Differences

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Differences

I was discussing the differences in expectations that I started with in 1974 and the expectations of people who are diagnosed today. The differences really are like day and night. It is difficult to believe that those of us Dx’d in the early 70’s and before were ever given such advice, in light of the differences I thought today I would do a bit of comparison. But, in doing so I can only discuss what I knew. I suspect others have more or less dramatic memories. I hope if you have such memories you will share them.

1974

Remember in 1970 we were at the “peak” of medical technology. My doctor reminded me that this was the best time in history to ever be Dx’d. I was 17 and really I thought to myself if we are at the pinnacle I am absolutely screwed.

I started on U 40 insulin and quickly (a couple of weeks) shifted to U70. I was given important instructions in using the clinitest and introduced to the recently released plastic syringe. I was taught about food exchanges, and told that p[umps may someday exist, but that it was unlikely I could ever use one. After all the pump would be implanted and would require surgery to refill the very large cartridge of insulin. If only the insulin could be developed. At any rate it was doubtful it ever would so I should get used to shots. Now I was fortunate that I was given 3 oranges (I ate 2) for injection practice. You have got to love those oranges.

On the last day of my week long visit to the hospital I was blessed to have an audience with the great local doctor who would in a way oversee my treatment. I was actually handed off to one of his compatriots who had a great way with children. That meant the doctor was female, 35 years younger and needed some patients. The great explained the facts of life to me.

He said, you will have a wonderful life until about 45. At that time you will likely experience complications. Blindness, kidney disease, pain in your extremities should all be expected. I was told to keep my clinitest below 4+ and I was told of the greatness of the measurement of blood sugar using urine samples. After all we were in the modern age of medicine.

I was told to expect death or at least disability by around 50 and in doing so if I was alive I might wish for death as opposed to fighting. Then the great doctor left and his associate, the female who I had never met, walked in and introduced herself. She handled the dismissal. Job done I was sent to ponder my fate.

2013

There is no talk of life span they are given instructions in carbohydrate counting, and no doubt they are told there is no better time to be a diabetic. I imagine they are told they are at the peak of medical discovery. I bet some doctors even use the word cure, whatever that means. Some people are not even put in the hospital though I suspect that is still uncommon. Parents, partners and patients are reassured about normal lives, told there is nothing they cannot do and given information about modern pumps, yes the ones we routinely use (not some space age pipe dream they want).

I imagine they still get an incredible orange the syringe some saline and the night to practice and push saline in the orange. At least I hope they do, I mean let’s face it tradition is tradition after all. Whereas I was told to stop eating sugar, todays diabetics are told about pita chips, crackers, and all the other high carb food items. Of course we are all given some instruction about lows, sand highs. But today’s diabetic is told about blood sugar testing, A1C, C-petide, and a host of diagnostic measures.

So do 2013 diabetics have it better? I doubt it. Yes they will live longer, do not have the longevity talk and they do not talk about limitations or speeding up life to be fulfilled. But just the same the type 1’s of today still get the “talk” about complications and ignoring the rules and hazards of lows and highs. Still given the choice, I would take today's introduction to the being a type 1 over the introduction I received. The plain and simple I hate the scale they gave me. Frankly it may not be better today, but thank goodness it is no worse.

-30-

Rick

2

i think it is better & easier today.when on the pump we can eat whenever we want & whatever we want, as long as we count carbs & take the appropriate amount of insulin.lasers prevent blindness, etc...that is my opinion.

3

1993

Misdiagnosed as a T2 (I was LADA). Got sick on T2 drugs. After about a year, I was put on insulin. The nurse stabbed me with a syringe full of saline solution; instructed me to do the same; so I did. That was my education. I nearly killed myself on a daily basis for about 3 years or so.

Then I went on a pump with a great CDE. Learned all about carb-counting and all that good stuff. I'm not on a pump anymore, but with the help of TuD, I no longer risk killing myself on a daily basis. Not usually, anyway. Three cheers for longevity!

4

Just my point of view. I think it is all relative to what you do and were you find yourself when you DX'd. I have been traveling the globe, to all the bad places the world has to offer. No doctors to speak off. Food unreliable to say the best. Okay so now what. It is too late in my life to change careers and do something else. A career change to do something were I have doctors and the correct food close at hand. A little catch 22 here. As it is earthier give it all up or manage the T2(maybe) maybe the best you can. Read up as much as you can and learn from others. Hope that you doing the right thing. Not many choices out there. So no matter what the year is or was not much would change for guys in my position. Well maybe the availabilty of information now is fantastic.There is not much tolerance for a weakness and I do not see it as one. It is something that has to be managed. I could have a bad back knee or something else that could really effect my fitness and ablility to do what I have always done.

5

Weren’t the 2 insulin strengths U-40 and U-80? I was diagnosed in 1958 before the plastic syringe. I wasn’t given an orange for injection practice. I learned to give my own injections at camp Sweeney near Gainesville, Texas. My mother tells me that the doctor treating me already though I had sustained kidney damage which turned out not to be true. Because of that I not only had sugar restricted but salt also. Contrary to predictions my main complications seem to be neuropathy, necrobiosis lipoidica and venous insufficiency.

6

Paul it may have been U880. I recall it being U70 but I might be wrong. It was not very for me on U70 / U80 before I was on U100.

Rick

7

I was diagnosed in 1991. Like you, I was told it was a great time to be diagnosed. Meters were common and becoming smaller. My first meter took something like 10 microlitres of blood (today's meters all take less than 1.0 microlitre) and counted down from 45 seconds, and had a memory of 10 tests with no time or date stamp. Blood had to be "dropped" onto the test strip without touching any other area, and you also could not touch the strip while removing it from its foil wrapper without damaging it. The depth on the lancet was changed by deciding between a cap with a large hole and a cap with a smaller hole.

I was started on one shot of NPH per day but quickly moved to two shots of R and NPH. I used syringes because insulin pens of the time could only do two unit increments, which wasn't precise enough for a kid. I did not learn about pumps until the later 1990s, and did not hear about carbohydrate counting until ever later. I tested four times a day, sometimes five if I felt low between test times. Stuck to a very rigid schedule of meals and snacks. Eating dinner half an hour late resulted in significant lows. Eating out required a major production of taking insulin at the regular time, then eating a snack, then eating the meal at the time that the group was meeting, say an hour or two later. Insulin was adjusted using a sliding scale, and I used exchanges when planning meals.

8

i did the same thing, more or less.