Late Onset Type 1 diabetes

[lbab1702]

Hi

I turned 50 in Feb this year. I went and had a general health check, and my bloods came back with a blood glucose level of 30 + and ketones in my urine. I was feeling fine and wasn't expecting anything of the sort. I was sent the same day as the results up to hospital to the diabetes unit and am now on insulin. I'm told I have late onset type 1 diabetes with no real reason why. I had been drinking more ( put it down to exercising more ), been getting up in the night to urinate ( put that down to my age ), and had been loosing weight (wasn't overweight to start with and put weight lose down to increased exercise and more healthy eating ). Has anyone else had this diagnosis at such an old age, and any ideas why I might have developed it? I'm managing the insulin injections 4 times a day and beginning to get an idea of when to up the insulin amounts dependant on my food intake and amount of exercise, but it's still quite a lot to get my head around.
Thanks

I've not had any experience of this in later life, but I live with a diabetic (type1). Soon your new daily routine will become second nature, but it's difficult at first to get used to the change and "accept" the diagnosis.

I'm sure Phillip Schofeild was trying to raise awareness about this. I will try to find a link.

Diabetes is a funny old thing. Others seem to think you're fine as you don't 'look' ill but you do have to be aware of how you are feeling to recognize hypos, always have your insulin with you, plan everything in fine detail and consider everything you eat. Don't let people think that this is a small adjustment and be aware and share how you feel to those close to you.

I'm sure there are other people on here with better advice and more experience of what you're going through.

Good luck with it all. The dr should be able to link you to local groups for support or even counselling if you need it.

www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Celebrity-Supporters/

Hi, I only have experience of Juvenile Diabetes with my ds, but am bumping for you & hopefully someone with direct knowledge will come along.
Same thing happened to Theresa May . There often seems to be no rhyme or reason with diabetes.

Hi, my mum has late onset type one , she was 60 when diagnosed with it , her Gp nearly had a stroke when he took her blood sugars 27! From what I can gather they seem to think it can be a virus that triggers it , her weight has always been a bit of a issue but other than that fit and healthy , she manages it really well, like you she injected four times a day but is now down to twice , she is very sensible with her diet but has the odd treat ( we had a lovely curry last night) it was a horrible shock to us all but now it seems to be well managed and she has never felt better , hopefully your surgery has a good team of nurses who you can call on .

Thank you all for your very helpful responses and links. It's very reassuring to read about similar stories and situations. I hadn't thought about support groups so will see what is around locally. My doctor also was in a state of shock at my blood glucose levels and the fact I was feeling fine and had no idea anything was wrong with me.
Kissass - can I ask how your mother got down to only 2 injections a day?

Ibab,just spoke to mom , is it ok if I PM you?

Kickass-yes please do. Thank you.

Hi Lbab

I was diagnosed with T1 about 4 years ago, aged 34. It came as a huge shock. I'd felt rubbish for a week or so, tired, thirsty, blurred vision, went to the GP, had a blood sugar reading of 30 and sent straight to the hospital diabetes clinic.

I can't stop to chat now, but will be back tomorrow...

I was late onset too at 30. No real trigger as far as I know.

FIL got Type 1 in his late 60s. He was diagnosed a few months after my ds2 (who was 4). They think there is something in your genes that can make you susceptible to Type 1, but only 1 in 10 people who have those genes actually develop the condition. So rather than wondering what made you get it so late, you could look at it as having got lucky all your life so far, by not developing it younger?

Thanks JellyBabies, I will try and put a positive spin on it. I have been very lucky and had great health up until now, so that's also why this is a massive shock. I shall certainly make the best of this situation and try and feel lucky that my first 50 years have been mostly illness free.