Coming Out Again with T1D

[@LarryMartin1956]

I will say that as someone much older, 68, and living with T1D for 55 years, that I don't care what others think as much as today's younger folks do. Social media has brainwashed us into thinking we have to all be the same. I don't hesitate to mention it and if I need to do something because of being a diabetic, I just do it. Before I started using a pump, I would check my glucose and give myself an insulin shot right at the restaurant table and this was in the 1980s!! I am also gay and I say I am gay but it's not who I am, I am Larry. It is kind of the opposite with diabetes. It is who I am. It is so much a part of me after this long, I don't even think about it.

[@lolly_bread]

Geez, tough gig getting T1D at age 13 (circa 1970), I feel for you pal. That would have been very hard to manage back then... but you're still here so you actually serve as a positive story for peeps getting T1D these days and the natural fear that comes with the diagnosis. Bottom line: It IS manageable.

[@stefannovak1790]

You are a rolemodel ❤

[@lolly_bread]

Great chat guys. Thanks for sharing the psychological side of T1D. I got the news in ‘86, when I was 19, and back then the lack of accurate info on the subject from the medical system itself was troubling. For example I was told I could never have alcohol again - in the prime of my fun years! - and I told I couldn’t have sugar at all - I liked lollies. How wrong the medical system was. Their rule was abstinence as opposed to management. Also the needles back then weren't slim and short like today and that scared me often. As far as feelings go, I was terribly embarrassed about it for many years and went to great lengths to hide taking insulin outside of home. As years went by I rebelled against the imposed prohibition and got very drunk frequently; and boy did I pay for it. As a diabetic I/we just don't recover the same way as non-T1D's and hospital came into play several times. We know a bit more nowadays about how T1D can affect our moods, and how depression is a real side effect; again I wish that had been known and explained to me decades earlier. Anyway, enough waffle, I'm now grateful that modern tech like a sensor allows me to achieve excellent control, sadly I just wish the tech was available years ago before some damage was done, but better late than never ey!

[@dinkster1729]

Canadian? That 'eh?" gives you away.

[@lolly_bread]

@@dinkster1729 Australian. We slang with the best of 'em.

[@aimeeperrin7313]

There is so much I want to say. First, I was diagnosed at 16 in 1971, so I’ve been at it for a while. I’m 70, but not an old 70. I think there’s such a thing as too technically appointed. I’ve never wanted a pump. I feel much more in control using MDI. I always carry my St. Claire’s Organics 1 gram carb candies with me. One will raise me 5 points, so I can be exact, not guessing or over correcting and going high. After 25 years of t1d, and my first A1c in 1995, of 6.5, I was very sick with complications that no doctor knew were complications. Frozen joints, shoulders, hips, skeletal stiffness. So when I found Dr. Bernstein’s article about frozen shoulder being a diabetic complication, I listened. And when his book came out the next year. I jumped on his method and got my life back. So I went low carb in 1996, low carb means low insulin, so you are never taking large scary doses of insulin. But now I’ve discovered the Carnivore diet, which not only allows me to take even less insulin, so that if I go low, it’s never dangerously low, but it also improves you health in so many ways that I’m no longer afraid for my future. I’ve been carnivore for 6 years and I’m very very happy with the results. To feel amazing and have amazing blood sugar without having to take mega doses of insulin is so worth it. I know it sounds weird but we have a Facebook group with thousands of t1d carnivores helping each other. Type one diabetic carnivores fb group.

[@jasonsigal87]

As a fellow Gay T1D, I really appreciated all of this, thanks for sharing!

[@VictorCastaneda-j2r]

As a fellow Gay T1D, I can say that finding other Gay T1Ds feels almost impossible. When I first ran into Justin’s content about 2 years ago, I felt seen and understood. (He didn’t say he was gay, but my gaydar told me everything I needed lol) I had never met another gay diabetic, so it felt pretty cool knowing that I wasn’t the only one. Thank you for talking about this topic with such dignity and honor. It has always been harder for me to come out as a T1D because it requires 1000 additional explanations, and usually, once people know, things change, and I have this need of always feeling like I haver to look like I’m doing great from their perspective 😓 Thank you for this great episode! 🌈

[@bettebelanger5043]

I have been a T1D for 57 years diagnosed at age 17 in 1968. A few years ago I started experiencing Neuropathy in my feet. My Podiatrist asked if I drank alcohol, and I said yes, a couple of glasses of white wine each day, but that it did not seem to impact my bg’s. He said it wasn’t how it impacted my bg, but the impact it can have on nerve damage and suggested I try not drinking for a few months. That was 2 years ago, and although I can’t say it made much difference in my foot pain, the benefits of being sober has made me never want to go back to drinking alcohol again. I can still enjoy going to Happy Hour with friends and having a sparkling water with lime. I have been very fortunate all these years (while not having the greatest control) but escaping many of the bad side effects from Diabetes T1, except for the Neuropathy. You might want to consider staying sober and hopefully save your feet down the road! Keep up the good work, young man.

[@welshcake]

Hey both. The content on this channel is always fascinating but this one hit me really hard - I've spent so many years thinking I must be the only gay diabetic. Of course I knew there must be others but this intersectionality resonates so deeply and is so moving. Thank you both.

[@dawnb2224]

I was diagnosed in 1992 at the age of 17. Back then and still today I am very open about it. I kbew no one with T1D but I had great doctors and a family who we learned together. I do not care about what other's think. I got dumped and later realized it was that he couldn't handle my diabetes and how it affected his free life. Goodbye, best to you. I had a husband that use to say we are diabetic and he was not. I am not sure I will find that again. I am ok being alone.

[@MonicaRose-ck7jj]

Thanks very much Justin. I would love more interviews like this, about the challenges with T1D and communication with others. I’ve never had any friends with T1D and it's not easy to talk about.

[@diabe_tech]

Absolutely. We’ll do more!

[@MonicaRose-ck7jj]

@@diabe_tech 💜

[@MaralinaDG]

Huh good conversation and share...Diagnosed in 1974. Learned through the school of hard knocks, T1D camp and some doctors. Did not know anyone my age who had it. Was brought up in an environment where judging others based on literally anything was acceptable. I did not and do not practice judgement of anyone for anything. I choose what I prefer for myself and leave the rest and that includes sexuality (I enjoy any/all), nor did I care what others thought. They are allowed to judge if they choose and their judgement doesn't have to change my sense of self. The weird perspective though, is at my young age, the only judgement I had was as a T1D, I used to consider it...weak? Being an independent, strong personality, my issue was being forced to rely on external "stuff" to keep me alive be that insulin, test strips (or pee strips back in the day), meters, etc. That perspective was the most difficult, for me, to change. Food was and is challenging although not a judgement - just a "gee wish I could enjoy that" kind of perspective (never mind "just take more insulin" - I don't think that way). Thank you for sharing!

[@lolly_bread]

Thanks for sharing. It really was harder a long time ago, mainly because there just wasn't much public knowledge about T1D. When I was diagnosed I thought only dogs got it! My friends rallied around me a bit, thinking my days were numbered! I got it when I was 19, so I really feel sorry for young kids who got it back then, as that would have been extremely difficult to manage. Assistive technology has been slow coming but at least it's upon us now.

[@michael91411]

Love this, Justin :)

[@karenmielish-clausell]

love the content we are more than our diabetes

[@theresamelvin60]

Enjoyed this vlog brings back memories in my earlier years drinking passing out quite agree sometimes you can feel restricted unfortunately for me I don't have anyone to share with had plenty of burnouts some people can be not very understanding but on the plus since being on the omnipod and dexcom g6 things are a little better

[@grumpyinbrooklyn6347]

Justin, your doctors are not worried about it because it's not their feet that might end up in the chopping block! TIR is a disgraceful concept, even worse with just 70% of time being considered "good!" Neuropathy and ED can EASILY develop with that TIR and even better timing within it! Aim for at least the newer TITR or 70-140 and for higher time within that.

[@lolly_bread]

Yeh I hear you. We do need some more metrics to consider. I now maintain a TIR of 90-95% but it's actually the Glucose Variability (in the Freestyle Libre reports) that I concentrate on, and try to improve.

[@fishbones23]

I never knew you were gay TBH

[@지-ZED]

Justin your always DRAMA QUEEN 🤴🏻💙💙💙

[@지-ZED]

I was diagnosed 2002 Summer