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I've been Type 1 diabetic for 10 years. Even though my glucose control is excellent over that period (A1C never >6.5%) I've never been able to shake the latent

I've been Type 1 diabetic for 10 years. Even though my glucose control is excellent over that period (A1C never >6.5%) I've never been able to shake the latent fear that it's a matter of time before I develop complications like retinopathy. What sucks hard is that it's not _just_ determined by insulin and glucose. Exercise, stress, activity level, protein/fat intake, illness, and more can all cause massive variability in glucose levels and insulin sensitivity. Therefore my most successful blanket strategy for glucose control is keeping as consistent a routine as possible: eating the same foods, doing the same activities - at the same time, always exercising regularly, and avoiding spontaneity. While I've always had anxiety, it's only become worse over the years given the fear of having issues in both day-to-day blood sugar management and in being diagnosed with long term complications. Living with T1D often feels like a case study in applied stoicism.

JasonCannon 5y ago
Do you follow the advice of Dr Richard Bernstein at all? http://www.diabetes-book.com/ http://www.diabetes-book.com/ Dr Bernstein is a T1D diagnosed back in the '46. He followed the typical diabetes advice and still developed complications to his diabetes. He was an engineer and felt like the biggest problem (at his time) was that diabetics couldn't tell what was happening with their blood sugar so he started doing whatever he could to gain access to a blood sugar monitor (rare and only owned by doctors at the time) and once he got one he started doing what engineers do, testing adjusting and tracking results. He realized that complications from diabetes is entirely caused by blood sugar, and that carbs are the largest thing that affects blood sugar. A low carb high fat/protein diet would have minimal effect on blood sugar levels. He tried to advocate that everyone should follow this diet and also have access to a blood sugar monitor. But the medical industry wouldn't give him any mind, because he's an engineer not a doctor. So this dude went out and became a doctor, and has completely changed the lives of diabetics everywhere thanks to his work. Anyways, tangent about how awesome this guy is aside. He says if you maintain an A1C of 5.5 you will not suffer the effects of diabetes. The best way to do that, he recommends, is to eat a low carb high fat diet in order to minimize spikes in blood sugar and avoid needing to take excess insulin.
- justasidenote2 5y ago
  Yep, he's an inspiring guy and I've read his book. The fact that he's lived well into his 80s with T1D gives me hope that folks people can have a pretty good prognosis. I also follow a low carb diet, which is how I've been able to have good glucose control myself.

JasonCannon 5y ago

Do you follow the advice of Dr Richard Bernstein at all? http://www.diabetes-book.com/ http://www.diabetes-book.com/ Dr Bernstein is a T1D diagnosed back in the '46. He followed the typical diabetes advice and still developed complications to his diabetes. He was an engineer and felt like the biggest problem (at his time) was that diabetics couldn't tell what was happening with their blood sugar so he started doing whatever he could to gain access to a blood sugar monitor (rare and only owned by doctors at the time) and once he got one he started doing what engineers do, testing adjusting and tracking results. He realized that complications from diabetes is entirely caused by blood sugar, and that carbs are the largest thing that affects blood sugar. A low carb high fat/protein diet would have minimal effect on blood sugar levels. He tried to advocate that everyone should follow this diet and also have access to a blood sugar monitor. But the medical industry wouldn't give him any mind, because he's an engineer not a doctor. So this dude went out and became a doctor, and has completely changed the lives of diabetics everywhere thanks to his work. Anyways, tangent about how awesome this guy is aside. He says if you maintain an A1C of 5.5 you will not suffer the effects of diabetes. The best way to do that, he recommends, is to eat a low carb high fat diet in order to minimize spikes in blood sugar and avoid needing to take excess insulin.

justasidenote2 5y ago
Yep, he's an inspiring guy and I've read his book. The fact that he's lived well into his 80s with T1D gives me hope that folks people can have a pretty good prognosis. I also follow a low carb diet, which is how I've been able to have good glucose control myself.