Fifty Years of living with Diabetes

Half a century with no vacation for even one second...

Medal issued to myself for having lived with Diabetes for 50 years

When people ask me or more proclaim ‘What you got a medal for living with diabetes!?! How come!?!’

I look at them and sigh a little bit more.

I would not wish this disease on anyone, nobody, no way. The word ‘disease’ does explain how diabetics feel on many a day ‘dis-ease’.

I was two when they diagnosed me. I look on this as a blessing as I do not know life without diabetes so have no memories of not being diabetic.

Every day we make on average 200 medical decisions a day, every day, no holiday.

Some people think it’s just a case of having an injection every time you eat. It’s not quite as easy as that. We can eat a whole meal and inject no insulin. Salads, fish, meat no need for insulin as no carbohydrates enter your body so, as long as your sugars are within range you’re good to carry on.

Everybody, this includes people who are not diabetic have a very tight sugar level range that we must all stick to. In the UK the measurement is in mmol/L with the range being from 4.0 – 7.8. If not in mmol/L the measurement is in mg/d and the range for this measurement is 72.0 - 140.4.

A typlical plate of pasta has appox 80 grams of carbohydrate on average. This is too much for a diabetic to eat. This therefore means we have to inject. As you can imagine, a plate of rice, potato’s, any food containing carbohydrates is going to be an injection. Don’t forget that we also have to work out the amount to inject.

What happen’s when we get it wrong?

If we inject too much we get a Hypoglycemia or simply called ‘Hypo’. This, if not caught quickly can be dangerous especially if driving. The one good aspect and there is only one is that we are allowed sugar/sweets and a biscuit or two. With that out of the way let’s mention the other symptoms:-

AI Image of man having hypo

Mild to Moderate Symptoms:

• Shakiness or trembling

• Sweating

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Hunger

• Fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

• Irritability, anxiety, or nervousness

• Headache

• Weakness or fatigue

• Blurred vision

• Confusion or difficulty concentrating

• Tingling or numbness in lips, tongue, or cheeks

Severe Symptoms (If Left Untreated):

• Slurred speech

• Clumsiness or lack of coordination (appearing drunk)

• Severe confusion or disorientation

• Seizures

• Loss of consciousness

• Coma

Long-Term Dangers of Recurrent Hypoglycemia

• Impaired Hypoglycemia Awareness – Over time, frequent hypos can reduce the body's ability to recognize warning signs, making it more dangerous.

• Cognitive Decline – Repeated severe hypos can cause memory issues and increase the risk of dementia.

• Brain Damage – Severe and prolonged hypos deprive the brain of glucose, leading to potential long-term damage.

• Increased Risk of Falls and Accidents – Sudden hypos can lead to falls, car accidents, or other injuries.

• Cardiovascular Complications – Hypos put stress on the heart, increasing the risk of arrhythmias, heart attacks, and sudden cardiac death.

• Death – Severe hypoglycemia can lead to coma and, if untreated, be fatal.

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One memory I have is of a lady standing on the back of my hand one school lunchtime when I was 13 calling me drunk as I rolled about on the floor convulsing, not drunk, having a hypo, there you go.

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What though happens if we do not have enough insulin?

This is called Hyperglycemia. On a personal level out of the two, this, when it happens is a terrible time. The simple remedy for this is to inject but, and the medics might advise against it, no eating. Your insulin takes time to work so constant blood sugar level to make sure you have not injected too much or you get a Hypo. Fun, fun, fun, not. With that out of the way let’s mention the other symptoms:-

AI image of man suffering from hyperglycemia

Early Symptoms:

• Increased thirst

• Frequent urination

• Fatigue and weakness

• Blurred vision

• Headaches

• Dry mouth

• Increased hunger (Always check it’s not a hypo!)

• Irritability (Always check it’s not a hypo!)

Moderate to Severe Symptoms:

• Fruity-smelling breath

• Nausea and vomiting

• Shortness of breath

• Abdominal pain

• Confusion or difficulty concentrating

• Drowsiness or fatigue

Long-Term Dangers of Hyperglycemia

If hyperglycemia is not properly managed, it can lead to serious complications over time:

Short-Term Risks:

• Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) – More common in type 1 diabetes, occurs when the body produces ketones due to lack of insulin, leading to a life-threatening emergency.

• Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS) – More common in type 2 diabetes, characterized by extreme dehydration and very high blood sugar levels.

Long-Term Complications:

• Cardiovascular Disease – Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.

• Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) – Can cause tingling, numbness, and pain, especially in the feet and hands.

• Nephropathy (Kidney Disease) – High blood sugar damages the kidneys, potentially leading to kidney failure.

• Retinopathy (Eye Damage) – Can lead to blindness if not managed.

• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) – Poor circulation in the limbs, increasing the risk of infections and amputations.

• Gastroparesis – Slowed digestion due to nerve damage in the stomach.

• Cognitive Decline – Increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

• Weakened Immune System – Higher susceptibility to infections, including skin infections and UTIs.

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  As a child I remember having so much sugar that my urine came out crystalised because of the sugar content in my body.

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The above is a brief introduction to a diabetic life. I have plenty more information that I will be writing about here. Including how bad diabetes management as a child led to my mental health, how I reversed a long time complication of diabetes and what happens when we get a simple cold.

Do we deserve a medal?

How about a sugar boost…

Let us know your thoughts.