Congrats on your 30 years Chris. That is an Admirable number of years with this disease. 
We have to realize that since we live in a global world most of us have viewed Life in other countries as well as our own. Most of the general public also have or know of Family Members years ago and still today who have passed early or are not doing Good with this disease.
Most of my Type 2 Aunts and Uncles died within 16 years of being dxd. And that wasnāt that long ago. A lot of Diabetics around the world still die every day and Adults and Childrenā¦right here in North America. Tthat is one reason why we, as Diabetics are not expected to live Very long. So Yaā¦they are surprised when they meet someone who is still alive and especially still doing Well after 30 years. So, you are Special.
I was told years later when I was 8, that I would be blind by age 19 and would probably need amputations and only survive to age 30-35 which seemed old to me at the time. 
So I didnāt worry about it but the tiny thought of looming danger was always in the back of my mind. When I was 25 I needed laser treatments for Retinopathy. I told one of my Best Friends that I could go blind. Since she knew little about Diabetes she immediately went out and got me some braille cards cuz she knew that I Loved reading. I actually tried to learn to read braille. Okay. I sucked at that, so I threw the cards in a box. I thought to myself āthat aināt gonna happenā. Strangely, I still have the braille cards but me and my baby blues are still doing Good. TW Stay strong and keep learning.
Hello Chris UK:
LOLā¦ apparently soā¦ any new āwhite coatsā make me bite my tongue pretty hard;
"ā¦See, yup, all my parts workā¦ and yes, I am aliveā¦ no complicationsā¦ really truly!!!.."
And its 4 decades here +/-ā¦ ; )
Stuart
Oh man! I agree with you; Iāve had it since before I was 1 years old. So as a 22 year old I tend to say Iāve had type 1 for 22 years. this is the comment I get " My god! that sounds dramatic, just say youāve had it all your life," a comment made by at-least 2 people. the number is rather large but I take honor in battling this disease and getting great results for many years. BTW you are NOT OLD!
I was 18 when I was diagnosed T1 and I am 51 today. I feel great and people say I donāt look my age. Donāt get me wrong I love and eat deserts (in moderation), but I donāt smoke and am religious about working out 3 times a week, eating healthy, and watching my blood glucose levels (my A1Cās having always been in the 5 to 6 range). I fully believe and hopefully proved, that typical a T1 (there are exceptions) can be as healthy as any non-diabetic. My major concern was the risk of hypoglycemic shock from making a mistake on a insulin dosage or the dangers of trying to keep blood sugars levels in the ānormalā non-diabetic range. One of the most important things that happened to me last year that has greatly helped me to reduce those concerns and I feel will be a big factor in continuing my good health for another 30 years, was getting a CGM. I equivocate the importance of this to when I got my first blood glucose monitor. I hope these things come down in price soon so every diabetic can afford to have one. One thing I havenāt done yet is to use a pump but so far my control with injections has worked great.
Thanks for post Mike and Happy Birthday! I too have found use of Dexcom CGM device life changing interms of control. I live in UK and am one of only a few using this. Am also on shots not pump which most diabetics using CGM are on. Good luck for the next 30 yrs Mike.
Iāve posted it here somewhere before but you young āwhipper snappersā have no idea what old isā¦yet.
If I make it to March 15, 2011, I will have been on insulin as a Type 1 for 52 years. I am now 56 and the doctors in 1959 told my parents that I probably wouldnāt live to see age six or 10 at the best. Ha - I got the last laugh, I outlived all of the docs!
Also, people have a strange look in the eyes when they find out Iām āDā and have been for so long. I always say something like, āYes, I have all of my toes and Iāve never even seen a dialysis machine.ā Usually gets either a laugh or a stranger look.
Chris:
In the past 30 years was a kind of high water mark. I know when I was diagnosed at 17, the doctor made a point of saying that I could probably expect a relatively normal life for about 30 years. Well it has now been 36 years, and I think if the doctor were still alive, he would be surprised at the technology differences.
To give a reference point, when my aunt was diagnosed at 10 she lived until she was 13. My mom was diagnosed at 24 and lived until she was 48, I was diagnosed at 17 and am here and typing (something my mom could never have done past her 40th birthday) at age 53.
It is not to say that being a 36 diabetic is special today. I admire the Joslin medal winners who have made it 50 years and more. I just believe the social understanding has not kept up with technoloigy.
rick phillips