hi i was diagnosed at 26. i was also terrified but it will get easier. just make sure you have glucose with you at all times especially when you are home alone to help with the hypos. best of luck.
Spock,researchers are starting to come around to the idea that type 2 is a immune system disorder as well.And there are type 2 diabetics who use insulin,in fact Spock it is now recommended that type 2 diabetics start insulin sooner rather than later to preserve what beta cell function they have left.Type 2 is more complicated than type 1.I find it pathetic that type 1 and type 2 diabetics fight over which type is worse and type 2 diabetes is rampant on both sides of my family.
Andrea,
I may have missed this in all the supporting replies. I always wear a T1 medical necklace. There are a variety of attractive options in personal medical jewelry. Another suggestion is to get one of the many "In Case of Emergency" apps for your phone. These apps let medical people access the information you store, even if your phone is locked. I have never had to use either but it gives me peace of mind in case I get a surprise "low".
An analogy might help as well. In blue water (offshore) sailing - accidents happen to experienced sailors not to beginners. Beginners are very careful and always keep one hand holding onto something secure. That has been my experience both in racing and in diabetes. I have had more severe lows in the last 5 years because I got cocky and overconfident.
Andrea, I was diagnosed at twenty which now was three years ago and I really know how scary it can be. I want to say that it gets better but the truth is that it becomes part of your life. I was just talking to my dad the other day and we were saying that with diabetes (because I could be taking better care of mine) is like anything else you have to accept this is your life and move on and that takes time. It took time for my family and I to really accept that I had diabetes and that it was not going to go away no matter what I did but when you accept that you have to eat right, exercize, check and take your insulin every day and that it is part of your daily routine then it becomes your new "normal". Make friends with endo, I love my endo she has worked magic with my insulin intake and my diabetes management. When you have a crisis whether it be little or big make sure you have someone you can call and talk to whether it be your doctor because your sugars have been trending low or a friend because the high sugars or diabetes in general plus work or school has just become too much that is really important you need someone to lean on. Come in here I have only been in here a couple of days but the people here understand some of the stuff that you are going through I mean I am always here if you have questions or want to talk because I know what it is like to be diagnosed at twenty and it is hard
thats an excellent analogy and very true, i suppose for a lot of us. being terrified in the beginning made me so careful. there is a lot more winging it going on now, but educated winging...
You might find it a little less pathetic if you were in the Type 1 boat, with absolutely zero chance to cure yourself with diet and exercise.
yeah I feel you i was dx 10 months ago i was 29 im 30 now seemed like everyone was a child but not me or you i guess were special like that my life changed and still is changing they say it will be like brushing your teeth after you get use to it so im sure we will adapt i live alone too tell your doctor to percribe you a puppy lol
Hi and welcome to the club. This clubs sucks, but dont worry it gets easier! :) I was diagnosed when I was 16, spent a week in the hospital feeling like crap and trying to comprehend everything that was going on and adjust. I went in with a sugar of 700 and had the doctor completely amazed at the fact that I wasnt in a coma. It took me some time to get back to my normal routine of being active and not afraid to leave the house. Preparation and learning your warning signs are the best advice that I can give you. Diabetes and I will be celebrating our 8 year anniversary this July, and since being diagnosed I have only had to be hospitalized once and that was almost 2 years ago for it. I am active, I travel, and I more or less do what I want. The beginning is hard but like I said it gets easier. Till this day I have my off days, struggle with highs and lows, frustration annoyance and everything else that comes with this, just like everyone else. Its good that you check your sugars so often, pay attention to how you feel when your in ranges, your lows regulars and highs. It might help you not be as stressed out if you can differentiate what your body is telling you.
How do you take your insulin? needles? prefilled pens? pump?; Me personally I started out with needles, got fed up with that and switched to the flex pen and 5 years later finally was brave enough and fed up enough and asked for the pump. I wish I hadnt been so afraid of the pump and would have started out on that. But everything is new and overwhelming. My mom bought me some books that were helpful, but everything else was just trial and error for me. I didnt know about this site until about 2 days ago and didnt really talk to anyone about it. I have a high stress fast paced job and it has never affected me at work and the majority of the folks that I have worked with still dont know that I have it and my friends forget because I dont let it stop me. It takes time and can seem like the end of the world, dont let it beat you. If there is anything I can do to help please reach out.
* 3 years later on the pump it should read, not 5. lol. and sry my response was so long. Its just nice to be able to relate with others about what I went through.