i have had DM 1 for 43 years and have only known 2 locally with DM and both are now passed. 
Luckily, on Twitter, I have found many people with diagnosis 30+ years. And 2 people I found actually have had it longer than me. 
Just feeling like a dinosaur and wondering about my future. Really would like to hear from some long timers like myself.
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Carolyn, Iāve only had T1D for 58 years and Iām still ānewā at it compared with several of the 233 members of our blog group - The Joslin Medalistās Group where invitations to join are sent to those living on insulin for at least 50 years. Actually two persons have now been recognized as having had Y1d for 80 years.
From what Iām seeing, there isnāt any limit to what we can do or accomplish; I still lead a fairly active life, getting out every day walking or cycling. Isnāt it wonderful how much easier keeping an eye on ourselves than it was 43 years ago? Blood test results in 5 seconds rather than a couple of hours when in a hospital testing facility. letās live life!!!
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Greetings Carolyn
Been coping with all this fun since 1966, and similar to Dennis, still live life to the fullest. Kids mostly grown up, working in the Hospitality Industry, and caring for my wife, who has survived pancreatic cancer. Type One in comparison to other ailments is not all bad I guess. I was only 2 when diagnosed, so I really never knew another way. Instant BS results, pumps, and CGMās sure are huge leaps as far as advanced care.
Keep trying, take everything 1 day at a time.
Hi Carolyn!
Iām afraid I just make the cut (dx 1983) - the quickened pace of advancements has gotten my spirits up of late. Medtronics is about 3 years from releasing a pump that requires no user interaction, SmartInsulin is in human trials and there are a couple of competing ideas on how to implant (and protect) beta cells to give a fully ānormalā answer to this disease. Not the ā10 yearsā that so many of us were told at diagnosis for a cure but a light at the end of the tunnel, for sure.
You say ādinosaurā and yet youāre on twitter (i still canāt figure that out) - itās great to meet you!
Cheers!
A-D
31 years for me! I canāt say Iām complication-free, as I have early kidney disease and a bit of neuropathy, but in good shape other than that and very active. With all the new tools we have like pumps and CGM, not to mention way more test strips than we used to be given, we can at least have a good shot at a fairly normal lifespan. The latest data for current T1ās is that our lifespan is reduced by 10-15 years, which is a huge improvement over previous generations, and thatās an average lifespan of late 60ās to early 70ās, and some much longer. We know now that women have a more compromised lifespan, possibly caused by more hormonal fluctuation than males, which of course impacts BG and causes damage. It sounds like you are in pretty good shape, yes? We have more patching up to do than the average person, but we just keep on keeping on. Maybe we need to create another subgroup for T1 veterans?
Hi everyone, iām Jim , iāve had type 1 diabetes since age 4 & iām 55 now, 51 years . iām not doing too bad overall, but iāve been having trouble with depression . I hope I can make new friends on here & get to know each other better . I wish everyone the best !!
congratulations Jimbo - a tremendous milestone of which you should feel proud. Keep up the good work!
Yeah depression or just feeling down - that kind of comes in our territory. but if it is bothering you more than you think it should, try talking with someone you trust and have her/him help you decide if you should talk with a professional - donāt let it linger too long.
Thank you Dennis ,
I have been diabetic for 43 years I was diagnosed in 1972. Things have been going well for me and I seem to be able to tolerate my continuous glucose monitor insist some and my pump very well for the past 25 years. But it has not absolved from some complications that all my doctors say are related to diabetes. I had some diabetic retinopathy the which was resolved in 1997 and then in the past three years Iāve had some kidney issues and some heart stents although I am a very active person and eat a very low fat diet.
I feel like Iām becoming a bit more depressed even though I am looking forward to living as long as I can but there is a certain amount to me that will not tolerate an uncomfortable life. My wife gives me The freedom to be distressed and or depressed so actually that helps me quite a bit. Although she cannot give me a shot unless it would Be an absolute necessity so I am pretty much on my own as far as handling and managing my diabetes.
I remember from my earlier days they said that there was going to be a cure for diabetes very soon oh I think 43 years is quite a long time.
I have three children none of whom have diabetes and I would feel that if they got it today they would probably have less complications and issues then Iāve experienced.
I hope more people talk about type one diabetes as we are such a small minority of the diabetic population end of the population in whole. I am a very big advocate of the JDR F And I do support their walks and runs and annual events.
I feel like Iām getting a little too depressed here but actually I think life is overall pretty good.
One less thing I would like to note is that being diabetic is not the end of the world I donāt know whether these conditions that it occurred to me wouldāve happened if I wasnāt diabetic or not, but I am pretty sure that my table Eadies has caused the majority of my maladies. Every day I simply get up and smile and say itās going to be a good day!
Iām at 38 years, diagnosed in 1977 at the age of two. No complications. I have had two frozen shoulders, which is more prevalent in T1Ds. And I was diagnosed with Graveās disease a few years ago. My endo tried to diagnose with me Type 1.5 a few years ago, I stopped her mid-sentence and said - letās just say that after 20+ years on humalog/novolog, Iām resistant and label me as type 1 with insulin resistance. I was on Victoza for a couple of years, but stopped that late last year and I have just started Bydureon a few weeks ago (same class, but once a week, instead of daily injections). Resistance is gone. A few pounds are gone (+!) and BGs are more stable. I donāt have to try to hard to keep my A1C < 7. Iām not a fan of A1C < 6.
Sadly, I also have a teenage daughter who was diagnosed in 2004 at the age of four. We are working at letting her take over control which is a boatload of fun. Itās amazing what happens when you actually remember to give your insulin. 
We both have tSlim insulin pumps and dexcom cgms. The new Dexcom Share is very nice.
I canāt keep my own promises; I keep talking into my phone and it never quite gets the words correct.
I hope You could read my blog and understand that I did not type any of it. I thought Life was supposed to be getting simpler?
I was diagnosed 34 years ago at the age of 1. Thankfully, I am complication free and have a healthy baby boy. Itās so nice to see others who are still doing well after many years of D.
I hit the 30 year mark last September. I have had two eye lasers, frozen shoulders, and a bunch of the side things like thyroid issues, depression, but thankfully no life-limiting complications yet!
I have found this site and other internet resources really helpful to know that NO ONE manages perfectly, and we are all doing the best that we can on that particular day with the resources we have.
I feel like this was the question I wanted to ask when I joined. Iāve had T1 for 31 years and as far as I know, am the only adult with T1 in my region. Iām also a wife and mother.
Other than the diabetes, I deal with hypothyroidism, gastroparesis, PCOS, severe allergies and depression. Iāve also been using a Medtronic pump for the last 17 years. Itās always been a lonely disease for me. Iām so glad to know there are others like me too.
Iāll hit 38 years in August. Not sure of the exact date but it was a couple of weeks before Elvis died. I was serving in the 1st Marine Airwing Band in Iwakuni, Japan at 19 years of age in 1977.
I donāt have any real complications aside from hypothyroidism. I also take medication for high blood pressure. My eyes are starting to get worse but I think thatās an age thing.
I donāt have a pump or CGM and as of now have to plans to acquire either although the CGM sounds interesting. Once I can just use that and not do finger sticks I might go for it.
One thing that happens to me that Iām not sure if itās diabetes related or not is I get these weird things that happen that the doctors canāt figure out what is, then they go way. In September I had hiccups for 2 weeks. Had all kinds of test and an endoscopy and they found nothing. Finally I decided to take a hit of marijuana (legal in my state) and they went away. Last month I woke up with a sore middle finger. It then started to get worse to the point where my hand swelled and up and extremely painful. Gout they thought until all test showed negative. My endocrinologist did put me on gout medication for goout which seemed to help or maybe it just went away on itās own? Still a mystery to the rhemtologist I went to.
Anyone else have this kind of thing happen?
Overall though Iād say my health is good and can do anything I want to do.
The key to good health for us is good health insurance and enough money to pay the co-pays and of course taking good care of ourselves.
Hi. This is Ken from LA. May 25, 2015 was the 40th anniversary. of my T1 diagnosis.
When the day came I mostly thought of my T1 friends who didnāt make it as well as the advances that have made management and control much easier, especially super fast glucometers and my awesome pump, which Iāve worn for 13 years.
Iād say my biggest frustration is the slow progress with islet cell research to halt/cure Type 1.
Mostly Iām grateful for my family, who are supportive and my few close friends who know me and how to acknowledge my T1 without making me feel different.
I was diagnosed T1D in May of 1977, at age 13. T1D was my 2nd chronic illness. Juvenile arthritis is my first, diagnosed in 1966 at age 2. I started with U100 regular and NPH insulins, and my first glucometer at age 18. Been all through the tech with T1D.
Now trying to get back on a pump, after having to go on SSDI disability because of the arthritis, fighting to get Medicare to approve a pump. I keep telling myself I am doing it for all the youngsters who will be facing Medicare later 
Anyone else notice that we have to tell new doctors āType 1 Diabetesā if we mention our diabetes? Otherwise, I found that the new doctor assumes type 2.
There are apparently quite a few of we dinosaurs out there all doing pretty well. I am T1D x 60 years. Diagnosed at age 4. At the time, no BGM and only one type of insulin all beef/pork. Believe it or notā¦life was simpler.
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Hi Richard @frankeldpm, Welcome to the JDRF TypeOneNation Forum. We hope to see you often sharing for the benefit of all the wealth of information about SUCCESSFUL diabetes management and tips you must have acquired while living with diabetes. My onset of diabetes was in 1957.
Although I now use lots of technology and the āalmost humanā insulin, I strongly agree with you that diabetes life did feel simpler in the 1950ās. Yes, we just went to school, participated in ALL activities, including over night trips and camping, without needing an entourage of care-givers - we learned how and just took care of ourselves.
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1970s it was restrictions on diet, especially no sweets. No more chocolate cake for my birthdayā¦ my mother baked applesauce cake instead.