Voices of Diabetes

I am a 41-year-old male who has had type 1 diabetes since 1991. I’m married with two kids under 9. I use 24-hour insulin at about 8:30 pm and pre-meal dosing every meal.

It can be challenging trying to get the dinner count right every night (given I do not cook) and adjust for variations in my consumption amounts. Grazing over snacks at a party and pre-bed snacking are my challenges.

I have had one ambulance visit (in the middle of the night) to my home in my life including 2 glucagon shots when I dosed with short-term insulin instead of long-term for my 24-hour 8:30pm shot. I have had low blood sugar events that severely impact my ability to do anything, about 1 every 6 months or so. I usually feel them coming. I have never been unconscious with strangers. My wife is truly a saint.

A consistent, repetitive exercise routine, usually between 5:00 am and 6:30 am has truly been a lifesaver for me. Since I started a routine in 2005, I have significantly improved the benefits for my body. My A1C is what I consider good, <7, and so far (knock on wood) no complications. I heard someone say they used to consider going to the gym a selfish act until they had a health issue, then going to the gym became a way to stay on this earth longer and enjoy it so much more.

Mark D., 41

Ridley Park, PA

138541