I pretty much diagnosed myself at age 33, after having felt crappy and knowing something was just off for about 2 years. GPs and doctors at the emergency room alike (where I went because I felt dizzy, weak and had fallen over at work the day before) sent me home telling me I had psychosomatic symptoms. The best thing: They both did blood work, and a BS of 275 / fasting BS of 130 showed up but was overlooked (twice!!) because I guess I just didnt fit their profile of either T1 or T2. When I got home, desperate for answers, I looked through the bloodwork sheets myself and discovered the labs little star next to the 275*. I thought a star cant be good in this context, googled normal BS ranges and had my answer. I still get angry when I think of how disrespectful I was treated in the ER and when I imagine how much longer I might have wandered around with high BG if it hadn't been for my "hypochondriac" nature. Seems to me if you don't present with DKA as an adult, your just not worthy of a Diabetes T1 diagnosis. If only I lived in the states, maybe I could sue their arses. ;-)
I was diagnosed at age 9, but especially online, it seems most are diagnosed as adults.
When I was a teenager and only knew kids with Type 1, I always thought I was on the older end of the diagnosis spectrum. After hanging out in the DOC and meeting adults with Type 1 and finding that the vast majority are diagnosed as teenagers and adults, I think I'm on the younger end of the spectrum.
I was diagnosed at the age of 30 (2 1/2 years ago). Initially my family doctor diagnosed me as Type 2, but the endocrinologist said it was possible that my diabetes would evolve into more of a Type 1 possibly sometime in the next 10 years, kept my treatment with oral meds, diet and exercise.
My antibodies tests were positive. A few months later, the oral meds were nolonger effective and I started insulin therapy and with a diagnosis of Type 1 or LADA.
I didn't even get checked for DKA since the ER was like ehhh we're gonna treat you like a type 2 since type 1 treatment might be too much! or something. I mean I'm not sure but I think I was doing some Kussmaul breathing but I never received an iv or insulin or ANYTHING while in the ER despite the fact my sugar was at 249 mg/dL 6 hours after a meal...which was rare for me post dx even without insulin so I was in some danger there. I feel you on the "If you don't present with DKA as an adult, you're just not worthy of a type 1 diagnosis" thing. I wasn't really showing any symptoms other than the kussmaul breathing, fast heart rate (like my pulse was noticibly fast and the person looking at my monitor on my discharge was like hmm your heart is fast but no one did anything about it?) and abdominal pain...which could be confused with a panic attack or anxiety when I was also panicking when I arrived . I have to wonder at times if my GERD is actually pancreatic pain but I've never had that confirmed as the prilosec helped me.
"Type 2 Scenic Tour" Love it! I was 31 when first Dx'd - as having type 2. Obviously they only used the age criteria. I was recently retired ballet dancer, had gone form 110 to 95-100 lbs without dieting (I'm 5'6"), no family history of diabetes of any kind. But, to quote someone here on TuD, I was a member of the "great unwashed" and didn't know enough to question the Dx. It took being admitted to hospital in DKA for the attending Endo to tell "them" I had type 1. You are very lucky to have gotten the correct Dx right off. I'm not sure if it was the time when I was first Dx'd it was 1985 (Yeah I'm older) but knowing what I know now, I can't believe that failing the GTT test as I did they dx'd type 2!
Scenic tour is ONE WAY to describe it lol.
April Fools Day 2010, at age of 52! Out of blue, routine bs check at nearly 600! Boom, in hospital, have not stopped reeling since, waiting for the "Joke" to be over......
At first diagnosed as T2, but soon tested as LADA 1.5, which was not any comfort; diabetes is diabetes. I have now been on the pump for 13 months but continue to struggle to take hA1c down from 10 to 6.7, and back up to 8! It's such a mystery to me since not in my family. Maybe research will soon reveal a reason for people like us, why suddenly we kill off our own beta cells? Maybe even sooner, we can hope for islet cell transplant and get a possible cure, as I believe it is within our reach! Just TRY hard to stay on top of it! Hopefully you won't have to be as diligent as I have as I am considered extremely brittle! It's a way of life and you will find that EVERYTHING effects your blood sugar-everything! Good luck, get educated, and HANG ON!
She was dx'd at age 55.
April 1 - me too - but 1985. I do have some rather hopeful news, I recall a study wherein they were going to use stem cells on mice (there are a whole bunch of mice out there cured!). The scientists decided to try first to deal with the immune system issue. They were successful (for the mice anyway) in dealing with the immune system. And a few days later when they were going to start the stem cell therapy, they didn't need to. The beta cells recovered function. This research also fed into the idea that the immune system attack isn't a one-time big blast, but rather an ongoing onslaught. So I believe they are looking into an immune system based "cure". I recall another report that said that a trial regarding the immune system approach worked - even for some subjects who had had type 1 for 40 years! I'm not holding my breath, but I appreciate all the work that the universities and NIH are doing. We can't expect anything from Big Pharma - until they drug therapy for the immune issue is discovered - since we are cash coews - needing strips and insulin for our entire lives.
wow, thanks for that information, artwoman! I agree 100% about big pharma..... no cures coming from that direction! let's just keep eyes on this research.
Leg cramps!! I tried everything mentioned here, and had normal mag/potassium labs, had to resort to Quinine Sulfate, which I cant get here in US. My dr didn't flinch when I told her I was getting the pills from Canada! By far the most horrible symptoms of high bs!
I was 11 and my sister was 8...shes 4 years older than me. So, before I was diagnosed I knew what all was in store for me and I FREAKED out. I was hysterical that entire day then finally chilled out.
Im 26 about to be 27 and I have had 0 complications. Been a counselor at a diabetes camp since I was 17 and once you learn to take care of others, taking care of yourself is a breeze.
I was 34 when diagnosed type 1 on 11/1/12