[Richard157]

My parents did not want me to go to college. My doctor agreed with them. They wanted me to stand at the window at the post office and sell stamps. My father worked there. I ignored them. I graduated 13'th in high school so I thought I could make it in college. My parents refused to help but they let me live at home and they did not charge me for room or board. My father gave me a used car. So they did help but not with college expenses. I graduated from college with a BS in Math. I graduated with honors. Then I received an MS in statistics from Va. Tech in 1963. I had trouble with diabetes along the way but I managed very well. I taught math at the college level for 34 years. I still had some hard times with my diabetes. Sometimes in class I would have to stop and test and eat glucose. Before glucose monitors it was much more difficult. I had major problems in the mid-1990's. I developed insulin resistance even though I am type 1. It was due to weight gain. I was double diabetic then. A type 1 with symptoms of type 2. I had much trouble with the roller coaster ride I was on. I had to retire at the age of 57. I continued to teach part-time for several more years. Along came Avandia which helped my insulin resistance very much. My insulin dosages returned to normal. Avandia for 8 years now, it is a life saver. I had to retire 5 years before I wanted to but our debts are paid. Not easy. My wife was a stay at home Mom and earned no salary. That was quite normal in the 60's when we were married. We cannot afford expensive vacations and luxery of any kind but we are comfortable and happy. I always wanted to tour the globe. No such luck! We can't have everything we want. My health is very good after 62 years of diabetes. I shouldn't ask for more than that.

Richard

[Alaska]

I am a service director for a motorsports dealership. We have two stores and I over look the service departments. In the past I have also worked for Microsoft.
I have never ever let diabetes stop me from what I've wanted to do. Whether it's been hunting 40 miles from the nearest road in Alaska to professionally roadracing motorcycles on the west coast and Canada. I've always been a huge risk taker and always will be. I refuse to let diabetes make me sit on the sidelines of life and just watch.
The only time diabetes has stopped me from doing what I wanted was when I was roadracing. I had to have laser surgery on both my eyes and once that was done I lost a great deal of periferial vision. Which is bad for me and other racers. So, I gave it up and retired. I STILL will go to practice days on the track though. No rush like doing 200 MPH on two wheels.
Currently I ride my street bikes, dirt bikes, atv's and snowmachines. I hunt waterfowl and other upland game birds, I also fish alot for salmon, halibut and trout.

[Aggie06]

Originally Posted by jess

However I would like to scuba dive and that is not an option

Jess,

You certainly *can* scuba dive. I am a PADI Certified Rescue Diver. Although, I was certified prior to be diagnosed, I have since been diving and had almost no issues while diving.

Type 1 certainly does increase the risk, but it can be mitigated if you follow the the DAN guidelines (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/ne...Guidelines.pdf)

Scuba did make my BS plummet like a rock, but I tested constantly and made sure to keep plenty of fruit and powerade on hand between dives. The only issue I had was a self-imposed cancellation of a dive due to my BS being lower than I was comfortable.

[Gary_W]

Rather than holding me back, I think diabetes has given me a bit of a push and direction. Strangely, I think it has actually increased my confidence level. I was 26 when diagnosed and I was needle phobic; couldn't even watch a needle on TV, the thought of a blood test would make me go faint. I overcame the needle phobia very quickly (you have to really) and I think my brain realised that if I could do that I could do pretty much anything.

I was an engineer at the time at a local hospital fixing medical equipment. It was a job for life, though that wasn't really the life I wanted; my wife and I were rather tired of living where we lived etc. In short, we were both bored. I decided I needed better qualifications and did an OU degree. The degree took 5 years of home study, but I passed with 1st class honours.

Whilst half way through the degree, I called up a company that I knew of who made ultrasound machines. I asked them for a job as a field engineer and as luck would have it they had a position. One interview in a pub later and we moved 3 hours North. I was a field engineer for them for 7 years.

They get taken over and working for them became a pain as opposed to enjoyable. I heard about a sales job going at a rival company. I phoned them and told them I wanted it; I kind of knew the chap that was the manager. I had never sold anything in my life and would be expected to manage a territory with a healthcare population of around 9 million people. I got an interview in a bar A couple of hours later, I was offered the job there and then.

I've been doing this for 3 1/2 years now and I'm a very good salesman. The year before last, I was the top salesman from the international group in our company and that was my first full year in the job. I really enjoy my job and I get an awful lot out of it.

I very often have to watch surgical proceedures, and if I hadn't overcome the needle phobia due to diabetes I'm not convinced I could be doing this for a living. It's a funny old world....

As far as I'm concerned, letting this disease stop you doing anything is letting it win. You obviously have to be responsible and do what you need to do to keep yourself well and safe, and sometimes it can make you feel so rough that it holds you back but other than that why let it spoil your life?

Gary

[notme]

I have also scuba dived and never had an issue. It is something you can do jess. I have tried to never let diabetes stop me from doing what I want to do.