Hi everyone, I went to the doctor today and they checked my A1C, was 13.5. not good at all. havent had insulin in 3 months. Bad on my part. Im 29 years old and was diagnosed in 2002. 3 days before my favorite holiday. I struggle with having it. I pretend I dont. I know I shouldnt and now here I am. I am working on getting a pump. I hate shots, I hate needles, why do I have to have this? I have diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia as well.
I would take insulin. I don't really mind shots however serious complications are pretty grisly. I'd certainly prefer an alternative but the long-term prospects for T1 w/o insulin are what, about 4 years, like Elizabeth Hughes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWVuCDQKB5k
Of course, "in the long run, we are all dead..." but I'd prefer to avoid it for a while.
Jenny, I assume you are posting because you want to do something about it. I also assume you know that you are risking cutting your life short. "Why do I have to have this?" is not a question anybody can answer. What we can do is help you to live the best life you can despite having it. To do that you need to manage your condition. I know it is a lot but start somewhere. Go to the doctor and develop a plan. Working on getting a pump is great, but pumps don't solve your problems. You still need to do the work. So while you are waiting to find out about the pump I suggest you start using insulin and developing your I:C ratios, basals and ISF. Start counting carbs to determine your insulin dose. An endo, cde and dietician can help you get started.
I never heard of a type 1 that could go 3 months with no insulin. I go into acidosis after just a few hours with no insulin.You were diagnosed in 2002, That is 10 years. Your body must be making some insulin still. Otherwise I think you would be dead.
I'm a Type 1, Timothy and I went 15 months without insulin. That's because I'm LADA which is a slower onset of Type 1. Ten years is a long time though.
Jenny- We all hate D,and we all ask why do I have to have this. But we do have it just like you do. Neglecting your D will not make it go away, it will only cause you to develop complications. Your neuropathy is a complication of neglecting your D and having high BG levels, as shown by your A1c. If you want to turn things around start by testing your BG with a meter. If you don't have one, buy one. Get an Rx for the test strips. We can only help you if you start to help yourself. We give support to any member who tries to get back on track by doing the things you know you should do to keep your BG in range. We are always here to listen to your ranting about D.
Hi Jenny,
Many have had their diabetic neuropathy recede when they got their blood glucose into the normal range and kept it there. You need to know that a pump has a needle, too, so if you hate shots, you may not like all the work of a pump.
While you're waiting, get the book "Pumping insulin" by Walsh. Getting into the math and into how insulin works can help shrug the denial away. It gets interesting, in fact, fascinating! In fact, it's your body at work!
Meanwhile you can also be finding out just how much insulin is needed for a small number of bread carbs and how much is needed for a handful of blueberries, and you can start your own list of how much these small amounts of food jack up your blood glucose. Getting into some of the workings can help you be ready for pump use.
Jenny, you're starting to call it quits to denial. I know you'll get it all under control. Let us know how you're doing with it! We're in this with you!
Yes, living with T1 stinks. But you can either deal with it or not. At 29 years old, it is really your choice. If you deal with it and manage it properly, you can live a long, healthy life. Yes, it is possible! T1s are living longer and healthier than ever and that's because we have the tools.
There are T1 children and adults throughout the world who don't have access to insulin. There are people who can get insulin, but then can't keep it cool so it goes bad. I've seen people post on this forum from places like India and Bangladesh who aren't able to test more than once or twice a day because test strips are so expensive and can't even begin to imagine getting a pump because they aren't available where they live.
No one likes shots, but I refuse to create a pity party for myself because I have to give myself a few shots every day or change a pump site every three. These are simply the things I have to do to keep myself alive. And I know I'm lucky because 90 years ago, I would have simply died as a child. Do I wish I didn't have diabetes? Absolutely. But I have it and that's not going to change, so there is no use sitting around wishing it away. Just not going to work.
And you can do the same. If we all do it, you can do it too.
If you're a T1, you have to take insulin, so start there. And when you have questions, come here, because there are plenty of people who can answer them.
You are young enough that if you start doing what you need to do, any complications you have very well may get better.