# Diagnosed as a senior citizen **URL:** \ **Category:** Newly Diagnosed Support\ **Created:** [October 5, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240 "2026-10-05T17:47:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Late2T1D](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.breakthrought1d.org/late2t1d/32/5473_2.png) [@Late2T1D](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/u/Late2T1D)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240/1 "2026-10-05T17:47:25Z")
Hi, I’m new here ( but old everywhere else). I was diagnosed in May 2026 with LADA Type 1, at the ripe old age of 77. I’m guessing this isn’t very common and wonder if there are others out there in a similar situation. Would love to exchange ideas/ experiences with anyone muddling through this quagmire of pen needles, different kinds of insulin, cgms, pumps, etc. So much technology for a non-techie to figure out. Right now I’m on once a day basal insulin, but after hours of reading and digesting podcasts, I now reluctantly recognize that I’m honeymooning, and my life is going to become much more complicated. It’s scary! ---
**Author:** ![joe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.breakthrought1d.org/joe/32/2937_2.png) [@joe](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/u/joe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240/2 "2026-10-05T23:57:12Z")
hi Cathy @Late2T1D Welcome to Breakthrough T1D. Truth-be-told, you can “get” Type 1 (and LADA) at any age. “Honeymooning” is a stage where you are still making some insulin, And in type 1 and LADA your autoimmune system destroys those cells and then you need that long acting basal plus meal time insulin. Most of us here need basal and meal time insulin. I’ve been 100% insulin dependent for 48 years. there isn’t really an “easy” time to get diagnosed, so in my opinion we face the same things if we are 2 or 102. One of the best books on the subject is something you can get on Amazon titled " Think Like a Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes with Insulin" its worth the price in my opinion. everything else? just ask. our members here use shots pumps, CGM, pretty much everything. ---
**Author:** ![wadawabbit](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.breakthrought1d.org/wadawabbit/32/3890_2.png) [@wadawabbit](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/u/wadawabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240/3 "2026-10-06T14:39:15Z")
Welcome Cathy to our very special club where ages are welcome! Think Like a Pancreas is an excellent resource and I recommend it to anyone newly diagnosed - and if you’re like me you will find it a fun read. When it comes to technology a continuous glucose monitor is definitely worth getting - it beats multiple fingersticks by a mile. But when it comes to pumps take your time: it may take some time to get your numbers steady but you might find multiple daily injections work fine for you. There are people who simply cannot manage lows and highs in shots so they really require a pump, but for most people it’s an option. A wonderful one, but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. So don’t feel pressured. A couple of suggestions to start: make sure your endocrinologist manages Type1 diabetes - not all do. Also I just started on Medicare last year and discovered diabetics who use CGMs must see their Endo every 6 months (3 if you use a pump, according to the company that handles my supplies). So you may need to see your Endo more frequently than you are accustomed to with other doctors. Gotta go but good to have you! ---
**Author:** ![Dennis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.breakthrought1d.org/dennis/32/5527_2.png) [@Dennis](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/u/Dennis)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240/4 "2026-10-06T19:16:06Z")
@Late2T1D _ **Hi Cathy, and welcome to the Breakthrough T1D Community Forum!** _ I have met and spoken with a few people, like you, who were diagnosed with autoimmune diabetes “later” in life and at first struggled with the downpour of a new medical language and struggled trying to understand technical tools. My suggestion has been to just go slowly and learn the basics for calculating and injecting yourself with the right amount of insulin and observing you blood / body glucose levels. The one gadget I strongly recommend getting, in addition to a BGM [blood glucose meter] is a CGM for monitoring your body glucose - sugars in interstitial fluids rather than in blood. Diabetes shouldn’t stop you from enjoying life and depending on your lifestyle [think healthy eating habits] you may not need to make ny changes in life - other than adding those wonderful, lifegiving insulin injections. A good physician who understands diabetes, need not be an endocrinologist, will guide you. “LADA”, I tell folks with this diagnosis that the “L” is for lucky 0 having lived the bulk of life without needing to give yourself shots EVERY DAY. I lived with my diabetes for 60+ years before my 77th birthday. 😏 ---
**Author:** ![kilupx](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.breakthrought1d.org/kilupx/32/5473_2.png) [@kilupx](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/u/kilupx)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:14am UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240/5 "2026-10-21T02:14:22Z")
Hi Cathy. I was diagnosed with LADA at age 66, which was 11 years ago. I don’t know how to do it on this forum, but if you can find a way for us to have a private conversation, I would love to help answer your questions. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.breakthrought1d.org/dennis/32/5527_2.png) [@Dennis](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/u/Dennis)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240/6 "2026-10-21T13:41:41Z")
Hi @kilupx , you can direct message an individual registered member by clicking on that persons icon/picture and choosing **Message.** ---
**Author:** ![rpeyser47](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.breakthrought1d.org/rpeyser47/32/5473_2.png) [@rpeyser47](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/u/rpeyser47)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://forum.breakthrought1d.org/t/diagnosed-as-a-senior-citizen/75240/7 "2026-10-24T15:48:35Z")
Well welcome to the T1D world. I know a few T1Ds who were diagnosed at or after age 60. For starters definitely get a CGM and consider a pump later. Look for pump comparison articles/guides such as: [https://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes-technology/insulin-pumps/pump-comparison](https://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes-technology/insulin-pumps/pump-comparison)