bit stressful with the diagnosis). Best guess was I had an enterovirus infection sometime in the pass and the antibodies cross reacted. Note, that it takes quite sometime (years) for the immune system to kill off enough of the beta islet cells that you have symptoms. The time delay between immune disfunction and symptoms make it exceedingly difficult to link cause and effect.
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One thing to consider that LADA type 1 often has a fairly slow destruction of the Beta cells unlike type 1 in children. This can take years in some, they continue to make enough insulin to delay diagnosis.
Because of this, it can be difficult to identify a viral trigger that may have occurred quite some time ago. There is also the possibility that the viral trigger was asymptomatic or short term that one doesn’t make the connection.
As to stress causing T1DM, I doubt that. Stress could cause a sudden increase in blood glucose levels that overwhelms the ability of the few Beta cells capacity to deal with.
Stress no matter the cause will elevate BG even in those without our diseases. Usually the non-diabetics glucose regulation systems will deal with it. The exception is when there is extreme trauma such as open heart surgery or major injuries in an accident. This will usually be dealt with by a doctor or nurse testing BG and injecting insulin as needed. A very temporary thing.