Do you think Type 1 Diabetes is an easy disease to have?

[fedupofthisshite]

I am just curious about what people think, what their impressions are. "Diabetes" is frequently used as the punchline for a joke about some unhealthy food, and while this is mostly aimed at Type 2 (I feel nothing but sympathy for Type 2 people as well, btw and just wish the jokes would stop) it's still quite shit because it seems like everyone thinks diabetes in general is something pathetic that you snigger at.

I have Type 1 almost 30 years and still get days where I fucking hate it so much. Today is one of those days...

It has taken an awful lot from me and I wonder what my life would be like otherwise.

No, not my friends, absolutely they wouldn't laugh!

But plenty of people do make shitty jokey remarks about it.

Loads of stuff on social media labelled "diabetes in a cup!" for example.

A reference to "diabetes in a box" on the Netflix show Wednesday when she's in a fudge shop.

Jamie Oliver years ago, posed with a mock up Coke can with "Diabetes" written on it in the Coke script. I know a small Type 1 boy who came home in tears after the jeering over that one, kids can be horrible to each other.

It is just socially acceptable to quip about diabetes in general.

GD is getting an insulin pump. Not a closed loop one, she made the decision herself bless her.
She recognises when she’s having a hypo, she says her tummy is shaking, sure enough she’s right.

Or is it more likely she was a teen with inadequate support (medical, emotional, or social or a combination) trying to manage a serious disease, becoming overwhelmed and burying her head in the sand?

This is so true ! I used to see a lot of young diabetics who were routinely admitted to hospital due to poor glycemic control and most needed proper psychological help as much as medical help.

I actually think T1 diabetics can be the worst offenders when it comes to sticking the boot in about T2 - just look at some of the comments on this thread.

Very much not. My sister has very hard-to-control T1D and it's a deciding factor in pretty much everything she does. You have my sympathies.

OP I am so sorry you are having a down day today.

You are right. Diabetes is so hard to live with. It’s like all the demands of a non sleeping, colicky new born with non of the joy. It’s a 24/7 job with no sick leave or annual leave. No pay. No thanks. On top of that, lots of the tasks are unpleasant or painful. It’s intrusive in so many ways.

It is all about numbers, so gives the illusion of it being black and white/right or wrong. The idea that if you just work hard enough, you’ll be able to get your blood glucose between 4-7. It gives the illusion it can be perfect. Bollocks. There are 42 things that can effect BG and you can control very few of them.

It can leave people feeling shame and guilt when the numbers aren’t ‘right’. It can get in the way of so many aspects of life - relationship to food, relationship to body, relationships with others etc.

Its shit. You didn’t deserve to get it. No one does.

But, one thing I do know is that there isn’t a single person living with T1 that isn’t bloody amazing. Every little bit of T1 diabetes care is an amazing feat. You are performing the function of one of your internal organs!! Who else, other than those in the T1 club, can say that?!

Just as those not living with T1 (pancreas dependent people) don’t get how hard it is, I don’t think people living with T1 truly recognise the awesomeness of what they are doing. It’s so impressive yet it quickly feels run of the mill. Just another BG check, just another bolus etc.

On top of performing the function of an internal organ, they also go to school/college/work, have families, hobbies etc. it’s so impressive.

People with T1 have medical knowledge way over and above the norm too. They have to overcome their bodies natural instinct not to insert sharp objects into their skin.

So many things about people in the T1 club are amazing IMHO.

I hope that this down phase passes soon OP. You are amazing.

It must be so frustrating, type 1 is really serious and needs complex and lifelong management yet it is lumped in with type 2. Type 2 is preventable and reversible with weight loss new research has shown. Type 1 is not reversible.

They really should rename type 2 to something to stop the confusion.

I definitely don’t think it’s easy! There are some proven links between lifestyle and type 2 though, of course not everyone but some people. It’s a shame type 1 and type 2 get mixed up

Definitely not!

@Janiie , T2 isn’t always caused by poor diet and lifestyle and it’s not always reversible. My DH has never been overweight and is very fit. Diagnosed at 34, he has suffered from DKA and is now (in his 50s) on insulin.

Damage to the pancreas can cause type 3c diabetes, I have had part of my pancreas removed during a whipple procedure and I'm at risk if type 3c, a lot of doctors aren't even aware of this rare type, might be worth finding out of yours is actually type 2 or type 3c which behaves more like type 1

Most type 2s are overweight. Most type 2s can improve blood sugars with exercise and diet. Of course there'll be the odd exception like your dh but generally it is a lifestyle disease.

Those with type 1 are in a different ballpark completely to type 2s. The names needs changing. Used to be iddm and niddm (insulin dependent diabetic/non insulin dependent) years ago I think that made the difference a bit clearer.

Definitely not. My DH is type 1 and I have witnessed lots of horrors that can happen, he nearly died from DKA.

It rules his life where every decision needs to be made with diabetes in mind.

Definitely don't think it's easy. My friend has it and I see what she copes with.

I also loathe the type 2 jokes. Always did. And even more so now I am on strong steroids for a rare condition and they come with a high risk I will develop T2. I was very slim and healthy before I got ill. Its bad enough being ill without knowing people are hoiking up their judgy pants

My son was diagnosed with type 3c in February he had a DKA,at home (we had no.idea there was anything wrong with his pancreas) and was rushed to hospital,and transferred to critical care,when they scanned him they found his pancreas was inflamed and Necrotic, he's only 16 and we have no.idea why this happened ,he's insulin dependent and also.had to.take medication to help digest food.

@Janiie , I do know it’s different-read my earlier post about the struggles my DH has had managing his hypos! I don’t know what proportion of T2s are overweight (do you?) but it’s definitely incorrect to say they all are, which is what you implied by saying ‘Type 2 is preventable and reversible with weight loss new research has shown’. (We knew that over 20 years ago actually, but it only works for some T2s).

@THisbackwithavengeance you should leave this thread now because you’re embarrassing yourself.

I hear jokes about it on Tv, from coworkers, radio, even song lyrics (WAP) all the time. All the time. There was a thread from a woman on here last week complaining about a big family Ramadan and her family all want to eat “diabetes inducing food”. Food doesn’t “induce” T1 diabetes.

1. Again, can all the Type 2s go away please? This is a thread for T1s. I am literally sick to death of hearing about how hard T2s have it. I don’t care. Go complain on a thread for another disease or even better start your own. The title of this thread clearly says T1. You wouldn’t barge into a thread about cancer complaining about your T2.

2. If you’re on here confusing T1 and T2 also go away. You’re part of the problem.

3. If you’re on here minimizing T1 in anyway “oh my cat had it” “oh my grandma’s orthodontist had it in 1821 and he was fine!” “My hamster had it and never complained!” Go away you’re part of the problem.

4. If you’re on here and you don’t have T1 and you’re saying you’ve never heard people “joke” about diabetes go away you’re part of the problem.

5. If you’re on here offering fucking diet advice and you don’t have T1 seriously GTFO you’re part of the problem.

So many of the responses on here have been exactly what the OP is talking about.

My cousin had T1 diabetes. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly once when his blood sugar was out of whack - ended up in hospital for a week. Fortunately the booking in sergeant noticed his SOS pendant and called for an ambulance. We made a complaint that the arresting officers needed more training on what to do if someone presented as erratic and difficult to control (drunk looking) when there was no visible or olfactory evidence of alcohol being consumed. We didn't want them punished, just more informed.

The casual misunderstanding of how serious it can be is still quite prevalent. Sadly my cousin passed away before reaching his 20th birthday because of his diabetes. He wasn't terrible at managing it, but he wasn't great either - sadly 'mostly OK' at managing T1 diabetes isn't good enough.

This was a few decades ago now so I'm always quietly pleased when they announce easier and more life friendly ways of trying to help manage the condition - I'm sure it's saved other families the heartache of ours.

Two of my children have t1. It’s fucking relentless and I often worry about the psychological impact when they’re older and take on more of their own care. Wishing you a day of flat blood glucose and feel better soon.

Im type three. So no control over insulin production. It’s hell.

@x2boys oh that must be so hard for him, I also have to take creon, I'm assuming that's the medication you meant, it's another layer on top of the diabetes, does he know anyone else who is dealing with similar meds? I'm in an amazing facebook group for people who have had my op (Whipple procedure) and although most have had pancreatic cancer (I didn't) there are a couple of young people on there who are managing without a functioning pancreas that he might relate to, send me a PM if you think that might help, it's a really rare condition. You could maybe join the group on his behalf

But she never complained, made a fuss about her condition or expected special treatment or sympathy

And? It's absolutely fine to be fed up that this is your life. It's hard. Really hard. Utterly exhausting. No respite, ever. Can't even look at a plate of food without having to make a ton of calculations.

Except some T2D use insulin, so not so clear cut as it used to be!

My daughter, who's 10, has T1. At school, a TA said she must have eaten too much unhealthy food because that's what gives people diabetes. She got such a hang-up about food that it was hard to get her to eat anything, which made T1 management one hell of a lot more challenging.

She also has associated autonomic neuropathy, which presents in her case as gastroparesis and neurogenic bladder. So not only does she have to manage the T1, she also has to eat regular tiny meals, because regular meals cause bloating and vomiting and terrible stomach pain, and has to self-catheterise because her bladder won't empty itself. It's so shit and so unfair.

OP, you have my utmost sympathy!