congrats on the complications!!
*NO Complications...
Hi butterfly, I was also hesitant to go on the pump but I've had it for at least 8 or 9 years (is it bad that I can't remember? lol). I would never ever go back to injections. Granted, the first two months or so of switching to the pump are somewhat exhausting (because of all the testing) but soooo worth it. My quality of life has gone up substantially. And beleive me, I was an early teen when I first started out (I'm now 24) so I was worried about having it noticed and where to wear it, etc. And like Laura, I'm no longer ashamed of having people see it. But when I do want to hide it, it's sooo easy to. It's actually more discrete than having to whip out the syringe and insulin and jab yourself. I almost always where the infusion on my stomach and put the pump in my pants pocket. If there are no pockets, I tuck it into the waistband. With dresses you have to get a bit creative but I manage to wear them fairly frequently ;)
It's such a liberating feeling to say "hey, I feel like eating some strawberries and it's 4:17pm and I don't care because I can!" or "sure I can go out to dinner with some friends at a later time than usual." Just keep in mind that carb counting still remains crucial.
And one last point, pump technology is so much better than what it used to be... As long as you tell it how many carbs you're consuming it does all the calculations for you. It will even tell you if there is still insulin in your system and, if so, calculate a lower dosage.
Hope some of that info is helpful :)
Age 26- three weeks ago!
Looking into a pump though!
Definately do the pump!! I have been a T1D for 35 yrs and could never get things under control. I went on the pump and the CGM late last year and it has been a lifesaver. My A1C went from 13.1 to 6.8 and I havent had one trip to the ER for crashes since.
I have had it for about 19 years and so far no complications!
Congrats!
39 years and no problems - my last A1C was 5.7 with injections and no pump. I really would like to try a pump. Diet could be better. Remember the days before test strips when we had to pee on test paper? Dark purple was +4, blue was +3, green was +2, and yellow was +1. The syringes were huge and they hurt! The insulin was basic short acting Regular and mixed with long acting NPH. Things have come a long way! I went to Camp Firefly in PA for diabetic kids back in the early 1970's. Streaking was popular at the time. My whole cabin including the counselor went streaking! Nothing on but a smile! They were the days that I will never forget! They really taught me a lot about diabetes and I learned that there were other kids like me. Live long happy lives my friends !!!!!!
Nice going!! No problems? Wow that's great .. do you have a secret?
22 years currently, diagnosed aged 5. Thankfully no sign of complications. I hope it stays that way...
17 years, diagnosed at age 12, sadly many complications. I have gastroparesis and stage 3 kidney disease. Still waiting to go on the pump
I hope all goes well for you! Good speed!
Good job and genes!
It is my 21st diaversary next month, and I have no complications as of yet. Last year, I celebrated my 20 year diabetes anniversary by running a marathon and having a healthy baby! This year, my celebration will be a little smaller -- just running a 5k post-baby to celebrate :-)
Tom, congrates on 50 years! I myself have had T1D for 30, just had my anniversary 9/15. 11 yrs ago I was in a bad accident at work. I was in a ditch and the hoe operator didn't see me and hit me in the back with the bucket of the backhoe. The trauma and 19 years of diabetes caused my already left eye's rentiopathy to accelarate which in caused blindness in my left. laser in the right has saved my vision but my depth perception is horrible.
Oct 13, 2010 I was on my way to work and my BS dropped without warning and I had a single car accident. Wakeing up in the back of a bus not knowing how you got there is, well, scarey. My wife brought my 6 year old daughter to the hospital to pick me up she crawled in my lap, put her arm on my should and said "Ok Daddy, what are we going to do about this?" After recovering from being copletly stunned at such an "adult" statement I said "maybe its time for daddy to get a pump" When I called the doc she was excited and got me set up with an endo and the local Diabetes educators, Less than 6 months later I had my pump.
Now for 28 years I struggled to keep my A1c's at some sort of "normal" levels with disapointing results. I could never get under 7. 7 was a number that seemed out of reach for me. I got my pump 1/20/2011 and since then my A1c's have been under 6! 5.9,5.7,5.8,5.9 are just a few of them, my last was 5.7 and my endo is thrilled. Everyone that was there to help me through one of the toughest times in my life is thrilled. Life is good again and I couldn't be happier.
But, there is always a but right?, Just before I got my CGM and 2 days before my daughters 7 birthday she was dx. Type 1. My wife and I were devastated. Emily is the light of my life and the most amazing person in my life. She has made the transition into diabetes very well and is doing great. Her A1c has come up some after starting out with 11.7 her first A1c after she was dx was 6.5 now it is 7.2. The doc has upped her insulin and she is doing ok with that. I really want her to have a pump but she isnt going for it yet. She and I are doing well, together, and as long as she keeps those A1c's under 8 I wont push to hard.
Again, congrates Tom on 50 years!
Thanks, brad68der1, for your wishes and for the info about you and your daughter. But, like you said, there's always a but. I'm not sure where you picked up the 50 years about me, because I am actually one month short of 70 years as a T1. I was 10 when I was dx, so your daughter has me beat. Tom
O wow, I dont know where I got 50 now either? Musta read some thing wrong. My mistake! 70 years! Thats awesome!
I think what probably happened was that there was a post, several months ago, that mentioned that I had received the Joslin 50-year medal. It sort of implied I had just received the medal, but actually I had received the medal almost 20 years ago. There aren't any more medals between 50 and 70, so all I have to talk about is the 50 or the 75.
After being T1D for 30 it is just amazing to me that you have 70 in. I have some complications, rentinopathey, neropathy, and from time to time I spill proteins in my urine. I understand that happens on a regular basis but it concerns me. That is why I work very hard to keep my BS as close to normal as possible.
I belong to a pump support group in my area, we meet every other month. It is great to spend a few hours with folks that have the same issues and concerns. And has helped me with some of my daily issues.
Having diabetes makes some of our daily routine far from routine and now with my daughter having the same condition it is doubly hard to deal with. We take 1 day at a time. Thats all we can do. Treat our highs and our lows and live our lives as human beings the best we can.
I feel honored to have met you Tom. It is good to know that with proper managment we can live long lives with T1D. I was having some problems a few years ago and my wife and I were "preparing" for what we thought was the inevidable. Now with a pump my control is outstanding and my life is so much better. I still worry, and am still "preparing" but I feel like I'm going to be around longer than what I had thought a few years ago. Life with this can be difficult but I now have the tools to make it through.
I guess I rambled a little there but its how I feel, and thank you for allowing me the oppurtunity.
Heres to many more years of good health to you and the rest of us Type 1 Diabetics out there!
T1D at 4, 39-yrs with T1D; Pump user (various manufacturers) since 1997; tried CGM didn't work and didn't like; A1Cs between 5.7-6.2; cardio for an hour/day. No complications thus far! :)