# 40 Years - Type 1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Type 1 & LADA\ **Created:** [August 8, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691 "2021-08-08T02:52:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jim26](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jim26/32/9780_2.png) [@jim26](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jim26)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/1 "2021-08-08T02:52:10Z")
This week is my 40th diabetes anniversary. I was diagnosed during the county fair so it’s easy to remember. It was pretty classic systoms; boy who pees alottttttttt:) My mom knew right away that I had diabetes (my dad also had it) and convinced the nurse, who thought she was an overly concerned mom, to let me see the doctor. After seeing the doctor, I was sent to the hospital (not before one last hurrah at Dairy Queen before the trip…funny but, good memory.) I spent the next week in the hospital. First Insulin - Lente and Regular - twice a day Testing - Urine (using test tube, a tablet, and a certain amount of urine) Diet - Exchange - 2 bread, 3 meat, 1 fruit. Diet Soda - Tab Here’s to the next 40🍻!! ---
**Author:** ![T1Allison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@T1Allison](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/T1Allison)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 3:00am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/2 "2021-08-08T03:00:56Z")
Way to go, @jim26! Way to thrive all these years! ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/3 "2021-08-08T04:14:50Z")
Wow! Great Story, and Congrats on the diaversary! It is a big one. ---
**Author:** ![Dufuus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Dufuus](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Dufuus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/4 "2021-08-08T13:49:14Z")
My story is identical to yours. Only exception is that I went to Darby’s ice cream rather than Dairy Queen and then was diagnosed. Local hospital couldn’t get my blood sugar under control so I was sent to Joslin Clinic. Still a crazy ride. Wish they had this technology when I was young. ---
**Author:** ![bostrav59](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bostrav59/32/7281_2.png) [@bostrav59](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/bostrav59)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/5 "2021-08-08T13:52:42Z")
> [@Dufuus](#): > > Local hospital couldn’t get my blood sugar under control so I was sent to Joslin Clinic I am also treated at Joslin clinic. I was diagnosed Type 2 at the local hospital (Cambridge City) and only when I went to Joslin did they diagnose it as Type 1. That was 11 years ago - I remember because it was my 50th birthday. I was amazed at the difference in protocol and knowledge between Joslin and Cambridge City. It helps to be seeing diabetics all the time. Research is important too. e ---
**Author:** ![TiaG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tiag/32/594_2.png) [@TiaG](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TiaG)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/6 "2021-08-08T15:49:35Z")
Amazing! Here’s to 40 more. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_YYC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jim_yyc/32/9553_2.png) [@Jim\_YYC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jim_YYC)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/7 "2021-08-08T16:53:54Z")
> [@jim26](#): > > First Insulin - Lente and Regular - twice a day > Testing - Urine (using test tube, a tablet, and a certain amount of urine) > Diet - Exchange - 2 bread, 3 meat, 1 fruit. > Diet Soda - Tab > > Here’s to the next 40🍻!! 🥳 Congrats @jim26 - may your 2nd 40 be less eventful than the first 🤪 And I toast you on the Lente, the Clinitest, sterilizing your glass syringe and Tab \*Special mention to Fresca, which was the only other go to sugar free soda at the time 🍾 ---
**Author:** ![jim26](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jim26/32/9780_2.png) [@jim26](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jim26)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/8 "2021-08-08T17:39:37Z")
> [@Jim\_YYC](#): > > the Clinitest THANKS!!! I couldn’t remember the name for the life of me! I missed out on the glass syringe, but saw my dad’s with a sharpening stone.😲 ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/9 "2021-08-08T18:36:34Z")
> [@jim26](#): > > THANKS!!! I couldn’t remember the name for the life of me! Clinitabs IRC; one test tube about 50mm long and the diameter of the tablet, urine to the line (or was it a certain number of drops, I seem to remember a dropper, then water to the line?) Add tablet, exothermic reaction, coloured solution. Ah, those were the days. I had a glass syringe too, they gave me several needles, no sharpening stone, but I think I just used the same one for a year or two. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_YYC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jim_yyc/32/9553_2.png) [@Jim\_YYC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jim_YYC)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/10 "2021-08-08T18:41:40Z")
> [@jbowler](#): > > urine to the line (or was it a certain number of drops I remember 5 drops of pee, was it 10 drops of water? The tablet was pretty much all submerged when you dropped the pill ---
**Author:** ![jim26](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jim26/32/9780_2.png) [@jim26](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jim26)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/11 "2021-08-08T18:53:41Z")
Yup, that sounds right. ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/12 "2021-08-08T20:33:24Z")
> [@Jim\_YYC](#): > > I remember 5 drops of pee Yes, sounds right. I knew testing the chlorine levels on the swimming pool reminded me of something. ---
**Author:** ![jbowler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jbowler](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jbowler)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/13 "2021-08-08T20:38:56Z")
> [@jim26](#): > > one last hurrah at Dairy Queen Ah! The last meal. Mine was a bowl of what is called in the UK “rice pudding”, straight out of the can! ---
**Author:** ![jim26](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jim26/32/9780_2.png) [@jim26](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jim26)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/14 "2021-08-08T22:12:16Z")
Ha…it sure was…lol…Love rice pudding(not sure if the UK version is like the U.S.???) ---
**Author:** ![MM2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/mm2/32/3032_2.png) [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 12:04am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/15 "2021-08-09T00:04:25Z")
> [@Jim\_YYC](#): > > I remember 5 drops of pee, was it 10 drops of water? I remember it fizzing up when tablet dropped in, and getting very hot before comparing to the color chart, and then logging for doctor visit. I started on Lente only in 1965. ---
**Author:** ![BillCarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f475e1/32.png) [@BillCarson](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/BillCarson)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/16 "2021-08-09T02:42:59Z")
Good for you, Jim. I’m a month away from 38 year diagnosis. Blood test strips had just come on the market, praise the Lord! Hang in there! ---
**Author:** ![chabaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@chabaj](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/chabaj)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 7:16am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/17 "2021-08-10T07:16:08Z")
I was diagnosed in April 1972. I too started with Lenten and Silubin Retard tablets at first and then started using Actrapid instead of the tablets. Testing my urine though was a bit different. I used an inch of a dark blue solution into which I put some drops of urine and then boiled them over a small bunsen burner. One had to be careful and remove the solution from over the flame immediately it started boiling or else it would flow out of the tube with a great force. Comparing the colours was similar to that of using the tablet. I was greatful when strips were introduced and more greatful still that I can now keep a 24-hour track thanks to sensors even though they cost an arm and a leg and I have to get them from overseas as Abbott will not sell them in Malta. ---
**Author:** ![karen337](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/edb3f5/32.png) [@karen337](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/karen337)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/18 "2021-08-10T19:56:51Z")
Yup, I remember very clearly all of that. Diabetic 60 years as of last April…and still going strong…maybe not quite like 20 years ago but still going. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Andre](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/andre/32/8502_2.png) [@Andre](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Andre)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/19 "2021-08-19T04:11:00Z")
Thanks for the stories everyone. So much hope for my 12 year old, who just had his 1st diaversary. As an engineer, I also appreciate all the tech available from another angle, and we all certainly know how “easy” it is today. We still hate diabetes, of course 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CarlosLuis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/carlosluis/32/11389_2.png) [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691/20 "2021-08-19T15:25:29Z")
Andre, I would go with easier, but not easy. I really don’t know how those 50 year plus type 1 DMs keep it all together with nothing more than urine testing, animal sourced insulin, reusable syringes and giant needles that needed sharpening. Kudus to all of them. As a type 2 DM I was glad to get my first glucometer. I was using strips that one compared to a color chart. Hoo Boy those were subjective. Now on MDI with a CGM I feel like I am in heaven, except, I’m waiting on FedEx on a transmitter as mine died. It is good that your 12 year old is in this era. Tell him, we all have his back, he is not alone. This is a common concern amount young T1s. Maybe if Covid lets up they can attend a diabetes camp where they find out they are not the only one in the world. Plus they get to have some fun. [Next page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/40-years-type-1/11691.md?page=2)