I am disappointed and confused. 70 yrs old and was dx with type 1 at age 8 in 1959.
I have done relatively well with complications, although I have had plenty of problems with my hands, but not in the last 10 or so years.
I tested my urine for 22 yrs. I was almost in a coma when dx, but was only in the hospital for 3 days. I don’t remember getting any training on how to take care of myself except for being given an orange on which I was supposed to practice giving injections. My
parents were given very little instruction either. Our doctor, whom I saw until I was 19 did not believe in strict control, because he believed that too tight of control was too hard for children. I took one shot, and always ate on time.
Then I was 30 my eyes started flashing and I was dx with the beginnings of retinopathy. My first A1c was 10. I bought a huge glucose monitor and quickly brought my A1c down to under 7. My eyes cleared up and stayed completely clear until last week.
About 16 yrs ago I started following Dr Bernstein, and kept my A1c extremely low by eating 30 carbs a day. I did this for 11 yrs. After 50 yrs with diabetes I suddenly needed two heart stents. Why, I don’t know. My LDL was very high on the Bernstein woe, but because my triglycerides were about 36 and my HDL was almost 100 I thought I was safe from heart disease. My A1c was 4.6 at the time I received stents.
Eventually I started following the Mastering Diabetes way of eating and changed to a plant based low fat diet. My particular body likes this way of eating better, although the Bernstein diet works well for many.
I have never had diabetic neuropathy or gastroparesis.
Last week I suddenly had blood in my eye and now have retinopathy. I had laser work yesterday and tomorrow I will have ablation on that eye. Right now, I just try to see through the blood.
I never, ever thought I would have another serious diabetic complication. I have had one A1c of 5.8 in the last 17 yrs. The rest have been 4.6 to 5.4. For 30yrs before that my A1c’s were usually around 6.5.
I don’t really understand why I now have retinopathy. I REALLY don’t understand why some other type 1’s who don’t work nearly as hard as I do at keeping excellent control are complication free even after 50+ years of type 1 diabetes. They have much higher A1c’s. My TIR is also very good.
I know that many,many diabetics never make it to the age of 70. I am very fortunate, I realize that. I know type 1 diabetics who died at much younger ages.
Mostly I am just frustrated, so I am venting. I wondering if my kidneys will go
next.
I had more laser treatments on my eye yesterday, so that my aneurism could be cauterized. My eye did not feel good yesterday, but is fine today. Hopefully the blood will clear up in a month or so, and my vision will return to normal.
I know that I will be ok. I will learn to live with this new situation, I am just shocked that it happened.