Aftermath -- what will it be like?

[Scratch]

I've been pondering this a bit and probably others here have thought about it too. Let's say it happens, the cure is found -- one which won't require us to have to take autoimmune suppressants and we have enough beta cells again to take care of our insulin needs, no need for injections anymore.

Since I'm pretty well complication free presently and if I were to get cured at this stage, I wonder what the adjustment would be like. How long would it take me to get comfortable about not testing my blood sugars after meals? I seriously can see me for many months afterwards continuing to use test strips just to be sure, you know? Maybe every time I wake up and after one of my meals during the day or something. It seems like it might be hard to have trust that everything is working again, seeing how it stopped working once before along with how I suspect if we were vulnerable before to the immune system getting confused and going awry, it's not out of the realm of possibility that a diabetic cure may be something a person susceptible to type 1 might have done a few times in their lifetime.

I suppose there'll always be memories, but given enough time there would be a gradual return to near normalcy. But I really have no idea I suppose. I certainly had no concept of what it would be like to be a diabetic before I became one and it may be that I really have no concept anymore of what it is like to be non-diabetic.

[Eddy]

I've also thought about that. I'd have a hard time breaking the testing habit, and probably would be tempted to keep insulin on hand "just in case"... at least for a while. I wonder how long it would take to return to normal.

It's amusingly ironic that you post that on Independence Day (here in the United States). ;)

[mcgriff]

I hate to be a cynic, but I really don't think the focus of health care is to find cures. There's no money in finding a cure for anything if you think about it. Treatment = income.

I would welcome a cure for sure. I've learned a lot about eating right and being a healthier person since my diagnosis. I would take that with me for sure. The first thing I would do is enjoy a really dark beer and eat a loaf of fresh bread :dancing:

[SueM]

I can assure you it would take me less than a day.
I changed over to a pump after 43 years of sticking needles in myself. I have not missed having injections one little bit :D
So not blood testing would pos only take 1/2 a day as I have only done this for 20 years.

[DanG]

So, SueM - what are you still using the animal insulins? - i.e. are they available for use in pumps? Oh, wait - here in the Independence Day USA, we cannot purchase animal insulins - how independent!! Nice liberty we have here, eh? And we want to spread this to the rest of the world - control? Okay, I shut-up.

It is just that for years of reading here - my first encounter here at DF was SueM from UK that could take animal insulin - it is still a burr in my saddle that USA does not allow animal insulins for human use - arrgghh. I mean allow - not that it is illegal, but it is not financially feasible anymore. Finances for insulin must recoup years of meandering experiments on designer insulins - which users, you and me - are guinea pigs. We are the long term study of effects - sorry, I don't like that.

As to the question du jour - I am quite happy with the chain of insulin in my life. I might be waaaay overweight if I could eat any/all. But instead, I take some insulin, and eat some bits. If salad? - I can eat more than I would bread. As to dark beer and fresh bread? - I still live with that, McGriff. Certainly you can too - only in very healthy moderate proportions. I like that chain, really. A realm of restricted freedom within which I must roam. Remove that chain of insulin, and I could find my way around very easily - but I might not like the health effects if I don't gain another reasonable chain, i.e. don't eat too much.

[SueM]

So, SueM - what are you still using the animal insulins? - i.e. are they available for use in pumps? Oh, wait - here in the Independence Day USA, we cannot purchase animal insulins - how independent!! Nice liberty we have here, eh? And we want to spread this to the rest of the world - control? Okay, I shut-up.

It is just that for years of reading here - my first encounter here at DF was SueM from UK that could take animal insulin - it is still a burr in my saddle that USA does not allow animal insulins for human use - arrgghh. I mean allow - not that it is illegal, but it is not financially feasible anymore. Finances for insulin must recoup years of meandering experiments on designer insulins - which users, you and me - are guinea pigs. We are the long term study of effects - sorry, I don't like that.

.

Hi Dan, Yes I am using bovine insulin in my pump. (Pump kindly donated by solox)
It works very well too.

[xMenace]

I can assure you it would take me less than a day.
I changed over to a pump after 43 years of sticking needles in myself. I have not missed having injections one little bit :D
So not blood testing would pos only take 1/2 a day as I have only done this for 20 years.

I agree. It took me 10 seconds to get over needles after taking some 30,000 of them. I'd probably test a few times a week. I know I'd continue eating well. I also know I would be experiencing one h3ll of a hangover!:star: :beer: :thrasher:

[amy4041]

Trust me, I'd be the first in line at Cinnabon.:T

[Alice]

I'd be so paranoid that D would return, I'd probably eat like a nun. However nuns eat...

[viranth]

I would have one incredible hangover too!

The eating, well... I like the eating I got going now, very healthy and I'm learning more and more about organic foods and such. FRESH fruit, salad, meat, fish and all that I'd take any day over any type of junk food.

I'm not big on candy, but I've found a chocolate that doesn't contain sugar and it's so spiky on my BG. However, I eat maybe 10 grams every 3 months.

I'd be slightly paranoid about the D returning, but I wouldn't be letting that get me down. I'd live my life as I did before, just more improved.

It would definately be an emotional day for sure.

[kstreeter513]

After the first week of nothing but partying, I don't think it would be hard to forget about at all. Maybe someday we'll have a chance to experience this. I know this is an old PDF, but I can't find anything new. It seems this is the way with things, you here good things, but they are never followed up. Anyway, check this out. Islet Microencapsulation (http://www.isletmedical.com/pdf/NEJM_Shapiro_Edmonton_Protocol.pdf)

[Chappo]

I would not take a cure.

I guess this is something that's really personal to us all, and growing up with Diabetes (since i was 3), being complication-free, i'm appreciative of the lifestyle diabetes has caused me to have.

I think of myself as healthier than most other people I know, and if I took a cure i can just see that go down the plughole!

But as well all know, Diabetes isn't a disease, it's a lifestyle - and the irony of it is for me, that i want to keep this lifestyle.

Things would be vastly different if I had complications.

[Chappo]

I hate to be a cynic, but I really don't think the focus of health care is to find cures. There's no money in finding a cure for anything if you think about it. Treatment = income.

I would welcome a cure for sure. I've learned a lot about eating right and being a healthier person since my diagnosis. I would take that with me for sure. The first thing I would do is enjoy a really dark beer and eat a loaf of fresh bread :dancing:

Most of the research being done into a cure is funded or even administered by some of the major pharmaceuticals.

You should see this as an example of CSR: Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes Bus (http://diabetesbus.novonordisk.com/Diabetes/Diabetes-Bus/frontpage-default.asp)

[davef]

Okay, since the question is theoretical (hopefully become reality), I'm going to be cheeky and assume "the cure" would be for Type 1 & 2, I know they are different, but this is a theoretical question.

I would love the cure, but it does scare me a little bit. Since being diagnosed I have become so much healthier, weight loss, eating healthier and more exercise. My big worry would be if I didn't have diabetes to keep me in check (as I work to keep it under control) that I would slip into old habits, put weight back on and spiral downwards (in terms of health) towards heart attack/disease. I guess for me diabetes has been a huge kick in the a$$ and has motivated me to lose weight in a way that the potential of a heart attack never did. Having diabetes really did have a silver lining for me, am I just weird in actually considering if a cure was found, whether I would take it?

[gettingby]

Okay, since the question is theoretical (hopefully become reality), I'm going to be cheeky and assume "the cure" would be for Type 1 & 2, I know they are different, but this is a theoretical question.

I would love the cure, but it does scare me a little bit. Since being diagnosed I have become so much healthier, weight loss, eating healthier and more exercise. My big worry would be if I didn't have diabetes to keep me in check (as I work to keep it under control) that I would slip into old habits, put weight back on and spiral downwards (in terms of health) towards heart attack/disease. I guess for me diabetes has been a huge kick in the a$$ and has motivated me to lose weight in a way that the potential of a heart attack never did. Having diabetes really did have a silver lining for me, am I just weird in actually considering if a cure was found, whether I would take it?

Dave, you aren't weird. I almost feel the same way. I've been diabetic longer than I wasn't. Am I scared of a cure and the aftermath? You bet I am. I would have to completely rethink everything. I know the current things I'm doing now would stay with me for a while.
Some time ago, this question was asked. Would you take the cure if it was offered? My answer was that I would want them to cure the children first so they didn't have to go through what I have been through. Dumb answer? Not in my mind.:)

[UpNorth]

I'm with Chappo... I'd probably not take the cure if it came. I'm only soon to be 4 years in, but i like my life as it is now. I don't miss my non-d life at all! I'm more healthy now than before because i only eat sweet things in moderation now and generally just eat healthier and i'm more active than before. For me, T1 is not a disease, it's a lifestyle that includes poking myself with needles everyday. And seriously, i don't mind the needles! I can't feel them 99% of the time. Getting T1 is probably one of the better things that has ever happened to me:eek: I only have very few days every year i feel i don't want to have diabetes, and that's those few days i'm having a cold or other infection and simply CAN'T keep my bloodsugar within range without struggling a lot...

[Eddy]

I'd gladly be cured. However, like Cin said: Kids and brittle people first.

This brings about an interesting point: Should efforts be focused on diabetes, or on more insidious conditions? As much as I dislike being diabetic, I'm most thankful to have escaped several other afflictions!

[xMenace]

I'm most thankful to have escaped several other afflictions!

Have you now?

-80% of diabetics will die from CVD.
-50% of everyone will get cancer.
-There seems to be a car waiting to run you down every block.

(no sources)

It would be one less nail in the coffin, but we're still all gonna need one.

[Eddy]

Have you now?

-80% of diabetics will die from CVD.
-50% of everyone will get cancer.
-There seems to be a car waiting to run you down every block.

(no sources)

It would be one less nail in the coffin, but we're still all gonna need one.

Thus far, yes, I've escaped. I can rattle off a list of conditions that I don't have. Should I develop one or more, I'll have to revise my list.

Funny that you mention cars, too... I once had someone try to run me down with a car while I was on foot. The ironic part was that they didn't even know me. ;)

[John S]

I hear what you guys are saying. I think if there's a "cure" it will come from stem cells. The immune system "freak out" is a possibility, but take it from someone that has a CRAZY immune system, your body won't just go crayz and attack everything... I hope.
The Beta cells release an enzyme that makes them targets. Immuno-supression HOPEFULLY won't be needed, since the cells will be infused with a protein coat that will make them hospitable to our immune system. They just sucessfully implanted beta cells in a mouse in San Diego, and for the first time ever, they produced insulin and weren't rejected.
And, "Yes" I would take it if offered.
And, "YES" cure the kids first. They should never be subjected to this sh!t. I scared to have kids and possibly subject them to this.