Hello,
My name is Jonas, I’m 47 years old and I currently live in Canada.
Fall of 2021 I got pretty sick around October felt like a cold, voice was terrible, was super weak, was sick for about maybe 7 weeks. Had trouble climbing flight of stairs, I was so winded.
Shortly after that, or to be honest could have been concurrently, I can’t quite remember - was waking up to urinate often, had an insatiable thirst that was absolutely unrelenting. I drank juice mixed with sparkling water to satiate the constantly parched mouth. Was scared I was dying of cancer or something. After bloodwork at the doctor had an A1C of about 12.5 or so.
He told me I was a diabetic, type 2, and prescribed Metformin.
Took me until about mid December to start testing my glucose w finger pricks.
Felt so awkward and embarrassing, especially out of the house, no one but my wife knew, and for some reason I needed to keep it a secret.
I didnt want anyone to know of my weakness (not lack of strength but my health condition, the fact I had diabetes I was convinced would be met with disdain by others). There was no real rationale for this, my belief was not an evidence-based but I do work in a very competitive but not toxic sales environment.
I still drank, still do, and smoked but started to eat keto bread and avoid carbs and whatnot.
In the beginning of 2021 I had started consciously losing weight.
I’ve walked around at about 180 lbs to even 200 at my heaviest for about the last 8-10 years or so.
I had started lowering my 4-7 tallcan of beer-a-day habit, eating fewer carbs and was intermittent fasting for about 4 months
I went down to 170 and I was pleased with myself.
At 155 then 150 I was thilled with my new 30" waist. I looked good and felt great.
At 135 I started to become quite concerned, and at 128 I was borderline panicking and thats when I went to the doctor that November.
March 2022 my Endo ran an antibody test after my aic remained largely unaffected by the Metformin and went on basaglar to start.
I decided to say screw fingerpricks and got on dexcom then libre 2 despite having no insurance. Then a few months later Bolusing was introduced. At that point I realised the very reasonable “slow reveal” my Endo was doing so I didnt get overwhelmed with all of it lol - grateful that tricky sonofagun did it that way (he’s great actually)
I adapted quite well and did it rather quickly in terms of carb counting/bolusing and the like. It’s now just part of my life, and it does get emotional at times.
Leaves me wondering what was the trigger?? Did I get Covid much earlier and not realise it and was that what caused the immuno response? Was it a reaction to the vaccine? I dont know and I guess its irrelevant.
I’ve kind of immersed myself in a newfound love of Stoicism over the last few years, even before this, and that has helped me greatly I think.
I have glucose swings at times of course, but work hard to be at 70% range, mostly I’m in the 60s.
I’ve recently heard of looping, read about the omnipod on this forum, and am curious about these types of methods of glucose management. The bulkiness of pumps seems so awkward and the thought of tubes even more so.
But I want to live a long time. I quit smoking a month ago, my wife is incredibly loving and supportive but she doesnt really understand alot of whats going on. Not her fault, she loves me to death, so I’m very blessed.
I was super emotional about this early last year, but have not really been broken up about things except for a couple times in the last 4-6 weeks I’ve just started crying out of the blue.
Im at about 165 lbs now, 5.9" tall, slightly muscular build w a wee belly lol.
Damned estimated A1C on the libre 2 never seems to change from 7.4, but I dont feel its very accurate. I thought that was decent, but now I realise it should ideally be below 7 so I’m working towards that.
Sensors keep failing sporadically (basically just do libre 2 now), are they any good with offering replacements for failed or “no alarm” ones? The cost goes way up everytime they malfunction. (Ontario isnt the best province for funding for diabetes)
Does one have to take pictures of the barcodes or something?
Anyways, this seems like a cool space, and am happy to have found it. Phone calls w the diabetes educators sometimes feel wierd or forced. This is the first time I’ve interacted w any platform about this.
I dont know anyone who has type 1 or if I do, Im not aware they do.
Im sorry for this jumbled post.
When I first filled my prescription for insulin I asked the pharmacist how to use it. He was stunned. He looked at me speechless. I said its the first time I’ve used it.
Felt like he almost didnt believe me. I know developing type one as an adult is rare, hence the term juvenile diabetes isnt really used anymore I guess.
Thanks for having this place and letting me put some of this out there.
