[boomtheroom]

was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago type 1 ,been reading a bit about the condition, and articles about tests for cures, seems like they have said there will be a cure in 5 years, ever 5 years since the early seventies.Also read about complications and was trying to find anyone over 60 that has had type one longer than 30 years and no real complications. anyone here fit that critera,and how was it managed?
About cures,It seems that the drug companies wouldnt be interested in a cure as such,so why dont they just invent a automatic dispencing insulin,ie you inject once daily say 30ml of this magic insulin ,it sits dormant until you eat, and it sees how much glucose has been created and levels that amount automatically to bring you down to a normal level then remains dormant again,that way drug companies still get money and you,besides have a jab once a day can do what u want without worring about going high or low etc ,possible?

[DeusXM]

Hey, welcome to the D club. Having to join does suck a bit but it does get a lot better.

seems like they have said there will be a cure in 5 years, ever 5 years since the early seventies.

This is true. However, massive leaps and bounds have been made in the understanding, treatment and curing of diabetes and it's no understatement to say that within the last 5 years we have achieved more than we have in the entire history of humankind. We now actually understand on a genetic level the mechanisms behind T1 and more importantly, we actually know how to fix those problems. There is already a demonstrated working cure in Exendin-4 as part of a combined drug therapy, which prevents the autoimmune response destroying the islet cells and promotes the growth of islet cells. There is also the hugely promising area of stem cell research, for which we have a complete theory of how to cure T1. It just hasn't been tested yet because we're still having issues getting the stem cells both from a scientific and an ethical perspective.

that way drug companies still get money and you,besides have a jab once a day can do what u want without worring about going high or low etc ,possible?

Probably not on its own. A more workable solution is the fabled 'closed-loop' system, which is a combination of an insulin pump and a CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system). Essentially it's a mechanical pancreas but there are a lot of problems to be sorted out first. That's why the double-drug cure is more promising - it simply restores the body's normal function, which will always be superior to any mechanical system. And importantly, the double drug system requires a lifetime of taking 2 tablets every day, which means steady revenue for pharmaceutical companies.

Of course, it's also worth remembering that not everyone does medicine the way America does. The majority of Western nations have nationalised healthcare systems which by their nature look to minimise expenditure, meaning that a cure is more attractive to them than a lifetime of treatment. Because of the size of these systems, they're able to significantly pressurise pharmaceutical companies. They also carry out their own research. This is great news - why?

Because, say the NHS in the UK develops a cure for diabetes. Suddenly, the NHS has no need to purchase products from the pharmaceutical companies, which means the entire EU market for diabetes supplies dies instantly and kills off that revenue stream for pharmaceutical companies. Now, given the financial requirements of state healthcare, it is inevitable that nationalised healthcare will find a cure for diabetes. So pharmaceutical companies have a choice - they can either develop a cure by themselves and then sell that to health services, or they can carry on milking the services with diabetes treatment and then lose everything in the near future.

So it's actually in the interest of pharmaceutical companies to develop a cure, otherwise they'll lose more money in the long run.

Also read about complications and was trying to find anyone over 60 that has had type one longer than 30 years and no real complications. anyone here fit that critera,and how was it managed?

This is a difficult one because you have to remember the standard of diabetes healthcare has been revolutionised within the last decade. Prior the 1990s there wasn't the range of treatment options and blood glucose monitoring options that there are now, which means the majority of people who have had diabetes for 30 years probably have 20 years of 'not great' control under their belt, which accounts for their complications. Now we understand how to monitor blood glucose accurately, how to manage it very accurately (through carb counting, analogue bolus insulins and flat-profile basals) and what ideal BG targets should be.

Someone who develops diabetes now has a much better of change of living with the condition long-term without suffering complications than someone who developed it in the 1960s. Having said that, there are still plenty of people who've had T1 for decades without any problems - talk to Mick or SueM on this board, they're everyone's inspiration for long-term prospects and role models for anyone with diabetes.

[xMenace]

Welcome.

Originally Posted by DeusXM

This is a difficult one because you have to remember the standard of diabetes healthcare has been revolutionised within the last decade. Prior the 1990s there wasn't the range of treatment options and blood glucose monitoring options that there are now, which means the majority of people who have had diabetes for 30 years probably have 20 years of 'not great' control under their belt, which accounts for their complications. Now we understand how to monitor blood glucose accurately, how to manage it very accurately (through carb counting, analogue bolus insulins and flat-profile basals) and what ideal BG targets should be.

So true. And the healthcare system and most T1's still haven't fully caught on.

[SueM]

Originally Posted by boomtheroom

Also read about complications and was trying to find anyone over 60 that has had type one longer than 30 years and no real complications. anyone here fit that critera,and how was it managed?

If it helps I have been type 1 for 42 yrs with no complications But I am not over 60, over 21 I will own up too My uncle is also a type 1 who is over the age of 70 and he has no complications he has been diabetic longer than me.
I believe Simmons who is a member here has been type 1 for 63 years.
How was and is it treated? In the old days it was hit and miss with insulin dosage but have always carb counted from day 1
urine was tested for sugar and we went on with life without a care in the world.
Today it's the same take insulin and adjust for carbs eaten but best invention is the home blood testing meters. Now blood sugars can be fine tuned.

[boomtheroom]

Originally Posted by SueM

If it helps I have been type 1 for 42 yrs with no complications But I am not over 60, over 21 I will own up too My uncle is also a type 1 who is over the age of 70 and he has no complications he has been diabetic longer than me.
I believe Simmons who is a member here has been type 1 for 63 years.
How was and is it treated? In the old days it was hit and miss with insulin dosage but have always carb counted from day 1
urine was tested for sugar and we went on with life without a care in the world.
Today it's the same take insulin and adjust for carbs eaten but best invention is the home blood testing meters. Now blood sugars can be fine tuned.

its hard in newzealand,we dont seem to be up with the play, i hadnt even here of pumps till i read these forums, was u and your uncle in a morning and night insulin for a period of time? and any of you ever smoked if so for how long?

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by boomtheroom

its hard in newzealand,we dont seem to be up with the play ...

INMHO, the public health system here is actually pretty good. All the insulin and test strips you need are available, virtually free of charge. While having a pump would be nice, you really don't have to have one to achieve satisfactory control. My experience has been that the regular testing is excellent, and the freely available medical advice is generally well informed. I don't always agree with it, but that is another story .

[SueM]

Originally Posted by boomtheroom

its hard in newzealand,we dont seem to be up with the play, i hadnt even here of pumps till i read these forums, was u and your uncle in a morning and night insulin for a period of time? and any of you ever smoked if so for how long?

There are very few pumps in the UK, they are not needed in 99% of cases. People manage very well on shots many people have 2 shots a day even now. I Have 3 shots a day but only because I am on steroids.
My uncle still uses 2 shots a day and is just fine with his control. He has major problems with synthetic insulin's so sticks to his pork.

Smoking? Nope I was a very good girl learnt the error of my ways at the age of 11. It had a lot to do with my mother catching me trying cigs for the 1st time. Lets just say the trial was never repeated
I can not answer for my Uncle but doubt he has ever smoked.

If you do smoke please give up it is not good for anyone least of all someone with diabetes.
Best wishes
Sue

[johgn]

Originally Posted by boomtheroom

and any of you ever smoked if so for how long?

Many people here smoke and there are a lot of threads about quiting. I smoked for about 10 years and I'm glad I quit while I still could, it's terrible for diabetics.

[HollyB]

The mother of a friend of mine is turning 80 next year, been Type 1 since childhood, so she was diagnosed in the days before home testing, when you had to boil and sharpen your needles... She's still going strong, no serious complications.

For that generation she's definitely the exception, not the rule, but still... if she could do it, today's newly diagnosed diabetics should have much better odds.

[boomtheroom]

insulin woes,
im gettin lows all the time was on 30mg protophane in the morning and 20mg penmix 30 at night, would get hypos at night an between meals but bgs were good 2hrs after meals, now i dont have anything at night and only 8mg of protaphane in the morning but still get lows between meals only problem now is i go high after meals fro about 2hrs 10-11mmol before comming down on the 3rd hour to about 6-7mmol then gradually going down to about 3-4 mmol an hour after that u think i shoul take something like novorapid before meals and no basal ie protophane at all, im almost at that point anyway

[JediSurfer]

Hi there,
I'm coming upto my 29th year of diabetes and have no serious complications. A bit of neuropathy every now and again but thats it apart from the suspected coeliacs which isnt a complication of diabetes the two go hand in hand for 20% of us.
Whatever you do don't worry about it, live your life to the full and thank god or whomever you want that you are alive.
Learn, learn, learn and test, test and test some more. Learn for yourself how your body works with insulin and you will be fine and have a happy and long life. Appreciate every day and take nothing for granted.

[boomtheroom]

im down to 6mil protophane in the morning and nothing else, i go as high as 10mmol after a meal but sit between 4-6mmol the rest of the time, is it possible that i currently might be a type 2 misdiagnosed?

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by boomtheroom

im down to 6mil protophane in the morning and nothing else, .... is it possible that i currently might be a type 2 misdiagnosed?

You need to ask your doctor that question. But it sounds like T1 to me. Responding the way you have to the starting of insulin treatment is typical of the early stages of T1. But the initial reduction in the requirement for injected insulin wears of as the "honeymoon period" comes to an end. At some stage you will need to start injecting insulin before meals (Novorapid). I am sure the clinic we will be looking out for that.