I was just wondering because i need some inspiration. Are there any type 1 diabetics that have had the condition for years and very little if any complications? I just feel like everything i read ends in disaster!
I’m almost scared for your answers…
i’m feeling that way to. But it’s to come when one gets older, i figure it’s because our bodies can’t handle some things as we age and since we’re diabetic it’s bound to happen. I just don’t want to lose my eyesight
I believe that if you keep your blds within range you most probably won’t have any comlications whatsoever. I didn’t look after myself and put my body through absolute hell, I think it takes a lot for your body to break down, I believe its always striving for health and we tend to mess that up ourselves with some really daft decisions we make. I am not at all saying that we bring D on ourselves, I hope no one reads this wrong, what I mean to say that if you are good to your body, it’ll try its best to keep on track. At the beginning these complications sound really scary, just remember they take years to develope and can be avoided.
No Danny you’re spot on, it’s all about doing things in moderation.
Becca,
There are many members here who’ve had diabetes for a long time & are doing great. One member is 92:)
Don’t believe all the doom & gloom. No guarantees for anything in life, of course, but taking care of yourself is the best strategy. That’s my motivation. No matter how much of a pain it is & no matter how depressing/frustrating it gets, I do whatever I can to keep my BG in line because I’m terrified of complications.
Hello Becca
I think you’d be hard pushed to find any type 1 diabetic of long duration who has completely escaped ALL possible complications, including those that may be considered of “minor” impact. I’ve had type 1 for almost 30 years and the way I look at it is in terms of “degree of complication”. For example, am I or am I going blind? No, but I last had laser treatment about 8 - 10 years ago - nothing since. Microalbuminuria was another problem that reared its head about 8 - 10 years, but the consultants haven’t raised it as a massive worry and I keep on taking the ACE inhibitors and aspirin. Blood fats are another problem, but with the help of statins they also seem to be kept in check. I recently had frozen shoulder in the left shoulder (it was operated on by an orthopaedic surgeon last autumn) and unfortunately my right shoulder is now starting to go the same way. AFAIK frozen shoulder is not considered a diabetic complication (it’s coincidental!), but diabetics are more prone to it and so this does make me wonder.
All of the above, excluding perhaps the frozen shoulder depending on your point of view, are complications of one form or another, but I have not been affected to the frightening extent of losing my sight, having kidney failure, a stroke, heart attack, amputation …
I’ve been in the game for about 18 years now and so far, so good. i’ve been pretty mean to myself on a few occasions, but i guess i was lucky to be young enough to bounce back without my body flipping out on me. if you take care of yourself to the best of your abilities, i wouldn’t worry too much. unless something is pretty wrong (and you would more than likely realize this long before it becomes irreperable) the odds are that any complication would be more of a minor inconvenience. it’s just a matter of caring for yourself like anyone else should care for themselves. people without diabetes can put their bodies through hell and end up with complications from their chioces just as much as us.
frozen joints can also be genetic, though. i recently dealt with a frozen thumb and found out my grandmother (who has no diabetes from her side) had both thumbs frozen several years ago and that you can have a genetic predisposition. of course i have heard about the “diabetics are more prone” bit as well, so my doctor and i agreed that i had been doublely screwed on that one.
Becca,
Just do the best you can, and If you have slips, well, you are human and just pull yourself up again and start over, I have have type 1 for 16yrs. and I have had my fair share of good numbers and awful numbers, I have NO complications from diabetes. I have had other health issues NOT related to diabetes, and have overcome them. Look, as we age with or without diabetes most of us will have some health problems, it just happens and it is life…others do not have many problems.
You are young and smart, you will be okay. really…just take one day and one thing at a time. With the advances in medicine, and you being so young, your future is BRIGHT!!!
good luck.
On one hand I have said, Please don’t be scared but on the other hand it may be a Good thing to be scared in order to keep a Person in line to control/maintain their Diabetes. Sometimes it is a fight for sure.
I’ve had Type 1 for 47+ years. Richard has had it for 63 years. Olaf has had it for 64 years. The Cleveland Brothers are in their late 80’s/early 90’s and are doing okay(last I heard). There are many others. Yes, we’ve had complications mainly because we were not taught properly about this disease/condition properly or because as we age we may get similar complications non-Diabetics get from aging. I had laser on my left eye about 25 years ago. A few months ago my Ophtho told me, my eyes are remarkably stable. All my test results are Good. I have no major complications that I know of(touch wood). I am more concerned about my other autoimmune disease much more which I can’t control.
Anyways, you have to learn everything that you can and put into affective use all that will help you in your fight against Diabetes. And it is a fight because this disease is insidious. Good Luck!! 
17 years and no complications (knock on wood) yet. i had trigger finger in my pinkie last year but the orthopedic surgeon said it was from my job and not related to my diabetes in any way. i’m a pastry chef and i use my hands a lot to grip and squeeze. it was a repeatitive stress injury i was told. just work hard to keep your numbers down. it can be a pain but it will be soooo worth it!! good luck!!
Thanks for starting this thread! It’s good to hear encouraging news about diabetes, isn’t it? I’ve had it for 31 years along with low thyroid… I have two healthy children (challenging to be a pregnant diabetic, but the results were good), I got out of the habit of testing enough, but after a rocky December, I am now testing 6+ times day again.
No complications yet… some changes in my eyes but not enough for surgery.
My advice is: don’t EVER get out of the habit of testing…
I have been Diabetic for 17 years, and trust me nothing major. My A1C have not always been great either. Just keep your A1C in control and quit looking at all the negatives and keep positive thoughts in your head, good luck
Here’s the math:
36 years of diabetes
16 years of a fabulous marriage
1 outstanding son
4 jobs in service journalism, including my current & fave as editor of Diabetic Living magazine
outstanding cholesterol (75)
excellent blood pressure (100/60)
no protein in the urine
excellent sensation in feet and hands
1 early-stage cataract (only bothers me a bit at night) and minor retinopathy (no surgeries yet)
… and A1Cs all over the map. (I can keep it under 8 even if I test only once a day, but have trouble staying under 7 even when I test 8-10 times per day.)*
Disaster? No. Adventure? Yes.
*Disclaimer: I have been fortunate enough to have health-insurance coverage. So that means access to strips and meds and lab tests as needed. That makes a big difference, even if I haven’t always chosen to take full advantage of these assets.
I am impressed! How do you manage being a pastry chef and having diabetes?
Becca, I was diagnosed Dec. 71 for my 16th birthday. I have not always taken asgood of care of myself as I should and ignored the fact I had the D for a couple of years. God has blessed me with very little complications. I had a retnia scan a couple of Mo.s ago and it showed one anurisam but Dr did not think it was related to diabetes I am getting older you know.
What I have learned over the years is if I take good care of myself D included that I feel a lot better and have a lot more energy. Also we are all different.
Best of luck.
Andy
Hi Becca!!!
I was diagnosed in Dec of 1979!!! Almost 30 yrs!!!
I have a little background retinopathy and that is really it!!! So do not get discouraged!!! In today’s world, lots of technology to help you stay healthy!!!
yay!
Thank-you all for your replies. It’s got to be said, I’m glad to hear not eveybody is severly suffering & with a little control and focus it’s not all doom & gloom!
I’ve had T1 for 16 years this month. So far the only thing (not to make it sound like not being a big deal) I’m having problems with is my eyesight, and it isn’t terrible its just not the pristine 20/20 I enjoyed until last summer when I noticed I was having problems distinguishing things at distances. My A1C’s have never been terrible I would say for the first 7 years or so it averaged around 8. But since I went on the pump at the age of 15 they have been between 6-7.