Type 1’s & 2’s
Ok, I’m not an expert, just too curious for my own good, but this is my
take on what I have learned since my diagnosis as a Type 1 in 1988.
In all the time I have been diabetic, I have watched the signs, symptoms
and ages of onset change for Type 1 several times. In comparison, both
types share much of the same symptoms other than Type 1’s seem to go
into DKA faster and are sometimes very thin. They have found that you
don’t have to be extremely skinny to be a 1 and the onset now can be as
high as 50+ due to the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin. When
I was diagnosed, they didn’t do the C-peptide test. I have since had it
done and found that I do not produce any insulin at all. Most likely,
never did. The physician I worked for at the time I was diagnosed in
‘88′ started me on pills anyway because I was overweight and he was
certain I was Type 2 for that reason only. He was wrong. The pills did
nothing for me. Also, at that time oral meds had the long term effect of
causing heart disease so for that reason and family history, I bow down
to the other doctor I worked with and my bottle of NPH and syringes. I
would place bets that having insulin all this time has led me to the age
of 44. Pills, I believe would have done me in. There are still oral meds
that are heart disease associated. Another aspect of the pills on the
market are that they are supposed to squeeze the insulin out of the
pancreas, well……if there is no insulin, than the pill is useless. I
have two Type 1 friends that are older and need insulin, pillls are not
working but they are afraid of a shot. So… my hat if off to all the
kids on this list that take that shot with no qualms about it.
Sometimes we read so much conflicting information, it’s hard to figure
out what to believe. I guess you could say I live my life a little like
Judith. I agree with her attitude because it suits her needs. I am a
firm believer that no doctor is ever going to know my body like I do
anymore than a pediatrician is going to know my son’s body. I know when
a low is happening and when a high is going on.
I do try to stay abreast of what the medical society is putting out, but
I get really aggravated when they withdraw something they claimed was
‘foolproof’. I know the first time I heard about an insulin delivery
system through nasal spray was in the late ’80’s’
and now it’s surfacing again. I know that it takes after years of
research another 10 years before the FDA will approve a treatment.
So…….in the interim, what are we supposed to do? Me, I am going to
keep learning about my body and what agrees with it and what doesn’t.
That hasn’t failed me yet.
Take care,
Carol