in just finally realizing that i have type 1 diabetes, is this a certain death

[HarleyDog]

sentence in passing it from? generation to generation? i wonder with all the technoolgy nowadays, what happened to those who were diagnosed say 50 years ago? are we progressing better today as far as control of this disease? thanks
i was just diagnosed with type 2, caught somewhat early. Metformin for now.

[donnatella]

were u diagnosed or do u just think u have it because its genetic? Once it is managed its fine, there are no problems and no reason u cant carry on living perfectly normal life

[Naama]

It is totally not a death sentence, especially nowadays. It is just another chronic condition that the person must adjust to, and that we as their friends and families must help them with. It's just like asthma, or allergies, in that way.

But that's a very good question about diabetes 1 in the past. I suspect that it was far more deadly. I know that some cultures had specific names for it, often with general descriptions like "sweet urine disease," referring to the sweet smell that someone's urine or breath sometimes gives off. In the past, I've heard that some cultures and groups knew special herbs that helped the person.

Now that more people with Diabetes 1 are able to live well into their adult years, it is becoming more widespread as these people have children. It is also becoming more widespread because we are better able to test for it.

There have been soooo many advances in the last 50 years, including better understanding of insulin control, better drugs, and more convenient ways to deliver insulin (such as insulin pumps).

Don't feel like Diabetes 1 is your death sentence, or that you can't have a family because of it! When you get married and start thinking about children, it might be worth sitting down with a genetic counselour to talk about this concern and what can be done.

Good luck to you!