I was diagnosed in 1970. I wasn’t sick before, I was not breast fed, lived in the Midwest so got plenty of sun. The list could go on and on about all the things that have been thrown out there that might have caused type 1 diabetes. And here I am still, 50+ years later with no answer as to why me? Did my parents do something? Did I eat something? Did I play in the wrong field? No idea! And I just can’t worry about it. I know my parents though about it those first few months wondering what they did, but they came to realize no one had any idea back than and they really still don’t know.
We had to turn our family life upside down but quickly got a handle on it and I had the same normal childhood everyone else did. School, sports, sleepovers etc.
yes, things were different but it became our new normal.
My family has always been very supportive and helpful but my diabetes has ever made it impossible to do things. Do I have to take some different steps when going out on a family trip, sure! But it is our normal and is not a big deal.
I just think about what my parents had to do to keep me happy and healthy vs what I have now! My parents would have been so much less stressed if I had a CGM, blood testing meters, insulin pumps etc.
This disease is not fun. No disease is but I do find my diabetes so much less stressful than it was 50 years ago.
I am hoping you can find yourself a good therapist who can help you come to grips with your diagnosis. At this point, accepting it is all you can do if you what to lead a happy, healthy life. There is nothing wrong with asking for help.
Figuring out what causes it, is not for us. It’s for the next generation. If we can figure it out, we can spare our kids and grand kids the world of type1.
I was the only one of 4 who wasn’t breast fed in my family.
But it’s not as simple as that. I think it’s a perfect storm thing. A lot of different factors happening at one time.
Some virus infections have been implicated as possible triggers of T2DM. Some may go unnoticed or forgotten as the destruction of Beta cells is not instantaneous.
I am pretty sure it was Jan’s fault. She sat beside me in HS algebra. Yep she created several issues in my life. I think diabetes may have been the least of them. (back to my corner)
Kidding aside…Bottom line is nobody will ever know if the medicine played a role in my diabetes development…it probably would never develop if I were not on the meds…the meds created the perfect storm in my body……I will have to live with the guilt my entire life. Thank you
I’ve been there
SSSRI / SNRI medications are given for mood disorders, depression most commonly although often anxiety.
A hallmark of depression is (unwarranted) guilt. An overwhelming sense of being deficient and responsible for things that aren’t realistically true.
You will also see people express significant feelings of remorse and regret for past actions. This again can be an opportunity to learn and change but you CAN’T change the past. It’s like being stuck.
Depression can be totally disabling. The best treatments have less than 50% efficacy, and some treatments can make things worse. Effexor, for example, has truly earful withdrawal that can go on for weeks. Prozac, usually less do. All these drugs can have unintended consequences. Yet you need to try; to go with the state of knowledge you have at the time.
In a big way, diabetes is less of a burden than depression. You take insulin: you go on with your life.
I don’t know how to get beyond guilt. It is a burden!!
For some of us, maybe it’s part of our makeup. But having good people to talk to helps a lot. Maybe having supportive, if “anonymous” posters on this internet discussion helps a small bit, too. I certainly hope so.
I’ve heard that type 1 s have more depression than type2 and we all have more depression than the public at large.
It’s probably because our metabolism is out of whack, but I don’t know really. I don’t think I’ve been clinically depressed.
Exasperated, fed up , exhausted and irritated, yes a lot.
I was clinically depressed from age 19 to 34. Antidepressants were helpful. Type 1 diabetes since the age of 8. Clinical depression for me was much worse than diabetes. With diabetes one can have a hopeful meaningful life. With severe depression you live in a black hole of existence.
Depression is treatable and curable
ABSOLUTELY!
it just doesn’t feel that way if you’re in the depths of it. and it isn’t always curable for everyone.
I was depressed a few years before I got DM not afterward
No, you don’t, There is only a miniscule possibility that the drugs caused your diabetes. There are a myriad number of other things that might have caused it.
Guilt depends on intent, even if the drugs are at fault, I am sure you did not intend to give yourself diabetes. Even if the drugs are to blame, you didn’t know. You are not guilty of the charge you have placed upon yourself.
If you want to blame something, blame lack of knowledge. To this date the cause of T1 diabetes is not known. For your own peace of mind let this guilt you feel go.
To me this makes sense. In order to get T1D you need to win this lottery. We don’t know the code. Doctors don’t know the code. It could be anything. In my code I have strong reason to assume that the tablets finally ‘nailed’ that code and got me into this disease…
Shame but not really guilty bc who could have known
Feel stupid and little guilty bc these tablets were not necessary altogether and my family where are natural people are really against these medicines (even when needed) I took cause I was young and thought it was a good idea.
Life moves on…
Anybody else with similar story?
Anybody else with such experience of taking a drug and soon after developing type 1 diabetes. I think the meds don’t directly cause type 1 but they can indirectly. I am not saying it causes it for everyone and always but it most probably had a role to play in my diabetes development.
Studies need to be done I think to figure that out. There is no obvious connection, at least that I can tell.
But depression is known to cause havoc on our immune systems. I was not taking any meds when I was diagnosed, but I was under tremendous stress with finals for school. It was the first time in my life where I felt that level of stress and then pow I got type 1. I can’t really create a causation from this data of just 1, but I feel it contributed to it
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This wasn’t me but my dog. He had some skin irritation so I took him to the vet. He gave him a shot of Prednisone. Within a few days Pepper had symptoms of Type 1 diabetes (fortunately, I know what they look like) Sure enough, he had diabetes with a blood glucose of over 600. Doctor said, “Yeah, sometimes that happens with Prednisone.” Thanks, doc, couldn’t we have tried some else first? I gave Pepper insulin until he died.
Martinb:
So, I had been on MAO inhibitors before I developed T2. Could they have caused it? Sure, especially since they caused a 25 pound weight gain. On the other hand, if I hadn’t taken them, I’d probably have been dead many years ago, because I’d already had one failed suicide attempt. So, I’ve been alive for 45 years since then, and have had diabetes for 40 years (and probably a couple of years before diagnosis). Been insulin dependent for 34 years, and on a pump for 22 years. Would I go back and choose not to take MAO inhibitors? Heck, NO! Life, even with D, is way better than being dead. In fact, life even with D is pretty darn good! And frankly, I don’t care what caused the diabetes. Of all the medical issues I’ve had to deal with, diabetes is probably the easiest.
Oh, that is heartbreaking. I hope he or she lived a long life despite needing insulin. I’ve had many dogs on prednisone temporarily over the years, as well as myself, but never knew it could cause diabetes.
Prednisone, likely did not give poor pepper T1D. Any prednisone will significantly elevate Blood glucose. It happens in humans as well any mammal .
Here are two blog posts about using human meters with pets. I am so sorry about pepper. Maybe the attached information will be helpful to others in a similar situation.