Type I diabetes was previously referred to as “Juvenile diabetes”. Even with the change in the identification many still view Type I as being something you get when you are a child or a very young adult. It is fairly rare for someone my age (44 when diagnosed) to be diagnosed with that form of the disease but it does happen and I’m proof. I was misdiagnosed based solely on my age for a couple of days with type II before they realized I was not responding to oral treatments and they got all the test results. A friend was at the hospital visiting me the night that they changed my diagnosis to Type I and she made a gasp and said “oh no you have the serious kind you poor thing”. First of all any type of diabetes is the “serious” kind. Second, I view myself very fortunate after reading from so many online who have had this since childhood. I was spared all the heartache of being a youth and growing up in this cruel world while battling this disease.
However getting diagnosed at this age has its own hurdles and social issues because when I share that I am newly diagnosed with type I often I get the look of disbelief. I’ve even had someone say to me that the doctors must be wrong because only children get that type. If I just share that I have type I then they usually ask how young was I when diagnosed and then comes the explanation and the look of confusion. Just as children are now being diagnosed with Type II there are adults who can and do get diagnosed with Type I.
In my opinion there needs to be a widespread effort to enhance public awareness of the new terms used for these forms of the disease as well as the changing data of those who are diagnosed. Technology has came a long way as far as media is concerned and we need to use it to our benefit so those children who are diagnosed with type II and those adults who get diagnosed with Type I don’t have to suffer in the social realm from the old stereotypes.
Denise: Their look of confusion may be from your stated age of 44. From looking at your picture, I thought you were much younger.
I am right there w/ you - although I envy the 12 years you have on me. I was just diagnosed at 32 w/ Type I (although my internist was just sure it was Type II solely based on my age and lack of DKA, until the meds didn’t work and the antibody tests showed up positive). I too am so thankful this happened at a later stage of life and not when I was young and “carefree”. I am doing my best to inform everyone around me that adult diabetes doesn’t mean Type II. Although some people still can’t get it through their thick skulls b/c everyone they know who was diagnosed as an adult has Type II.
Travis, that is very sweet. Thanks for the compliment. I’ve been told I look young. My daughter inlaw was asked if I was her sister LOL. I wish I felt younger LOL.
Kimberly Its true some people just don’t get it. A lot of people don’t even understand the differences between the two or get confused which type younger people usually get vs the type you get when older. Everyone has heard of diabetes but the actually know very little about it unless they know someone with it and even then at times.
I had a similar scenario, though I was 29 at diagnosis. I’m don’t like to explain the whole adult onset type I either and sometimes I get a little annoyed. But when I think about it, I had the same ideas about what was called Juvenille diabetes when I was growing and had a step brother with the disease. Have you heard of type 1.5?