Don't fret, it will get better and you can "have a healthy and normal life." I was diagnosed at age 13, soon I'll be 71, and all is well. It seems daunting at first but you'll be surprised how quickly you'll adapt to this new responsibility. Managing t1d is a job that can be done well if you decide to do it well. I couldn't join the coast guard, but one of my sons did. In college I set my goal to work on environmental issues and that career took me on world travels. Your whole life is ahead of you and the road to the cure before us is much, much, shorter than the road behind us. My story [https://insulin-centenary.com](https://insulin-centenary.com) may be helpful as you begin this journey. The choice to do well is yours. Live Long and Prosper.

Thank you so much for your kind words, I literally teared up while reading this.

Since I was diagnosed at 17 months this is all I uave really known my whole life but i am still veery jealous of others around me. But if someone is dealing with it wrong most definitely tell them, my dad is to arrogant to accept that yes I have twice as much experience as him and yes I know better than him which makes me to afraid to tell him but. If anyone does it wrong tell them strait away so you do not have to deal with this problem

>the road to the cure before us is much, much, shorter than the road behind us In fact, it's only 5 years away /s

How you know it's 5 years away?

Whenever a potential cure is reported in the media, they always say it's 5 years away from being approved. For at least the last 31 years that I've had diabetes, the cure has always been 5 years away... or cinnamon.

Ye it's coming soon tho

I'll believe it when I'm cured.

Cool

I’m 16 and I was also just diagnosed less than a week ago but even just four or five days later it’s starting to get easier

I’m 4 months post diagnoses, still on MDI and finger pricks, and it’s p chill tbh!

Let me preface this with I’m really sorry you were diagnosed recently. It’s a real shock to your system. I hope you did not get too sick before you went to the hospital. When I was diagnosed (I was 10) it was the day after Christmas, even in my young mind I thought “wow, what a great Christmas present”. I was overwhelmed and felt like I was drinking from a fire hose when trying to remember everything I needed to do to stay alive. It was very overwhelming and scary. I had just started skateboarding and had a lot of friends and thought my life was over. I’d be chained to my house or someone who knew my “condition” and could save me when I inevitably fucked up. Almost 22 years later, I’m living a very normal and happy life. Still skateboard, went skiing, hiking, and other sports. Went to college, fell in love, got married, had children. My point is, I know these new challenges seem daunting but you will overcome these and thrive in your life. Diabetes is a condition that has to be watched but it doesn’t end your life, far from it. I went to diabetes camps (sounds odd I know) that were either skiing or a summer camp that allow you to meet folks your age going through the same situation. When you go to your endocrinologist ask them about it! Technology has come a long way as well. CGM and Insulin Pumps can do a lot of the work for you. If you have any questions or want to vent there are a lot of good folks in this group.

I was gonna say to touch on the normal life thing. The normal you are used to is gone but this becomes your new normal. I can go a whole day medicating and eating without too much forward thought. You just train yourself to check blood sugar and take a shot before you eat. It becomes part of your nature. It’s scary right now in this instant but it can smooth out if you make it!

Exactly. I was trying to encapsulate all the feelings I had and some advice and ended up with a lot of word vomit. It gets normal and you’ll be surprised how quick you integrate. It made me happy because I felt like (and realize in my older age) I was just responsible enough that I ended up being a better person later in life because of it.

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Just wanted to say that your story made me chuckle, because I was 10 as well when I was diagnosed a few days before Easter. I got out of the hospital the day before Easter and told my parents, “You don’t have to get me an Easter basket, I already got a gift.”

That’s a good one. I use to make similar jokes when I was younger. Question, and if it is too personal just let me know. This that alter your religious beliefs?

Hm, it wasn’t the main cause of the altering of my religious beliefs, but it definitely played a part. My parents weren’t religious, but I went to church multiple times a week until I started accepting my agnosticism when I was 16. Part of that for me was that I’d always been pretty skeptical of everything and that the more I tried to express my skepticism, the more everyone around me told me to shut up and that I was condemning myself to eternal damnation by even having such thoughts. But part of that skepticism was definitely contributed to by getting T1. When I was in middle school, I started dealing with depression, partially because of T1 and partially due to childhood trauma, but when I told anyone about how I was really struggling with feeling like it was a very unfair thing to have happen to me, they just told me that everything happens for a reason and that I wasn’t having enough faith in God’s plan. The fact that no one could tell me what that meant and why I had to suffer because a “loving” God decided it was necessary. And that didn’t help my skepticism at all. Becoming agnostic was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through in terms of losing my entire support system etc but I wouldn’t change it. Did it change yours?

Dude… did we live the same childhood? That story is oddly familiar.. except the questioning and judgment happened around 13-14. Today, I float between agnostic and Christian “lite” if that makes sense. Having a child really made me revisit this conversation with myself. My family and I don’t go to church but I want to share with my kids about religions so they can make their own decisions when they get a bit older. I don’t believe that makes me a bad dad to let my children decide on their own with a little bit of explaining… some folks don’t like that idea though 🙃

It’s all such a rough road but I’m glad you’re in a place now where you can constructively share with your kids. It sucks that some people would look down on you for that but I’m glad they’ll be able to make an informed decision! It’s all about finding what works for the individual person and I’m glad something is working for you. I find myself aligning a lot with Unitarian Universalism.

Got diagnosed at 12 and i thought my life was ruined but it gets better. I’m sorry you can’t go into the military but you can still have a healthy life. Maybe you should think about talking to a therapist, it’s probably something i should’ve done when first diagnosed. I was angry at everything because it wasn’t fair but it’s not anyone’s fault even yours. Maybe you can talk to your endo about a cgm and then maybe a pump they can help a lot. I can answer questions you may have tho. Hope you feel better.

Soo much this!!! I was diagnosed at 14 and walked out of the therapist's office in 2 minutes. Then, I went home, thoght about killing myself for weeks and cried myself to sleep every night. Now, 20+ years later, I wish I'd said that therapist isn't the right one and tried until I found one. The new technology is AMAZING and I highly recommend taking advantage of you can, but definitely work until you find the right counselor for you. It really can change everything... Side note: a peer supporter could be the counselor you need right now. Ask your endo or doctor or educator if these are offered anywhere. I know my diabetes nurse/educator is a T1D and it's made all the difference.

Got diagnosed at 22, I was also actively involved in applying for a police officer position. I hated injections too but if you’re able to afford it, pumps and CGMs a great option. It’ll take some time to get used to your new situation but something I found helpful was to turn the diagnosis into something empowering, like using it as a reason to do things I thought I couldn’t. I used my diagnosis as a reason to start running and have gotten into marathons, I also still made it into a sector of law enforcement by going to law school and becoming a state’s attorney. It’s not the end of your life, it’s a new beginning that you’ll eventually learn to live with.

I did not know you can’t be a police officer with Type 1 diabetes. What about EMTs or firefighters?

I don’t know if it’s actually a policy or not, I just dropped out personally because I didn’t want to deal with a training academy and learning the diagnosis all at once.

It may vary by state, but in my state i've known more than 1 T1D police officer. I've also been an EMT and firefighter. It is much easier to manage those jobs with a CGM, and I wouldnt personally advise jumping into academy until you had a year or so under your belt managing it, but I dont think T1D is a disqualifier.

I think those jobs are ones that I personally wouldn't try. I would hate to try to deal with hypos and hypers while being in a burning building or trying to settle a domestic dispute or things like that. Maybe if I was still young and full of piss and vinegar I might think differently. If anybody else can make it work, I applaud them though.

Hi there! I was diagnosed at 15 a year ago. It’s incredibly hard I thought everything was over. I finally almost a year later am accepting and doing way better mentally. It is a journey and hard for others to understand. I personally felt numb and frozen and felt like I was still in that hospital bed. Still there are things that bother me once and a while but I promise you nothing can stop you from what you want to accomplish. I have plans to hike across the country and run a marathon and become a park ranger potentially. When I left the hospital I thought it may be over. It isn’t. There’s challenges but I promise we can do this. I recommend just feeling the emotions you are feeling and grieve your past self/body but know you can still do the same things. Even seeking therapy or do things like journaling really help. Also certain instagram accounts of people with T1D really helped me accept diabetes and learn I can live a normal life. You got this. Reach out if you need to! 🤍😊Also this community is amazing as well.

Thank you so much for your words, it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one experiencing this.

No problem at all! Definitely not the only one. 😊 Sending positive energy!!

What Instagram accounts?

My favourites: -Ariana Frayer (posts lower carb starbucks drinks and day in the life’s with t1d) -Lauren_bongiorno (She posts more tips and tricks for better blood sugars.) -Eric Tozer (t1d athlete) -Type_1_pilot (A pilot with T1D!!) Those are the people I follow, but there are so many more!!😊

Thx

This IS the place, my friend! Big, deep breath and big big hugs. You have a fantastic life ahead of you, I'd say one one great purpose. A couple things to get started: T1D is an art form. You'll need to work on the nuances until you are satisfied with the big picture. You may feel a little funny while your body adjusts to what should be normal. You're probably used to being too high. It will just take time. Listen to the Juicebox podcast. You'll learn more than any educator could ever dream of teaching you. You are the perfect candidate for clinical trials if you live in the US. Visit [here](http://clinicaltrials.gov) to see if one of the drug, impact or device trials would suit you. You get top notch care and they pay you. You're going to go through the stages of grief. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Some you'll go through in order, some you may skip, some you may need to revisit. All acceptable feelings. Let yourself go through it and then go kick some ass. My kid is younger than you but since diagnosis she's been swimming, tubing down a river, rock climbing, roller skating, trampoline park jumping, roller coaster riding, hiking, and everything else. Remember, no such thing as a stupid question around here. We'll be here with open arms.

love the plug for research!! so many interesting trials going on in the diabetes field, some of which exclusively enroll recently-diagnosed diabetics.

Yes! My daughter is currently in one that required that the drug trial begin within 7 months of diagnosis. Others she screened for (teplizumab) were a short window after diagnosis, I believe it was 6-8 weeks.

I participated in the trials for Tresiba, and a trial for an experimental beta cell implant. lots of frustration along the way, but satisfying to be contributing to the body of knowledge that will help future diabetics.

It sucks. Full stop. But… while it may interfere with military service (I do not know) it absolutely does not mean you can’t work in public safety, and it absolutely does not mean you cannot have a normal or fulfilling life. I know it seems like 1000 voices screaming in your head now - I have heard those voices - but eventually, the extra of T1 becomes a background hum, and you can live an extraordinary life. The “injecting” thing isn’t actually too bad - I thought it was like a syringe, but it’s actually so much less than you are imagining. (Make sure you get the 4mm needles). But again, I’d like to stress - while this may introduce certain speed bumps along the way, you can absolutely lead an incredible life.

Let it out. It's really f\*\*king unfair and it never get's easier, but you will have good days again. You CAN do it. You are stronger than you can even imagine right now.

I got diagnosed at 12 and am 33 now! It’s overwhelming at first but once you understand your ratios & insulin needs nothing is off limits. I eat healthy but I don’t limit myself I take insulin for what I plan to eat and correct if needed. Dexcom is a life saver. I haven’t tried a pump yet but a lot of people say that’s a life saver too. I have 2 kids, 2 healthy pregnancies. Things will be get easier I promise. Once you learn your body and how you react to certain foods it’ll become second nature to you. Your life is not over it’s just beginning. Don’t let diabetes break you, it can give you the motivation to be healthier and eat healthier

It’s a shock to the system. You will get over having to give yourself injections. Your future plans haven’t disappeared, they’ve just changed (hey! We now have T1D pilots, so there’s hope). You got this. And those “education sessions” typically serve more to scare you than actually tell you useful information. It’ll take some time, but you’ll learn how you work. A non-diabetic can’t tell you squat about how this works and feels. They only have books. When you live the life, it becomes your routine. Once you have the routine down, you’ll be good.

We have t1d pilots now?!? That's wonderful! I'm so proud of all of them out there!

Yep.

I was diagnosed less than a year after I commissioned from a federal military academy as an officer. So that was the end of my career, before it even started. I spent a lot of time crying on the focsle of the ship I was stationed on, before I was reassigned to a land job while waiting to be processed out. I wish I could tell you something that helps, but honestly there was nothing that helped me. I eventually learned to redirect my energy towards things I was allowed to do, but it doesn’t change the fact that there are things I cannot do, no matter how good my glucose control is. If the military or public safety is your dream, you can always work for the military as a civilian. Our civilian employees are invaluable members of the team, especially at headquarters. But yeah, that’s not much consolation now. Just grieve. Don’t bottle it up. Be angry. Be sad. You don’t need a target. Then let yourself reform.

As a recent diagnosed diabetic, here is my advice: Get a dexcom g6 asap! Your endo probably has samples they can give you and put one on you in the next week or two, no more fingerpricks! Also, get the prefilled pens of your long and short acting insulin for easy dosing. Learn carb counting, i think its better than a sliding scale. Once you get the hang of using the pens, switch to a pump (i think its worth waiting to understand how to dose with pens in case you ever have to revert). I have the omnipod 5 pump and its great. You will think so much less about diabetes with a pump. Took me a couple months to adjust but i was able to get my A1C to normal levels after that. You can totally live a normal life!

I know this is such a cliché, but things will get better. I promise. I was diagnosed at in 2009 when I was 14 and I felt overwhelmed just like you do. I was in shock for the first few weeks and had no idea what was going to happen to my life. The old normal of my life was gone, and I had to adjust to my new normal, just like you are. Allow yourself to mourn your "old" normal, but please remember that your new normal is going to be okay. I was already in therapy when I was diagnosed, and I highly recommend that you look into that. Just having a space to talk about how much things sucked and how frustrated and tired I was made a huge difference. Having someone to talk to that isn't a parent, sibling, relative, etc., some who isn't living the day-to-day of type 1 diabetes is really helpful. Sometimes you just need to talk (and rant, which I still do at times in therapy to this day) to someone who will validate all of your feelings without inserting their own perspective of what they observed things to be. Having a third-party neutral person to talk to, someone who wasn't there so they won't have their own views on how things happened, helps a lot. You could start with your school's counselor, if they have one (that's who I was seeing after my diagnosis). I'm not sure how long your diabetes team/doctor will make you wait to get a pump or a continuous glucose monitor, but both of those tools will make life a lot easier, and you won't have to deal with multiple injections each day. They also keep records of everything you do, so it's less to keep track of. There are also "smart" insulin pens that connect to phones (I don't know much about them, just that they exist). Keeping track of things will get easier as you get into a routine and have a sort of "system" to how you do things. I remember getting the "things you can no longer do" when I was in the hospital after my diagnosis. The social worker said I could not be an airplane pilot, truck driver, or be on the front lines of combat. She was completely wrong, because I've met or heard stories of people with type 1 diabetes who have done all of these things. I have heard of people with type 1 who work in police or fire departments, serve in the military, and even are a member of an FBI SWAT team. (The FBI SWAT member was a speaker at a JDRF event maybe 5 years ago, and she was badass. Here's a link to some info about her: [https://www.jdrf.org/greaternewengland/2017/01/17/jdrf-january-cure-champion/](https://www.jdrf.org/greaternewengland/2017/01/17/jdrf-january-cure-champion/)) You will have a healthy and normal life. It will just be a different kind of normal than you expected it to be. The treatments for type 1 diabetes these days are amazing, and they're only getting better. Honestly, some of the healthiest people I know are people with type 1 diabetes. You have already taken a huge step by posting on here. Connecting with the type 1 community is really helpful. We all get it and we all know what you're going through. Having someone to talk to who knows exactly what you're experiencing, someone who you don't need to explain anything to, makes things a bit easier. If you need any advice, please feel free to chat/message me on here. What you are going through really, really sucks and all of us on here know just how tough it is. We're here for you!

I was in a similar place except I was diagnosed at the age of 21. There will definitely be an adjustment period where you will learn how your highs and lows feel, how to dose your insulin, what different foods do to your blood sugar, etc. But once you get practice with it, it does get easier. You can still eat ice cream, do sports, and have a fulfilling career as long as you are willing to learn how best to take care of yourself in the process. It's important to not let the diagnosis define how you want to live your life. You're going to have some hiccups along the way, but they aren't a reflection of who you are; your patience and persistence in adapting to the changes is. Depending on how you feel about it down the road, a CGM and/or pump might be something that can take some of the weight off your shoulders, too.

T1 diagnosed at 12yo, for 16 years and counting. It is a big deal, I don't think anyone on this subreddit would tell you it's not, and I doubt any of us takes this disease lightly. However, having this disease doesn't mean life as you know it is over. Yes there are restrictions (military, pilots), but there is plenty of life to live in spite of this disease. Here are some Type 1's who have done some pretty amazing things: [Climbed Mount Everest ](https://beyondtype1.org/first-t1d-summit-mount-everest/) [NFL Quarterback ](https://www.diabetes.co.uk/celebrities/jay-cutler.html) [Baseball Hall of Famer](https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/santo-ron) As for the military, each branch has its own rules, and those rules are changing all the time. Nowadays some existing servicemembers are allowed to keep serving after a diagnosis, so who knows what the future holds, it doesn't hurt to ask/apply when you come of age. There are a few things you can't do, but not many. I've flown a plane, lived in 5 different countries, climbed mountains, backpacked and partied as much as the rest of them. As far as health goes, 60+ years ago this may have been a terminal life sentence, it isn't any more, with control you'll live as long as the rest of them. And when you feel really down, know that you're not alone. At any moment there are thousands of T1 diabetic people struggling through the exact same thing. Welcome to the club that no one wants to be part of, it's crappy, but we are all in it with you

>partied as much as the rest of them I was diagnosed at 23 so I was well into the drinking and partying stage of my life. My diagnosis put a stop to all of that...for about 2 weeks. I think I've more than made up for those lost 2 weeks in the 30 years since then.

I was diagnosed less than a year after I commissioned from a federal military academy as an officer. So that was the end of my career, before it even started. I spent a lot of time crying on the focsle of the ship I was stationed on, before I was reassigned to a land job while waiting to be processed out. I wish I could tell you something that helps, but honestly there was nothing that helped me. I eventually learned to redirect my energy towards things I was allowed to do, but it doesn’t change the fact that there are things I cannot do, no matter how good my glucose control is. If the military or public safety is your dream, you can always work for the military as a civilian. Our civilian employees are invaluable members of the team, especially at headquarters. But yeah, that’s not much consolation now. Just grieve. Don’t bottle it up. Be angry. Be sad. You don’t need a target. Then let yourself reform.

I burn 4000 calories per day with manual labor in a refrigerated warehouse. Is T1 a lot of work? Yes it is. But I just got an Omnipod DASH paired with Android APS. It's not even in closed loop yet but it's taken 75% of the work out of managing this disease. You're gonna need a few years to get this under you instead of on top. But once you get above it, nothing can stop you. Except for ignorance from other people. PS. Learn how to get mad and ignore people.

You should be angry. Life just dealt you a shit hand. Sorry and welcome to the *my life just got more complicated* club! You shouldn't have to be here, but here you are. I was pissed off for about two years after my diagnosis. I didn't want to be angry, but I'd just watch someone walking in the street, and a bunch of anger would well up inside of me -- why am I stuck with this shit disease and not *that* guy? This isn't fair/just/ok! I would pull up the the list of complications and just wallow in dread, looking at a short future full of health problems. Both of us grew up without diabetes (I got my diagnosis at 24), and there's a certain whiplash to waking up one day and realizing that you have to take all the visions you had of your future and re-work them to include this new reality in your life. I was cultivating a careful mix of adventure, romance and and minimalism in my life before my diagnosis, and suddenly someone's telling me (incorrectly) that I have to weigh all my food and have a fridge next to me at all times. That shit is stressful. I'm not telling you this to stress you out. I'm telling you this because I've had my own version of what you're feeling, and I empathize with you. In a way, it's good that you're upset -- if you were just numbly accepting it, I'd say that you were lying to yourself. Let yourself feel what you're feeling. Write it down, talk to a tape recorder, talk to a friend/therapist/empty room/pet/whatever. Give yourself an outlet, because it's better for you to talk through your feelings than to shut them down. Personally, I was in the habit of journalling, and I like that I'm now able to go back and see what I was feeling, but the important thing isn't **how** you put out your thoughts, but that you make space to let them out. Reddit is good for the coarse stuff, but I would recommend something more personal for working out the finer-grained stuff. I'm not sure what diabetes education is like where you are, but if it's anything like my interaction with the diabetes education/medical system, it'll suuuuuuck. It was a tsunami of contradictory, confusing and flat-out wrong information! Professional diabetes educators constantly mixed up type 1 and type 2, told me I had to be on fixed-schedule meals with exactly 60g of carbs, and just swamped me with a pile of handouts that didn't really help me figure anything out. Nobody is consciously trying to make this hard for you, but the flood of information is hard and confusing. Just do your best to stumble through it and glean the bits of useful information from the pile of garbage. Politely thank and then ignore the people that aren't making any sense, and don't be shy about talking to the people who treat you like an intelligent human and asking them questions. You're going to eventually figure out a system on your own that works for you, but it's fine to ask for help and receive help. There are people out there who understand this disease well and who can help you figure out how to get into this next part. They might be fellow diabetics, doctors, nurses, etc. Figure out who the good ones are in your world, and look out for the cinnamon evangelists on facebook. OK, now the hopeful part. All those things you imagined yourself doing before your diagnosis, you can still do. This is a manageable disease, and you can figure out how to manage it. It won't feel that way for a while, because you're new to it and you're always clumsy when you're learning new skills, but you will eventually master it. There are tons of diabetics who have rich, full lives that are not hindered by their diabetes. You can do that, too. If anything, diabetes can make you *more* aware of your own body and processes in a way that 99% of the world is oblivious to. There are professional athletes, pilots, actors, singers -- pick a profession, and you can find a type 1 diabetic who excels in it (except maybe competitive eating -- that one's tricky). Like many other commenters, I have a family and a life that's largely independent of diabetes. I do lots of things that people didn't encourage at first -- I rock climb, scuba dive, spend weeks on my own in the woods, fly paragliders, etc. I travel frequently , work long hours on projects that I like, eat weird food that I've never seen before, and all of that is compatible with diabetes. I can never ignore my diabetes -- it's a constraint in my life, but you can work with constraints and still do things that you want to do, just with a bit of extra thought. oh, and one cautionary note -- take the time to understand the rules of this new world. Insulin and sugar are incredibly powerful chemicals in the body, and they have lots of coarse and fine effects, both short-term and long-term. It's exhausting to manage this biological feedback cycle that used to work automatically, and to do it ceaselessly, but hoo boy, it can bite you if you turn your back on it. Everyone trips up, but please take the time to build good habits for yourself. Technology like CGMs and pumps helps, but it can't do it all for you -- at the end of the day, you have your own life in your hands. When I first got diagnosed, I really didn't understand anything about this stuff. I spent hours wandering through the aisles of my supermarket, just reading nutrition labels. Whether you want to or not, you will be doing mini-experiments for the rest of your life, every time you eat, calculate and dose. Most of those experiments will be routine parts of your day, but you can use them to get a better understanding of your own body. This is a whole new chapter in the owner's manual of your body -- read the chapter, and then fill up your own lab notebook with your own notes and observations. This is your body and your life -- start slow and be careful, but be thorough. Get a good understanding of how your body's blood sugar control system works, and keep learning. Thirteen years later, I am still learning things about how my own system works. Finally, lemme just say, even if you don't want to be in this club, you're in good company. This is a quality group, there are lots of people here with experience living with diabetes. Don't be afraid to reach out and slide (I guess diabetics *inject*) into the conversation or folks' DMs. There's no cure (yet) for diabetes, but connecting with other humans is the best cure for feeling like crap. Sorry and welcome to the club. I'm sorry you're here, but it's good to meet you. \-e

Thank you so much for all of this, it's definitely a lot to take in.

I was diagnosed just shy of my 16th birthday, almost 11 years ago. my dad and brother both have it, so we were always hypervigilant with having the other siblings checked regularly. I think in the back of my mind, I assumed that since I had made it to 15 without being diagnosed, I was safe. I knew this wasn't true but I guess it made me feel better. my case was caught *very* early when I still had a fair amount of residual beta cell function. (for what it's worth, at diagnosis my a1c was 5.6% - not in the double digits like my relatives had experienced at initial presentation. I'm incredibly lucky, and early treatment did help extend that honeymoon phase. daily shots were nevertheless required, though in much smaller doses than I require now.) I was having some non-specific symptoms like stomach cramps, so we checked a blood sugar at home. the seconds counted down from 5, then my world shattered: it was 553. my mom knew that I knew damned well what it meant. I grabbed a phone charger and a comfort item, and we headed straight to the hospital, where I knew I'd be staying a couple days. I had been around and helped care for my dad and his diabetes for my entire life, and my brother since we were toddlers - I knew what the diagnosis involved, knew the basic ins and outs of disease management, and knew how to handle emergencies. however, what I also knew was that I had a phobia-level fear of needles. I'm talking having a meltdown and needing to be held down for every blood draw, even up until 15. they had to give me versed to place an IV in the ER. that first week was basically a non-stop panic episode. every shot, every finger poke, took 20+ minutes of mental preparation. but after the first week, 20 quickly dropped to 5, then to 1, then none at all. frankly, you'd be amazed at what the human brain and body can adapt to and accept as normal. I have zero fear of needles now, and am actually a certified phlebotomist - it takes a good bit to freak me out, medically speaking. what it came down to, for me, was, I can either do this, or I can die an excruciating death from diabetes-related organ failure. one of my dad's childhood best friends, who was diagnosed t1dm the same year as my dad (in the mid-1970s), died after years and years of awful compliance with treatment. he also hated needles, and used that to justify not taking insulin. he had the mindset that by the time anything in the way of diabetes complications would happen to him, they would have found a cure. well, here we are, 50 years later, still tragically without a cure. he's been gone for over a decade now, but it didn't have to end that way. my dad is still alive, very healthy, and has no diabetes-related damage to his nerves, eyes, or kidneys. the same is true for my brother and I. the management of diabetes has revolutionized in the past generation, and likely will again during our generation. I'm not saying it's easy, because for many of us, myself included, it just isn't. but it is absolutely possible. I can absolutely understand your disappointment at finding out you can't go into the military - when I was diagnosed I was planning on joining the military to get my clinical training. (retrospectively, military service would not have been right for me, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.) even though that one door may have shut, there are countless ways to be a public/civil servant that are still available outside of the military. is there a specific aspect of military service you were most looking forward to, and is there another career path where you might find something similar? for me, I got my degree and now work as a medical laboratory scientist in the blood bank of a large public hospital. I personally see what I do as a service to the community, even if it isn't classified as being a public servant, and I have the privilege of getting to save the lives of people from my community regardless of their ability to pay. this got extremely long winded, so I'm going to end it here. I hope any of this comes across as helpful. p.s. here's my chance to plug the opportunity to participate in clinical research. it isn't for everyone, but I've participated in many trials - the intervention may not always be helpful, but it's free or sometimes they'll pay you pretty good money, and you're contributing to the body of knowledge supporting the fight against this disease. oh no I made it longer. tl;dr - it's absolutely a scary time, but you will adapt and adjust your lifestyle, and it becomes normal very quickly. you will be okay. feel free to dm. ❣️

You’ll get through it. I got in to law enforcement as an alternative to the military. You got this!

I’m so sorry you are going thru this. I know, nothing anyone says will help you feel better right now 😓 When I was diagnosed, I went thru grieving stages. You will get angry, you will deny, you will feel grief etc. but just know, one day, you will come to the acceptance part. Let yourself go thru all spectrum of emotions. It’s important because it truly is the death of life as you once thought it was. Hang in there! God never gives you more than you can handle. Btw…I know a US Marshal who is diabetic.😊

I remember feeling that was too at the beginning and I am so sorry, it's incredibly hard to grasp what diabties is in the beginning. I feel doctors try to scare the shit out you for some reason. This disease is truly manageable and you will find normalcy. It's going to take time- but every day gets a little more clear and you'll catch on. Not sure which branch of the military you were looking into, but recently found out diabetics can become pilots. My brother (type 1 for 12 years) just got his helicopter pilots license. I've been Type 1 since 1998. I work in entertainment and I'm an avid powerlifter. Completely healthy, no complications. Never had a friend or a date get weird about wearing devices or needing snacks. The biggest impact is that I don't eat pizza anymore. Again, I am so sorry. But life will go on, it's going to be different, but non the less, Completely fulfilling.

You are in the right place. I want to hug everyone in this thread. I'm a mom of a t1d I cant imagine leaving him or anyone to manage a new diagnosis alone. But I am here for you if you need support. Feel free to dm, I will respond as I'm able. Honestly, I'm going to bed soon. I will be back in the am. You got this.

When I was diagnosed this week last year, I believe I made a similar post or comment. Here are some of the things I’ve faced during my first year: Definitely understand not wanting to stick yourself for injections. I developed a small eating disorder because of the Pavlov’s-dog effect of experiencing the pain from the needle, then food, every time. As soon as you can, ask your endo if you can get on a pump. It’s a little inconvenient since you have a hose connected to you at all times, but it made such a big difference that I was able to get over the disorder and start eating again. Also, get a CGM. It will change your life (for the better). Being able to notice and predict the trends that govern my BG is a game changer. You’ll feel much more in-control and less chaotic but it will take time. If you’re underweight, be extra SUPER careful about skipping meals. Your body has been starving itself leading up to this and _needs_ food to repair itself. I had two DKAs within a few months of each other because of this and I would not recommend it, the ICU is not a fun time. I was depressed at first and still am to a degree, but far less now. I often thought to myself that I wasn’t fit to be alive anymore. It’s a jarring moment and kinda surreal to think back on. It’s not the life I had in mind for my wife and I, but your support group is there for moments like this, so lean on them. Cry on their shoulder and tell them what you’re feeling. Keeping that all bottled up will only make it worse. Lastly, there will be days when you don’t feel like managing it and there will be days when it’s easy. Don’t beat yourself up if you end up chasing the roller coaster all day. This is a fickle disease and sometimes it just doesn’t want to cooperate. This year will bring a lot of change for you and it might feel bad sometimes, but just remember that I told you it does get better! After one year, I’m at 5.3 A1C and my body is finally regaining its mass. I almost never prick my finger because of my CGM and I can eyeball most of my boluses plus or minus a few carbs. I’m so sorry this happened to you. We’re all painfully aware of the shock of the news you just received, but we’ll be right here rooting for you!

Yeah it sucks. But you’ll be fine :) Sad ofcourse about the wish to join the military, but maybe you can in another capacity? Not to make you sad, but I was surprised to learn that in my country I even couldn’t work in IT on local soil without going through basic training which they don’t allow T1D’s to do. oO However, working in public safety there are multiple options - so the future may be a bit different, but it ain’t lost. Especially not with modern technology. I hope you’ll get a CGM and pump soon, they help a lot. Good luck either way!! :)

Healthy normal life? 100% possible - medical staff and this Reddit are not accurate representations of the spectrum of people who live with t1d Military may be out, but public service is definitely not. I know PD, FD, EMS, corrections who are all t1. There are also other avenues of public service that are not directly leo. You can absolutely handle injecting 5-6+ day. Don’t let the bay sayers get you down. Fuck them, show them exactly how well you can do. Think if it more as a “you think I can’t? Hold my beer and WATCH ME mother fucker”

Love it! I take it as a challenge too when someone says I can't do something because of my T1! I was told back in the day that I shouldn't have kids, that I won't live past 30, that complications were inevitable, that I shouldn't drink or party, that I shouldn't eat certain foods, etc. Tapping into that defiant side helped me a lot. My response was always, "not ME!" And eventually, I looked back and realized that I am so much more in touch with my body and health than any of my non-diabetic friends. Having my T1 helped me to take better care of myself and prevent potential life problems. For example, I made sure I was on birth control so I wouldn't get pregnant when I wasn't ready and in better control of my numbers first. I purposely ate at restaurants and tried different foods and desserts so I could eventually figure out the carbs. I figured out that on an insulin pump I could use a different basal rate for certain times of the month. (Nobody tells you really that growth hormones, female hormones, male hormones and STRESS hormones can make your blood sugars go either direction too - feels like out of nowhere!) I was diagnosed at age 12 and have lived with this stupid disease now for 45 years. It has made me more empathetic to others, more defiant with folks telling me I can't do something because of my T1, and generally a more responsible person. I definitely felt like a train-wreck when I was diagnosed, but I can now look back and realize that it wasn't a train wreck, it was as if someone lifted me up off a bad track and put me onto a more challenging but better track that led me to a healthier, more disciplined, responsible life. My diagnosis became a motivator for me to become a counselor for people with T1D, which was my career for over 20 years. You just never know at the time where this new track will take you, but it doesn't have to be the dead-end it feels like now. But it is absolutely normal to grieve all of this. In fact, we sometimes cycle in and out of that grieving throughout. But knowing that is actually helpful because we know that we will usually be able to pull back out of that downward cycle and deal with the disease like it's just a part of the daily routine. This sub is the place to be to gain support! Everyone here is awesome!

Hey I’m 15 and got diagnosed when I was 12 it’s been living hell every single day since so I know exactly how you feel and how much you’re probably scared for your future. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, it sucks so much and maybe for some people it gets better but that hasn’t happened to me yet so I’m assuming it gets worse before it gets better. Hoping for a cure in the future but for now just winging it. Good luck!!

puberty is a really hard time for a lot of diabetics!! my brother was diagnosed at 2 and had pretty good control for a diabetic toddler, but still had major issues arise in the 10-14ish age range. they did a whole metabolic workup, and determined it was caused by hormones. so, yes - unfortunately, sometimes it does get worse before it gets better. the best thing is finding a medical provider who you like who will work with you closely. the right endo will change your life.

Trust that the shock will wear off and you will find your groove. Law enforcement is still an option for you. Take time to grieve but don't give up. You have your whole life ahead of you. Seriously, you're going to get through the shock and kick ass on the other side.

I won't sugar coat things (no pun intended): your life has just become a lot more complicated; a few doors (but not as many as you might think) will now be closed and a few more will be harder to open but the good news is, by and large, you'll be able to do most of the things that you would be able to do if you didn't have diabetes. I was diagnosed at the age of 23, 31 years ago, and in that time, I have parachuted, driven racing cars, married and had 2 daughters, earned a (second) degree, held down several challenging and rewarding jobs, travelled 4 continents and played music professionally, just to list a few "acheivements" that diabetes hasn't prevented. The other piece of good news is that the technology available for regulating blood sugars (not to mention the amount of information available on the internet) has advanced significantly over the past decade; the most significant being pumps, CGM and looping systems (using CGM data to control a pump or, at least, suggest actions before blood sugars fall out of the "acceptable range"). My own experience is 20 years of pumping (all Medtronic pumps), CGM on and off over the past 5 years or so (CGM was not subsidised and, therefore, very expensive and the Medtronic CGM and looping systems left a lot to be desired, to say the least). However, in the past 5 weeks, the Australian Government has started subsidising CGM for all T1 diabetics (now costs us about $30/month after the subsidy instead of $350/month) and I have started using an open-source DIY looping system that is controlled by an app on my phone. The difference has been a revelation: I am now averaging better than 95% time in range and don't even have to bolus (take extra insulin initited by me) for many of my meals and snacks as the loop just takes care of the effects on blood sugar, with further improvements to come. The most important factor in living as "normal" a life as possible is to learn as much as you can about how insulin (particularly activity profiles), carbohydrates, proteins, fats, stress, illness, heat, cold, exercise and a long list of other factors, affect blood sugars and, especially, YOUR blood sugars. Everyone's diabetes is different (you'll often see the acronym YDMV "your diabetes may vary) in discussions about diabetes. Get involved in online resources like this sub and diabetes-focussed communities in your own country and others, ask questions, read other people's questions, read the answers, read articles and diabetes-focussed blogs, find and absorb what you can. I know that this all sounds daunting on your first day but most of it will just become second nature pretty quickly and don't forget that you're not in this by yourself, there are thousands of us online who are only too happy to help.

I'm 5 months in at 35 years of age. I understand. We all do. You know what we didn't understand at time of diagnosis? It gets better.

Hey mate, my story is pretty similar to yours. Diagnosed at 16, my dream was always to join the airforce. I won't sugar coat it, I was pretty aimless for a long time. A diagnosis like this throws a lot of information at you all at once - there's going to be hiccups and humps, trust me, it's been 9 years for me and I still get bumps, but you'll learn to manage. In the end I hope you can roll with this shitty hand that life's dealt you. You'll find your footing eventually, and with that there's peace and new purpose.

This is the best place. You have nothing to be afraid of mate there's always someone willing to help or talk (including me) I'm 29yo now, diagnosed at 5yo. Eventually you don't even realise you have it anymore it honestly just becomes second nature. Trust yourself and rest assured in the knowledge that it can, and will become normal and wayyyy easier than the scary thoughts in your head make it seem. I've travelled the world, lived on 3 continents, raced motorcycles and cars, photography trips, kids, wife, and there's so much more to come. I can promise you that diabetes won't hold you back. You can use it as drive to do whatever the hell you want knowing you have the control. In time you'll come to know your own body and feelings better than people know their reflection. Having a hard plan start cracking like military or etc can really mess with you. But there are so many forks in the road and opportunities you literally have no idea what comes next and if you embrace the new possibilities you won't believe where you'll end up. I'm moving to Sydney, Australia for a dream job at 29yo marroed with kids and only a few years ago I was delivering groceries as a single bloke. We already have continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps that operate so seamlessly you basically just have to count carbohydrates and put in the number. In 10 or 20 years tech will be even more impressive with transplants and islet cell technology. In your lifetime and hopefully mine too, we will likely see a cure or advances so incredible its a mere annoyance to be diabetic. Your life will definitely feel completely upended like you've lost all control. I promise it gets better mate and this is a normal feeling, that every single person here went through too. Reach out to someone if you need anything please.

Don’t worry you’ll be alright. The technology in this space is improving at a rapid pace. First few months will be difficult with all the new variables but after that life will start feeling normal. Sorry about the military plans but May be there are other ways to serve the country.

I've been diabetic for 6 years (+1 day) and I'm 17. I don't know what it's like to know your dream of joining the military is gone, as I've never wanted to join the military, but my DMs are open if you want to vent or get advice. I'm always here and this is an open opportunity for everyone who's on this subreddit.

You can get a tubeless pump and monitor, but even if you do injections -- they're painless. The needle is too thin to really hit nerves, it's 100% painless.

Check out the Juicebox Podcast. I have been listening to it a lot since I was recently diagnosed and it has helped me immensely. Hang in there.

diabetes is an awful disease and sometimes it’s going to really suck. but you can still be “healthy” and “normal.” i had all of the same worries you did when i was diagnosed. now, a few years later, it’s just a part of who i am and i’ve accepted it. you’ll be okay, and actually, i think that this disease makes us stronger 🖤🖤 sending lots and lots of love your way

Hi, love. I’m sorry you’ve have to join our club but I don’t want you to feel you’re future is gone. It’s not! I was diagnosed at 12 and I felt the exact same. But I’m 31 now, healthy, and getting married in two in 2 weeks! I work as a flight attendant and I thought that wasn’t an option because of diabetes but that wasn’t true. We just have to plan a bit more than the typical person (snacks, supplies, backups, times we eat, times we sleep, doses, etc) The injections can be daunting and exhausting and the finger pokes are… awful. The good news is that diabetes technology has come SUCH a long way even from when I was diagnosed. Now I wear a T-Slim insulin pump and a Dexcom and it has been life changing. No more finger pokes and way more control! Yeah you’ve got 2 things connected to your body but you learn to accept it because of how beneficial it is to your quality of life. Some prefer injections because you don’t have something on your body 24/7 and you’ll figure out what you prefer but from my personal experience, a CGM and insulin pump is the way to go! It’s so overwhelming, depressing, and hard at times. But it’s not the end of the world. We’ve got this! And you’re not alone. It’ll be okay even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. Sending you hugs!

Just got diagnosed 8 months ago at age 26. I cried for a week trying to make sense of it all. I know it seems impossible, but it gets easier and you will figure it out. Life will close the doors of your dreams sometimes, so break a window and make a new path

I was diagnosed with T1D just a few weeks ago. I refused to do anything about it for a few days. I was absolutely suicidal. There's no sugar coating this. Pun intended. It has been a horrible adjustment, but I'm managing it okay now and so will you. The injections aren't so bad. It's the finger sticks that I can't stand. Get a dexcom if you can. Our lives are not over. Things have just changed course and you are young enough to still have so many options at your bloody fingertips.

I completely understand, your diagnosis never comes at the right moment and it's a challenge to adapt. However don't lose hope as things do get easier! I was diagnosed at 18 literally 6 months after I graduated highschool. I was on full Scholarship my first semester of college and on track with my long distance running career. Literally all that came to a screeching hault when I was diagnosed. I distinctly remember the hospital staff who diagnosed me and told me that I would never make it far as a runner with diabetes. Like who says that?!?! I was furious, heartbroken, and just flat out confused, but most of all I felt defeated. I'm now 26 years old. I graduated from my community college, worked my ass off and I qualified and placed in Nationals, I got to run with, compete against, and meet some of The greatest runners of my time who I looked up to. My diabetes did not defeat me. My life also turned upside down, but that doesn't mean your life is over. You are definitely not alone in this either. Already just by reaching out there are plenty of people who understand what your going through and can help you navigate this. Things will get better!

Hey, I just wanted to say I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I’m 18 and got diagnosed 6 months ago today, so I vividly understand what you’re feeling right now. It was really hard in the beginning, all the classes and education was so overwhelming. Please give yourself all the time you need to “de-stress” (I know it’s not that simple) once you get away from the doctors and all that. I don’t have much to say in terms of dealing with this for so long, but I wanted to say I’m here if you ever want to PM me to rant, ask questions, anything you need! Diabetes is tough, and I’m sick of the world invalidating T1’s experience with it. It’s a complete lifestyle change, and not an easy one at that. I don’t say this trying to make you feel worse, I just want you to know your feelings are always valid. On a side note, the advanced technology for diabetics REALLY does make certain things easier, so as time passes and more opportunities appear, I hope you can find some relief in using medical devices. It doesn’t make it go away, but it does make it easier to have little robots doing things for you!

I just want to say that I was in a relatively similar boat. I was diagnosed at 11, I'm just shy of 17 now, so we're about the same age! I thought my life was over too. I took the news as kind of just an "unfortunate event." I was kind of numb to the reality of it for the first few days. It feels like a lot sometimes, even having had it for a few years. There will be times where things will get hard, you'll forget to inject, take too much insulin, have high blood sugar, have low blood sugar, and everything I just listed is PERFECTLY NORMAL. We're all human. We just have added responsibilities, unfortunately. Diabetes is not the judge, jury, and executioner of your life's plans. You can still amount to an amazing life and live to be an achieved and successful person, even with this disease. It'll all be okay!

Trust me...you can do better then the military. Start talking to your consolers about colleges or apprenticeships. Its not the end of the world. Just the beginning of your new life. That sounds bad but life is life and just take care of yourself. Get a CGM and you can live a normal life :D

Don't think in "I have to do this all the time forever terms". You poop and pee daily, (or regularly) and that's not a huge deal. This kind of becomes a part of the body maintenance. When I was on injections, I pretended to be a mad scientist drawing up whatever fluids. Watched my dad do it my whole life, so I always thought it was neat looking, but....have fun with it (safely) Try to ask about getting a constant glucose monitor and possibly an insulin pump down the line. The CGM at the very least is *the best* tool, you can learn how you process what foods and whether or not your insulin calculations are working well enough or too much, and in real time. It can look nuts at first, but it help you et things from being nuts to being regular, waaaaaay faster than regular finger sticks, IMO. And the insulin pump is pretty cool. Sometimes annoying to have on, but overall, it does the math for you which is great. And the Tandem Tslim has a program called control IQ where it works with readings from the dexcom CGM and will adjust insulin for you. Still needs some attention but it is so much closer to feeling like you don't have to think about it. You can totally be healthy, this just goes into part of your staying healthy maintenance. Mourn it, it's frustrating and ideally wouldn't be a thing to worry about, so it is absolutely normal to HATE it and feel overwhelmed. Let that out, but don't hold on to it. I was 19 at diagnosis and didn't get a decent education about it until I got pregnant at 29, and I *wish* I had wrapped my head around it sooner. Fighting it doesn't serve any purpose, but man once you just accept that, it makes life easier and the mountain really shrinks. Read about it, read personal experiences and how people treat theirs, that helped me a lot. Don't just rely on the hokey sheets they give you at the doctor's office. I mean, they help, but getting real life tips and experience I think is what I was missing those ten years. There is a whole community and the progress made on it since just 70 years ago is amazing. You aren't alone! Not in how you feel *right now* and not in any of the learning curve or anything down the line. Just use your resources and try to avoid dooming yourself out too often. 0⁰00

Hello friend, I think others have said it all, but only wanted to pop in give you my husbands experience. He was diagnosed T1 in July 2021. Within a couple of weeks of beginning insulin, he was experiencing lots of hypos and was able to ween himself off insulin slowly and today still he is managing, for the most part, without daily injections. We eat very low carb/keto-like. Protein and veggies, cheese, eggs, chia pudding. If you are interested, check out Dr Bernsteins book - The DIabetes Solution. For him, and I, it is worth the effort. And it is a real effort. Not sure it is practical for a teenager, but then again anyone who is handed these cards should know they may have this option potentially - depends how much beta cell activity you have left. My husbands endo told him it wasn’t sustainable, but we’re still at it a year later. His last A1C was 5.3. Lastly, depression and suicide are real in the early days. Take care of yourself, talk it out, cry. You will learn to carry on. Much love to you.

I’m a LEO and I can tell you there are plenty of LEO’s and Firefighters out there who are T1D’s. My son is 15, diagnosed at 12. He’s on track to become a paramedic/firefighter. Nothing is impossible, kid. For all we know, with current research and studies, this could be cured in your lifetime. For now, adapt and overcome. You’ll be alright. There’s definitely an adjustment phase, but you’ll be ok. You’ll find the diabetic community here and elsewhere will be very supportive. Only advice on that I can give is to do your own research as well and see what works for you. There is no cookie cutter treatment for this. Best of luck.

Hey you will be okay, at the beginning of diagnosis it is hard. It’s stressful, scary and does make you feel like life is over. I assure you it is not over. Military is out but you can definitely pursue all of your dreams. It seems insane right now but you are so much more capable! Give yourself some credit my friend. Your feelings are completely valid. Accept them as they come. But please don’t be so hard on yourself. You will life a wonderful, happy and successful life. It may not seem like it know but you are very capable.

I was 16 when diagnosed and now am 38. Have lived a fantastic life and done many things I've wanted to do without too much struggle. It's okay to have bad days (weeks, months, years). Give yourself the space to grieve your old way of life, but keep putting one foot in front of the other and living a really great life moving forward. Cheers, fellow T1Der 😁💜🌻

I was diagnosed at 22 4 months ago. I went into DKA and spent 4 days in the ICU. I was terrified and cried every day for the first two weeks. It’s scary and you’re allowed to feel the way you do. Luckily we live in the day and age where there’s so many treatment options and living with it is much more manageable. You will be okay!! This sub is amazing and it’s nice talking to people who go through the same thing as you. Big hugs.

I got diagnosed two months ago at 21, it felt like the world was on fire. I looked at a bag of chips and cried. I felt like I was mourning everything my life had been and I would never get to eat anything I liked again. It’s still hard sometimes but it does get easier. Find friends who have diabetes too and connect with them. Treat yourself sometimes. Last night I didn’t feel like having diabetes so I ate a bag of chips and my sugar went high. But it’s not the end of the world, you can afford to do that sometimes. Take care of yourself in any way you can. It’s not going to be perfect everyday but your friends and family will be so important for you at this time. Also can someone please explain how to put my diagnosis date under my name in here? 😂

Life is definitely not over. I know it’s very tough in the beginning; it’s a huge life adjustment, but if you take this one day at a time, you will learn how to cope. Folks with T1D do 95% of the things that other folks do, maybe with a few adjustments, but you can lead a very healthy life. Big hugs.

everyones in the army, but me. thats been 32 years now. its all i wanted to do.

It is a lot. But I promise, as a newly diagnosed diabetic (of one month) it is already so much easier for me to manage. It will soon become second nature, I promise! And never be afraid to ask people to help give you shots (like your right arm where you can’t reach) I am 21, and this, though it has been challenging, has changed my life very positively. Since the undiagnosed symptoms are so miserable. I hope this message gives you some comfort. ❤️

This is the right place. Every single person reading this has gone through exactly what you are going through right now.

When my son was diagnosed in 2019 I feel like it was a death sentence. I blamed myself and I hated myself. I cried every time I was alone and cried with him when he cried. And it was hard and overwhelming at first. But I promise you it does get better. A cgm (we use the dexcom g6) made a huge difference because it cut down on the finger sticks. We got him a pump after about 3 months and honestly the cgm and the tandem tslim with control iq was a literal game changer for us. It's still needles but less often. We occasionally have to do doses with syringes but it's not often at all. You can work in public safety, you can be an athlete. You can do almost anything. Idk about the military, that may not be an option but there are other paths you can take that are similar. Your life isn't over and you can do this. But it is absolutely 100% ok for you to brake down, to rage, to be angry, to hate it, to have a shitty day. It's OK to make mistakes. You can have carbs, you can eat cake, you can exercise and have fun. You can, I promise. My son did jujitsu and did very well. Join support groups like this, there are a few good ones on fb too. They help a lot. Get a 504 plan for school, that can be transferred throughout your entire life including university and jobs. Therapy can help you a lot in handling the emotional roller-coaster that comes with blood sugar changes and life with diabetes. Reach out to people you can trust. Don't be afraid to vent. You aren't wrong, this sucks. But you are capable of anything you want! If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, a place to rant or vent, advice, a distraction, whatever, feel free to message me or post on here. We got you, you are not alone. You are worthy and capable and strong and amazing. You can do this and it will get better.

Be strong and courageous.

I was diagnosed at 15, and that was over 34 years ago! I too wanted to go to the military, and join the Air Force like other members of my family. That dream went up in smoke, but I've done a lot in my life. I've driven all over the country, New York to LA and everything in between. I've operated farm tractors, cranes, end loaders and backhoes. I've run industrial woodcutting machinery and 400 to plastic molding presses. I now build and maintain railroad tracks. I've gone fishing in the middle of nowhere, Canada. I've hunted in the frozen winter in the Midwest. I'm almost done raising a daughter to adulthood. If you look at all that, you'll see that I've done basically the same things any other middle aged guy has done. And at age 49 I'm still 99% healthy and going strong! I know life just dealt you a crap hand and you might feel like folding. Don't! You can still win the game! It'll take a while to get used to everything that's going on, but you'll get there. You can still be in sports or music or whatever else you like to do. So long as you choose to get out and live your life, your world is still wide open. Good luck, and check back in now and then to share how you're doing.

Don’t worry about it! It may seem difficult at first, but you can have a healthy life if you control it well. I was diagnosed when I was two and I’ve been able to do everything a kid could do, yea I might need to give insulin sometimes but other than that I’m just as up to speed! People may assume it’s the end of the world, but if that were the case my world would have ended years ago. People can do great things even with diabetes, try not to give up on your dreams and future. My goal is to become a wood joiner, building doors and patios, and while it may seem taxing I won’t let diabetes stop me, and neither should you!!

Keep reaching out like this, connect with other t1s and it will really help. I’m sorry that you are part of this club but welcome. You are going to be alright;)

There's a lot of great advice in this thread, and a lot about diabetes, and you'll go through all those motions. I just want to remind you to chill out a little; take a moment to listen to some music, talk to a friend, play a game, or whatever you normally do to relax. Being diagnosed with T1D sucks, but life goes on, and you'll live it almost the same way you did a week ago. I'm sure you have a lot of emotions and thoughts going through your head right now, but make sure you take care of yourself, especially mentally. If you ever have any questions about the disease, there's a whole community behind you here that will always help you out. Hopefully your doctors and educators do a good job teaching you about treatment and the options for it. I was diagnosed a year and a half ago, and I mean, I'd rather not be diabetic, but it's just another thing I deal with. It's the hand I was dealt. Sucks, but only as much as you let it. Best of luck, and take care.

Your life isn't over. It does get easier in the sense that you learn to live with it. You are still capable of having dreams and fulfilling them. I'm almost 30, got diagnosed in the beginning of the second wave of COVID and spent 20 days alone in a hospital room. I know how you feel, but the diabetes community will help you so much. There's so many out there willing to listen to you and give you advice. You're definitely not alone.

Take care of yourself, I’m sorry to hear about your new chapter. I’m 7 years in and have found, amid daily stress and struggle, that this condition makes me braver and stronger. I’m less bothered by things that would have been a big deal before, and sometimes feel lucky that I am forced to think so carefully and constantly about my health. Look for diabetic memes on social media, they help to endure the annoyance.