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New man - Type 1 Diabetes

(11 Posts)
pen50 Wed 15-Aug-18 15:59:58

There is potentially a new man in my life. 64, appears pretty fit and healthy, still playing lots of tennis, cricket, etc. But, he has type 1 diabetes, diagnosed when he was 16. Says it's well controlled, injects 4 times a day, has all his check ups etc.

If this develops, can anyone advise me on the expected health trajectory? I don't think I'd break it off but I'd like to have some idea of what the future might hold.

sodapop Wed 15-Aug-18 16:33:34

Seems like he has things well under control pen50 No reason to think his prognosis is anything but good.
Enjoy this new stage in your life and don't worry.

ninathenana Wed 15-Aug-18 17:47:00

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean by "if this developes" do you mean the relatonship or his health problems ?

He has managed his diabeties for over 50 yrs without problems. There are many and varied complicaions of T1 but there is no reason to think he will succumb to any of them.
Good luck, go have fun wink

jenpax Wed 15-Aug-18 18:09:10

Diabetes is a chronic not terminal condition! My youngest DD has been type 1 since age 9 she has managed school college etc and has 2 healthy children! It is perfectly possible to lead a normal life with Diabetes if well controlled, it sounds as if this chap has his under control.

Teetime Wed 15-Aug-18 18:16:18

My son in law has this and lives a very full active life, works full time in a demanding job and there is no suggestion at all from his Consultant of a changing prognosis. Enjoy and have fun!

maryeliza54 Wed 15-Aug-18 20:47:56

And TM is PM with it - seems to me you need to read up on it a bit more. Once we get into our 60s who knows what the future holds?

pen50 Wed 15-Aug-18 21:11:04

I'm asking because I did read up on it and encountered a certain amount of doom and gloom! Just thought that some Gransnetters might have some first hand experience of dealing with T1 in the senior years, either for themselves or their partners, and could let me know whether it was pretty much business as usual or whether there was a higher risk of early deterioration.

Envious Wed 15-Aug-18 21:26:45

My mother was a type 1 so I have experience with what it was like to live with her. On insulin it’s important to know the symptoms of low blood sugar. He can tell you how he knows when this happens and how you can help if needed. My mother was a very healthy diabetic no high blood pressure or cholesterol problems. The few problems she had were treated successfully and she had a great quality of life. I’d not let it hold your relationship back. Happy for you. wine

maryeliza54 Wed 15-Aug-18 21:27:08

Well god only knows what you read pen.All that matters is that the diabetes is well controlled and that the person attends all their regular check ups. The phrase ‘ higher risk of early deterioration’ is utterly meaningless. Only uncontrolled/badly controlled diabetes carries a high risk of all the various complications . What have you been reading?

agnurse Wed 15-Aug-18 21:32:22

If he is well-controlled the prognosis is usually quite good. It's even better now that we have newer technology for blood sugar monitoring and better options for insulin. It sounds as if he might be on intensive therapy, which means that he takes 40% of his daily dose of insulin at bedtime as a long-acting insulin, and then 20% at each meal as a rapid-acting to cover what he eats.

TBH, at this point it would be hard to say what his exact prognosis is because our understanding of diabetes and the technology we have to manage it are changing so rapidly. In fact they are now suggesting there are MORE than two types of diabetes because some subtypes are more likely to experience complications. We also now have technology that allows for continuous insulin infusions and continuous glucose monitoring, which allow people more freedom in their diets and a greater ability to tailor their diet and medication to meet their individual needs.

One caveat: on average, people who are very tightly controlled may have a greater risk of death if they have a heart attack. This is because part of the body's normal stress response is to increase glucose so it's available to muscles for energy. (This is why people often find their blood sugar spikes just before they get sick - it's a stress response.) If someone has very tight glucose control, their body may not be able to give the muscles the glucose they need in the event of severe stress (such as a heart attack). This increases the risk of death.

The good news is that your friend should be undergoing checks every 3 months which will include checking for evidence of complications. This will allow his provider to pick up on complications early so that they can be managed. If you're really concerned, you might ask if it would be okay for you to speak to his provider about the prognosis for diabetes in general. Obviously, the provider can't tell you about him specifically, but they may be able to give you some general information to help allay your fears.

mumofmadboys Wed 15-Aug-18 22:40:46

Impotence is more likely in diabetics but medication can be helpful such as viagara.