I really don’t know what to expect and I’m so pissed off that this happened to me. I’ve always looked after myself relatively well, am fit and hit the gym everyday. My dad is a type 2 diabetic and he got diagnosed at 30 so I knew I had some sort of risk but this young I didn’t think this would happe
Here's my motto for T1:
This is not your fault, but it is your responsibility.
T1 is not caused by anything behavioral. It's bad genetic luck. Your treatment may look very different from your dad's. T2s can sometimes manage through diet and exercise and avoid both oral meds and insulin. T1 cannot be controlled without insulin - it is essential and we'd die without it. Oral meds don't apply to T1. The good news is that T1 is less limiting when it comes to diet. The basic rule is that you inject enough insulin to cover the grams of carbohydrates that you're eating. Your doctor will give you a ratio, e.g., 10 grams of carbohydrate to 1 unit of insulin. You'll get used to reading nutrition labels very quickly.
You will have to think about diabetes every single day and make countless decisio
Best advice I can give you, aside from what you've already received here, is make an effort to understand the difference between type 1 and type 2, and recognize that most others have no incentive to do the same. You'll receive a lot of treatment recommendations from both family and strangers, some of them well meaning, that won't apply to you because insulin deficiency isn't quite the same as insulin resistance.
I don't like long posts, so I’m going to give you the short and sweet answer list style:
You will have certain limits. Learn what they are and come to accept them and live a full life regardless of them.
I’ve always looked after myself relatively well, am fit and hit the gym everyday.
Lifestyle is NOT a risk factor for Type 1. Period.
Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. The immune system gets trigger happy and attacks & destroys the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. It's a very different condition that the much more common Type 2.
Most "common knowledge" about diabetes is specific to type 2, and a large chunk of it is even wrong about that.
You should probably try to forget and un-learn literally everything you "know" about diabetes up till now.
My dad is a type 2 diabetic and he got diagnosed at 30 so I knew I had some sort of risk
A family history of Type 2 would be a risk factor for Type 2.. but is not related to your Type 1, as they are totally different diseases.
Bec
It's understandable and reasonable to be angry. I was diagnosed on my 24th birthday (41 now with no issues). Same thing, healthy and fit until I wasn't... You're going to want to find a good endocrinologist who is T1D or works with a lot of T1D patients. It is a complex disease and it really helps to have someone who can walk you through options without needing to educate themselves, or worse thinking they understand when they don't.
Technology is your friend. There are apps to figure out how much insulin you have on board, how much you should take. And track food, at least for the first little bit. As you're getting used to things. What your blood sugar does when you eat foods. Positive is that unlike your dad as a type 2 diabetic, a type 1 diabetic can eat whatever they want. As long
Thank you for your support and your comment. It helps to know I’m not alone in this. Also it’s a huge relief that I’m still able to eat what I want as long as I take insulin 😂
Not only can you still eat what you want, you have an EXCUSE to eat sweets when your blood sugar is low haha
Just to say that there’s no prevention of type 1. Do not blame yourself. There are lots of folks in your age group on the type 1 subs that can share lived experiences about type 1. Grieving and feeling angry is a normal part of diagnosis. Take it one day at a time and get a CGM if you have access to that. Have an endocrinologist as well.
I feel you dude. I got diagnosed (type 1) when I was 23 with no history of it in my family. You are going to learn more about food than you ever wanted too, but tracking your macronutrients is what you need to focus on. Once you look at enough nutrition labels, you won’t need to be so precise. You’ll get good at estimating and dosing the right amount of insulin without doing the whole calculation thing. There are a bunch of food tracking apps but my favorite is Cronometer. I highly highly recommend getting Cronometer (or another app but really this one is the best oh and it’s free). You don’t have to log all your food if that sounds like a lot, but it allows you to look up any food and see the net carbs for any size serving you enter. Especially helpful for fruits and veggies that don’t co
I appreciate your comment a lot bro. I’m just very intimidated with all the stuff I’ll need to learn it seems very overwhelming and ik it’s gonna be hard but hopefully things will seem easier overtime. It’s gonna be a long road ahead but I’m gonna try and keep my chin up.
It is a lot but you’ve got the rest of your life to figure it out ¯_(ツ)_/¯ hahah. Good luck dude
When I was first diagnosed I felt lost and angry too. I learned slowly that insulin and routine don’t cage you, they guide you. I still hit the gym and travel, just smarter.
Ok mate, welcome to the club. First rule, stay calm and carry on. Second rule is life will be different, but also grand. Good luck!