Hi @Fergie . Wanted to let you know I’ve been reading your comments, despite the time lag😊. May I ask where you’re located?
Looking forward to your contributions.
Hi, it is so nice of you to reach out to me. I have never been a part of a group like this. I live in Florida. Tell me about yourself. Because I’ve been so private with my disorder, I’m excited to know about others. Again, thank you. John Ferguson.
I’m in the DC area and have been taking insulin since 1963. This great new concept of multiple daily injections cake about about the time I graduated from came (or at least that’s when I first started), along with home BG meters which like many things were big and clunky to start. I got my first pump when I was in my mid 30s - a Minimed 504, and I stuck with Minimed for several years but mutt last one was their 507c so Inever tried their CGM. While I was on that one I heard about a new player in the pump market called Tandem so I switched to that, and somewhere in there I started using Dexcom’s CGM. I liked Tandem but decided to switch to Omnipod a couple of years ago and that’s what I’m on now.
I’m not secretive about my diabetes but don’t share it with a lot of people either - there are people I worked with for years who didn’t know, and others I told about early on. I guess it’s just a question of comfort, or if someone asked either because they saw me using my pump or checking my CGM, or because they saw the device and asked. They’re good conversation starters if that’s what you need😊.
That said, nothing wrong with being more private about it. In most ways I’m generally a very private person so I definitely get that.
I’m glad you found our group and am looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
PS - I hope Debbie didn’t do too much damage where you are.
Hello @Fergie first - welcome to Breakthrough T1D, also, as a matter of housekeeping, I had to move this conversation off the OP topic. because it was off topic.
Joining in this conversation: I’m Joe, volunteer moderator, member of this community for more than 15 years, and T1D for 45 years as of this fall. I design and build stuff and travel the world. Im also a dad and been married for 19 years. I learned how to control diabetes using regular and NPH made from pig and cow pancreases and didn’t have a home blood sugar meter because they weren’t invented yet, but today I do have a fancy G7 and a newer insulin pump. We’re all glad you are here, as a matter of community standards we share from our experiences, and try not to diagnose or offer medical advice. welcome to the family.
I’m here again John @Fergie and will add to my introduction - I trust that you did receive the private message.
I’ve been living with diabetes since tha mid 1950s and somehow survived and grew in my diabetes management through many astonishing “Breakthroughs”. Began with the release of an animal derived NPH insulin, progressed through the rDNA insulin formulations developed in the US Space Station to the now widely used analog insulin formulations. I have been fortunate enough to have been invited to participate in several diabetes trial projects and really pleased with the end results of four of these projects the proved to greatly help many/most people now living with diabetes.
I was really private about my diabetes condition when younger after being fired from my first job after leaving college om 1960 for listing “diabetes” on my medical insurance application form. Over the years, at first very cautiously, I became more open about sharing and now I “sing diabetes” from the rooftops. Like @Joe, for the past 10 years I’ve been a volunteer moderator for this Forum.
The moto I adopted several years ago has been to live a full, active, enjoyable, and productive life and make diabetes fit in and not hinder.
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Hello. I’m a T1D dad. My warrior is 6. Diagnosed before she was 2, so we’ve been at this for a little while. I’ve enjoyed reading through this forum a little and am glad it exists. I’m finding interesting perspectives and learning a lot. Glad to be here. I guess I feel a little less alone in our jouney just being able to post here.
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@dadofawarrior, Welcome Dad to Breakthrough T1D Community Forum! Happy to see you here, and hope that your 6 year old cis doing well; you have also been a warrior.
“Meeting” folks here and gathering information and helpful tips is good, in-person contact with others living with diabetes is often more effective. Below is a link to finding a Breakthrough Chapter where you can meet others either by attending meetings or participating in events. Where I live in Florida, our sub-chapter regularly sponsors activities cor children on weekend afternoons - such as pool-parties - where kids learn from each other and caregivers are empowered by being in the presence of those in similar situations. I regularly attend monthly morning Cups of Hope coffee hours sharing my seven decades of diabetes knowledge with attendees that include parents and grandparents.
Hi @dadofawarrior, glad you have joined the forum. We need more parents, I can talk about drugs and blood sugar and tech tools but I have no idea how to apply all that to a 6 year old who is still learning about feelings. Many parents come here with a question but don’t have time to check in again because they busy, you know, parenting. I’m hoping you’ll be willing to share some diabetes related stories when you can spare some time.
Thanks for the welcomes. We have G6 and O5 going and that tech is a blessing for us, especially with starting school. We did pen injections and finger pokes for a couple years before switching. All in all I think we’re doing well, A1C at 7 at the last appointment. They tell us that’s good for her age. We’re in central AR and AR Children’s Hospital is our only option. Luckily, aside from a battleaxe nurse or 2, they seem pretty awesome so far haha. I don’t know what our future holds, but we’re going to stay positive when we can, cry when we need to, and apply insulin liberally. As you could imagine, she loves her sweets… 
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No one knows what’s around the corner we are all in that situation. I can tell you this: there were plenty of perfectly healthy peers of mine that I envied because they didn’t have type 1 who have passed now. When I was diagnosed they told my dad I’d be dead or disabled by 35, which hurt him 1000 times more than me and it was totally untrue. The regulars here have 50+ 60+ and 70+ years of success at life in general, type 1 and all. Enjoy being a dad. Enjoy every moment. They get big so fast.
HI all, I’m a newb T1 LADA, just dx January 15 of 2025. I was pointed to this forum/community by a couple of friends who are raising T1 kiddos. So wonderful to find a community like this online; I have been lurking all over the T1 threads on Reddit, and have found some great info there on a variety of sub-reddits.
I’m 51, grew up with a T1 sibling (who was dx in 1982) and a T2 mom who had gestational diabetes as well. As a result, I always watched what I ate, exercised a ton (athlete/runner for decades, etc) and tried my best to avoid T2… never realizing that I might just end up T1 anyways. Who knew? 
Thanks for listening and thanks for all the resources here. Be well, all!
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Welcome to the forum - I’m looking forward to reading your contributions!
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Thank you! Just inspired after reading so many posts from people who have lived with T1 for decades. It helps me push against the fear.
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Hi everyone, I just wanted to quickly introduce myself. I’m a mental health provider who works closely with children and teens living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. I don’t have Diabetes myself. My mother and several adult cousins have Type 2 Diabetes. I’m aware of the stress and emotional toll it can take on both the individual and the family.
I run a small virtual therapy, where I support families across California. I’m passionate about helping young people manage the mental and emotional challenges that come with a Diabetes diagnosis. I’m always happy to be a resource or listening ear. Feel free to reach out any time: musgrovelacee@gmail.com 
Hi, My name is Cathy and I have been a T1D since 1964. The changes in monitoring and care have become so much more advanced. I wonder how any of us maintained in those days. I just wanted to say hi and find out from others who have had it for a longer time frame and are growing older with this disease think of caregivers and their understanding of us long term diabetics.
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Hi @CathyM0659 and welcome to the forum. You were diagnosed a year after I was. Doing well here. I haven’t needed a caregiver yet but my husband tries to help me make good choices.
Did you get your 50 year Joslin medal?
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@CathyM0659 Welcome, Cathy, to the Breakthrough Community Forum; happy to see you here. Hopefully you will be able to share here with others some of the vast diabetes knowledge you have earned.
Similar to you, I often wonder how I survived through those early “dark ages” when the animal insulin was so crude and inconsistent and no way to know blood sugar levels on a day-to-day basis; my formal diagnosis was 68 years ago this month but, looking retrospectively I had diabetes for at least two years previously and somehow the “honeymoon” kept me alive. I’m real thankful now that family/doctors never told me that life expectancy was real short - I haven’t let diabetes hold me back.
Currently, now mid 80s, I’m well able to take good care of myself and effectively manage my diabetes maintaining TIR above 90%, walk the dog a few miles every day, and eat well BUT… Yes, I have concerns about how I will be able to care for myself with deteriorating sight - filling pump cartridge, etc. I do drive to a long-tern care facility a few times a week, push wheeled chairs to the dining room and try to carry on conversation with patients and have become aware how dependent we [including me] are on skilled nursing care for daily needs. I believe it is very important for people with diabetes, us, plan ahead - have a good care regimen in writing.
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Hi @CathyM0659 welcome! I’ve only had T1 since 1979 so you have a few years on my experience, but I take things one day at a time. I only had to go a few years before they invented a home blood sugar meter but for my short decade of not using a meter, I can still feel both my highs and lows. I’m so glad you’ve joined us!
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Hi Dorie, No I didn’t know about the pins and had never heard of Joslin until I became more active on the 50 years plus diabetes FB page. When I tried to get my information from the hospital they no longer had any records of me when I first became a diabetic. This was frustrating to me. I waited too many years and have cousins and my sister who can say I have been a diabetic since they can remember, but it doesn’t help me with proof positive I got Diabetes in 1964. They said they needed two letters from someone, and my mom is the only one who remembers the date I got it. Frustration city for a while and then I just dropped it. Haven’t had one all these years and am really not missing the pin or medal.
Hi Joe, I’m the same can still feel highs and lows but it is not as easily felt as it once was. Yes, I was pregnant in 1982 when they came out with home blood testing boxes. LOL and they were boxes and you had to calibrate the box before testing. I was told I was one of the few that got the box because I was pregnant. Fun times! But control came much easier when testing kits came out. Thanks for the welcome!
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