For those of us who have lived longer then predicted those many years ago have been fortunate. I've lived 53 years with this disease but experienced somewhat earlier complications. In the 1980s I experieced Neuropathy while still on animal insulin. Only when I learned in the 1990s how to control this disease was I able to get a grip on what Diabetes was all about. We were diagnosed in the dark ages of Diabetes and heavan only knows how we survived.
Joslin's study might eventually bring to the light why some of us survive and why we do. I also experienced some other complications in the 1980s like Retinapathy (sp?) for which I was fortunate to have laser treatments for. I don't have heart problems but do have kidney disease which was diagnosed in the 1990s. I don't believe that complications can be avoided but delayed with the education that should go along with diagnosis. We were not as fortunate as those who are diagnosed today, they have much more resources and information then we did.
When I compare the insulin of years ago to today's I prefer today's insulin. Although I'm now pumping and have been for many years compared to MIDI with animal insulin I prefer today. I too take more meds then years ago but I'm now older then years ago and so are you lol. Anyway Richard you have done well and keep up whatever you're doing to stay well....stay well as you can.
I am also from the diabetes dark ages (diagnosed in 1958). The only diabetes related condition I had in the first 5 yrs after diagnosis was skin lesions that I later found out are called necrobiosis lipodica. By the 80's after changing to biosynthetic insulin (human insulin then analogs) I had some mild neuropathy. Now the main complications are those associated with old age -- high blood pressure, cataracts, mild hearing loss. Something has protected me from more severe complications. One wonders if the contaminants like c-peptide in the animal insulin may have given some protection. Also, for a number of years I used u-80 strength insulin which may have been easier to dose when using smaller numbers of units.
There was a mouse study done in Brittan about 7 0r 8 years ago. They had 2 groups of diabetic mice. One got insulin the other got insulin and equal doses of C-peptide. The mice that got C- peptide had NO complications at all, where of the insulin only mice 35% had some complications.
I don't know if that has ever been trialed on people. I often thought that C-peptide had some function, it was always referred to as a byproduct of insulin production when I took biology. It think it does something to prevent those complications.
My theory why type 2 people get complications is that type 2s are insulin resistant and possibly C-peptide resistant too.
If it were available, I would take it. It is naturally occurring I don't think it could hurt.
Would Love to meet you. Every year I try and get there but unfortunately finances are a problem. I will try again this year I would love to meet everyone. Like you, I am just constantly amazed how we keep going. I think a lot has to do with sheer determination, not letting diabetes "get-to-you".
Sheila
Shhhhh Lathump we're not gonna say that. Hey I'm 18 and holding been holding onto that for years now! LOL!
Sheila, the medalists meet every two years. The next meeting will be in 2013.
Thanks for that report, Tim. Very interesting!
There is a company in California that has developed an injection for giving C-peptide, but it is not available to the general public. They have been working on the project for several years, and it has proved successful with human subjects.
Hi MegaMinx, I never took multiple shots of regular. I was on one shot per day of various beef/pork insulins for many many years. My NPH+R started about the same time as yours. My doctor would not approve of my pumping because I already had good A1c's. He said it would cause me to have too many really bad hypos. I went to another doctor (my first endo) in 2007 and started pumping that year. I have not needed assistance with a low since my first month of pumping.
Hi Richard. I never used multiple shots of regular insulin. I was started on one shot of NPH and like you started one shot of NPH + regular around the same time as you. I always felt that another shot of Regular would be good at night for me but had experienced too many lows in the middle of the night. There was no "fine tuning" of the insulin with the pumping of today. I too have been on the pump for a few years and I also find the Minimed CGM system great. Although not always accurate the very helpful thing I find is that I can see which direction my blood sugars are going. I am constantly amazed at how quickly BG can change. I was always under the mis-conception that BG's stayed steady at a certain number......I never seem to "flat-line" with the CGM. I always try explaining to those close to me that with the consistend up and down of my numbers how do they expect me to be "in a normal mood all the time" - that's a whole 'nother discussion.
Sheila
Yes, a previous endo I had did not accept this, and that was one of the reasons I changed endos a couple of years ago. I know that I feel so much better if my SD is less but I have an A1c that's a little higher. Right now, my A1c is hovering in the mid to upper 7s. For me, that's about as good as I can do without serious hypos. But my SD has come down and I feel better overall (when I compare myself to about a year ago). And feeling better has to mean something, right?
Sheila, I agree with you in regards to our mood changes. It's difficult for people who don't go through the changes we do to understand. For many years I didn't understand what was happening until I got more information regarding Diabetes...and that was only about 15 years ago.
If you take small steps and make gradual changes you can get your A1c below 6.5. That greatly decreases your having complications later on. I do agree that feeling better is very positive!
My mood changes for all kins of reasons. The trouble with that is my wife thinks any time it changes, I should test and see if I am high, or low.
Sometimes my husband thinks the same thoughts but most times I test on my own. Especially when I feel agistated or very moody and want to scream or cry.
Hi Richard 157, that's an interesting theory you have regarding beef/pork insulin. I've been Type 1 for close to 30 years and I got on the tail end of beef/pork inuslin, but was switched to the Human/synthetic insulins maybe a couple of years after diagnosis. I know up until the last year or so I have NO had good control. Kinda did what I wanted to do, but I too have remained complication free. I do have some neuropathy in my left foot, BUT it's not D related, its from injuries from a car accident years ago. I did just this last year have a bad case of cellulitis from a little cut on my toe. But no kidney, eye, cholesterol, blood pressure issues at all. Overall Im very healthy.
I always thought that it is harder having D if you are a woman, with all the hormonal changes we go through, every month, plus menopause ! I just thought I was a naturally moody person . I agree with Richard - my husband is always telling me to check my sugars.
I always said I am a very hard person to live with. My children just thought I was "crazy"..!!
Sheila
I'm pleased to hear about your good health, Christy. I have some mild neuropathy too, and I never have symptoms except in my left foot, like you. Mi neuropathy is due to diabetes, but it rarely bothers me.
