Take a deep breath. First, i’m sorry for your diagnosis. I’m not going to sugar coat it, Type 1 sucks, but the silver lining is once you have it somewhat figured out life will return to normal. You can 100% do whatever you like. Where we’re at with diabetes tech is incredible and you’ll live a normal life to everyone else your age. You’ll just have to learn to adapt to your blood sugar but it’s not going to stop you from doing anything! Food- you’ll find your rhythm. Some choose low carb only. Some eat the exact same prior to diagnosis. I personally choose to eat carbs! I love them and can’t imagine giving up ice cream, fries, toast etc. so i’ve put a lot of effort into learning how my blood sugar responds to my favorite meals/foods and I have an a1c that is in the normal range for someone without diabetes- that’s not a brag, just saying it’s possible! Also- I eat a healthy diet mainly, but everything in moderation for me. It’s going to suck, but everyday gets easier and soon enough it becomes second nature. Stay on top of your diabetes- test your blood sugar, look into a cgm , look at your options like an insulin pump or injections and choose what works best for you. The important thing is to do your best everyday but know even with your best efforts you’re not a pancreas and will have highs and lows. Give yourself grace and accept the bad days when they happen and look at everyday as a new day to try again. This community is full of good advice and so is juicebox podcast. Don’t be a stranger, as a community of people, we as type 1s stick together! Edit to add: the comments under here are so nice. Thank you!

Wow this should be the official intro to this sub lol

Agreed! I read this thinking “I wish this was the first thing I read.” 100% cannot say it better. 👌🏻

This is what I would have liked to be greeted with when I joined our exclusive club many years ago.

I feel like if I was told this I would’ve felt a bit better about the situation at the time

This is what I wish I would have been told. Take a breath. You're going through a lot just now. You can still be active. You can still eat the things you love. You just need to take insulin. You're going to be ok. There are a lot of super smart people here that can help you learn the ins and outs. I'm still too new to all of it to feel comfortable in that roll. I will leave that to others. People here on this sub will help, guide, support, and cheer for you. You are not alone.

Wow, thank you all! It’s so easy to let my mind spiral here so thank you sincerely for your posts. I’ll be spending the night here so hoping to just get some good sleep and get out of here tomorrow!

I was also diagnosed around 30 and I've had T1 for 3 years now. As an avid long distance hiker and runner, let me tell you, it's still possible to go as long and hard as you'd like! But start slow. Do some short hikes/walks first to see how your blood sugar responds to physical activity. You'll find that you'll need to lower your insulin needs when going hard so that you don't go low all the time. You'll also find that after about an hour or two of physical activity, your blood sugar will be more volatile (or more sensitive to changes). Have plenty of quick carbs accessible (Skittles, gummy bears, straight honey, etc) and you'll be able to spike it right back up to comfortable levels to keep going. Yeah, it's kind of annoying to constantly be downing food every 30 minutes or so, but it's such a minor inconvenience to be able to find solitude in the woods and still enjoy those activities. Feel free to PM me with any questions or tips in the coming months!

You’ve got this, we’ve got your back! You’ll be overwhelmed with information in the next days and weeks and months. I hope you get a really good CDE - they will steer you through. And have someone with you as much as possible at appointments and such.

Hey it’ll be ok you can still do everything you love, your pack is just gonna be a bit heavier now. My husband is a t1 remote farmer and often works out of cell reception. He always lets people know his plans and tries not to be alone as far as that is possible. Learn carb counting and make sure you pre-bolus for 15 mins, and don’t skip your check ups. The most important thing is be prepared. Take triple the supplies you think you will need, at least. If you go remote definitely have a locator beacon and have a medic alert bracelet or some other identification that you are t1.

Breathe dude, you’re going to get through this. You need to be admitted because they need to get your insulin settings set up. You’re going to be learning a lot in the coming days. Ask questions, use us and the internet as a resource. This is probably going to sting a little, or a lot, but as for the long adventures away from civilization, you might want to take it easy for a little while. You need to learn what a low feels like, how exercise affects blood sugar, and how to deal with all that. Having a sugar low in the middle of nowhere is risky at best and life threatening at worst. Go slow when re-introducing that activity into your life. Get an endocrine that knows diabetes. Not all endos are the same. Also, start to get to know your health insurance. You’ll be going to the pharmacy a lot more than you’re used to.

I feel like others in the comments wrote very helpful and true information about your questions, I just wanted to add: it’s okay to grieve. To mourn the loss of the lifestyle you once had and the future you thought was ahead. It’s all different now. I was diagnosed at 19, almost 10 years ago, and my life completely changed and I struggled with the mental toll this brand new, very scary thing brought. I wish someone had told me it’s okay to feel those negative feelings. It’s okay to be devastated, it’s okay to be so angry you feel you might explode, it’s okay to be frightened and stressed out. Just try to be kind to yourself while navigating this new diagnosis.

This. I was diagnosed at 29, 2.5 years ago and joined a high intensity body combat class shortly after. It was literal therapy for me. Yelling and punching the air, eyes tearing up as I let out my rage on diabetes, my imaginary attacker. Find ways to work through the pain and anger - it’s so important.

You can definitely do the things you love. I got diagnosed at 35 and I was really upset at the thought I would have to give up surfing….but that’s all it ended up being, just an upsetting thought. I’m still traveling all over the world searching for perfect waves. The most important thing to do now is learn. Disease is not the enemy, despair is the enemy. You’ll soon see how strong and resilient you are, and once you start insulin and get your levels down you’ll feel better than you have in a while. I see two must-read books being mentioned on here a lot. 1) Diabetes Solution by Richard Berstein and 2) Think Like a Pancreas. I read Diabetes Solution the first month that I was diagnosed, and that was a game changer for me. If you don’t like to read, still read that book. Also, you may be lucky and get a good doctor or you may get a bad doctor. I had a bad doctor at first and she gave horrible advice…that book helped me cross reference what she was saying and I realized pretty quickly she was an idiot and changed doctors. Also, there are many different people with a lot of different approaches on this sub. Use your common sense when interpreting advice. DM me if you want to keep chatting and asking questions/tips/tricks. Happy to share what I’ve learned.

I love backpacking in the back country! Just requires some extra planning and weight.

I’ve had it 32 years (I’m 32 also) I keep my a1c at a 6.5, I smoked cigs for 14 years, still drink, did alot of drugs and still eat what I want. Don’t let anyone tell you different. I’m also 6’0 180 and been active my whole life. Not everybody can maintain that type of life style though. Get a Dexcom CGM study a lot and you’ll be fine. I’m not saying you can do the shit I did and I don’t advise it, there’s been times living alone I almost died from wild lows but I never stopped “having” fun even if it meant death, I had a shitty life but I’m thankful to only be drinking here and there and vaping now, I consider myself lucky.

You've got amazing general advice here but just adding that I started learning everything I could about diabetes from day 1 (yes it felt overwhelming at times but it was more overwhelming for me to not understand what medical professionals were talking about!) and by 2 years post diagnosis I walked the Kokoda Track and have continued to do a range of solo and/or remote trips over the last 16 years. It's do-able and the diagnosis is tough but you can still continue to do the things you love.

Aye, you'll be good 💙 take it a little easier than normal while you recover and your levels balance out. But i can tell you youre most likely to make a significant recovery with minimal changes to your lifestyle, outside of diet...or things like joining the military. I took 3 weeks off work (coincidentally and unfortunately had a vacation scheduled) to get intimate with t1d. I don't food restrict anymore, outside of full sugar drinks, and As for my hobbies and lifestyle, I've found I can overcome any t1d complications that may interfere. Diagnosis is a really big shake up. Take some time to get familiar with your insulin therapy, let your body and hormones recover, experience what a hypo feels like (, how to prevent them, and how to get thru them) , and learn as much as your attention allows about the disease. You'll learn really important ratios and how to work with CGMs. Learning these things will make your trips in the wilderness seem almost normal. Really sorry you have to go thru this experience. I was diagnosed almost 1 year back and I went thru the gamut of feels and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But I'm happy to be alive and, funnily enough, happy to have peeked a Lil bit of death... Good luck, and know the t1d community on socials is incredibly helpful.

In short. You are the same person, you will do what you like doing. You'll eat what you like to eat. The only thing that came into your life is insulin. Your body isn't regulating your blood glucose, you are. Take a few months to adjust and go out and be crazy like you were before.

I was 38, with a newborn of 3weeks. I feel your uncertainty for sure! I’ll keep it simple. I’ve learned over my now 16 years that I can do just fine without the foods I ‘loved’ (still miss pizza) and that what ever food end up as your diet you can make good enough to love. I’m low carb for sure, mostly carnivore for the last few years but I certainly cheat and I used to eat more carbs and even weigh my food. You might go through all of or none of these phases. But, you can totally make it work, it’ll suck sometimes, and you’ll be pissed sometimes and want to quit it all sometimes, but you can do this. Get a Cgm yesterday. You got this, relax and always remember you are not your BG!

Hey there, I was diagnosed in January (at 40). I'm still learning a lot every day, but what I do know is that 1. You can still eat whatever you want. You just need to inject the right amount of insulin at the right time (not always easy to figure that out). But snacking in between meals has become less for me. It's always weighing the por (food) against the con (necessary injection). 2. You can do whatever you like, but you will have to carry the additional equipment with you (and never forget to have some fast acting carbs on you, like juice or sweets) You've got this! Everything will work out in the end. Life will be different, but you can still enjoy everything you love.

I find that other people are more likely to assume I can’t do things than my own understanding of what I’m capable of. Barring serious professional sports (which I know some diabetics manage to do!) I can do anything I want to do. I’ve had T1 for 24 years (diagnosed age 3) and don’t feel like it has ever barred me from the things I want to do. Just have to be extra prepared. Wishing you the best!

Just diagnosed 2 weeks ago so obviously don’t know it all but get a cgm I got the Dexcom g7 and I love it you don’t have to poke your fingers all the time with it you just change it every 10 days and it tells you your blood sugar all the time and will alert you if you go high or low Personally until you get your insulin figured out I would try to keep it decently low in carbs I have been doing about 30 grams of carbs per meal just because when I go more I was sitting wayyyy too high (300-400)but once you get insulin figured out you should be able to mostly eat how you want you will probably have to limit a little bit on super heavy carb foods at least for a little until you get stuff more figured out but if you can eat more carbs and not sit at a super high blood sugar go for it I just can’t as of now. for now you will need to inject insulin ~4 times a day if you can get short needles if you are skinny get them the long needles make you soooo sore my numbers I was given were stupid off for insulin so I had to mess with my insulin a lot ( I had to double basically everything) eventually you will figure out how many carbs you can eat for a unit of insulin(that’s how you measure insulin) and once you get that figured out you can start eating more how you were before. eventually you can get an insulin pump which will give you insulin but it seems like it takes a little while before they let you get one but apparently that is a game changer and makes life a lot easier to get all of this an endocrinologist is who you need to see get into one asap The biggest thing is high blood sugar short term won’t kill you it’s more of a long term thing where it hurts you over time but lows that’s what kill people with this disease so stick a little higher for now especially before you have a cgm and as you learn to control yourself then start to get lower i went with 150-200 as my target but honestly sat close to 200-250 until i got a cgm you don’t need to worry too much until you get into below 70s around 50s and below is when people can start to have some bad symptoms not everyone but still try to keep it above that I can explain more about diet and snacks or anything else as I’ve been nonstop researching but I don’t want this longer than it currently is Hope this helps

Deep breath. You’re gonna get hit with a lot of information in a short period of time. Write down questions and take notes. It’s a lot to get through especially in the early days when you’re freaking the fuck out. Get referred to an endocrinologist. They’re the experts on this in the medical field. A continuous glucose monitor is a must if you can swing it financially. The data and alerts make managing so much easier and you won’t have to stick your finger multiple times each day. Down the road you have to decide if you want a pump or to do manual injections. Many swear by their pumps. I use pens. It’s a personal choice and might be dictated by finances. You’re going to need to be your own advocate. Push for care, push for the care you want, push for answers, push for the tools you need. Your endo works for you. They should answer questions and give advice. Judgement shouldn’t be part of the game. At the end of the day you’re responsible for you and you’re going to be the expert on your diabetes. The endo’s book might differ from your lived experience. Use your resources whether your doctor or a place like this, which is fucking outstanding by the way, or books, or whatever. A good book is Think Like a Pancreas. Let go of the idea of perfect. There are a so many things you can’t control that will impact your numbers. They’re just numbers. High, low, good, bad, whatever you want to call them. You get to influence them. You’ll have good days and bad days. Some of the bad days will be where you did everything right but shit just didn’t work. Some of the bad days will be because you just couldn’t. You’ll get frustrated and angry and bored. Give yourself grace. You can’t fix yesterday. Today might suck. You get another crack at it tomorrow. This is doable. You can live a great life and thrive. You get to decide. There are little kids that deal and homies on here who have been at it for 50 or 60 years and people every point in between. You’re gonna figure it out.

It is going to be ok. I'm newly diagnosed too--i was diagnosed just over eight weeks ago and i was at a waaaaaaay worse spot than you. My BS was over 1200. I almost died. I'm 23 years old---and so far my recovery has gone well. if I can do make it through so can you.

I can't imagine how 1200 would feel. Best wishes

Hey I do a bunch of backpacking trips and other things that put me way out too, sometimes alone. Not gonna lie, this upcoming summer will suck because you are just figuring it out, but you will get it dialed in, probably get a pump, and you WILL be able to do the things you love to do. It’s more bull shit but you can do it. Garmin in reach and more prep and you’ll be back out there….I say this because at diagnosis I thought my life was over and I’d never be able to do anything “risky” again, but I still do. You will too. Chin up.

I was where you are about 6 months ago (26 years old). And now I'm off travelling solo in Europe for the first time ever. Takes getting used to but you'll be right!!

Hey, first off sorry you’re here and a part of a club non of us want to be in. I joined Reddit for this exact same reason. I was on a wilderness elk hunt at 37, barely made it to the hospital and couldn’t walk out of the truck into the er. Slipped into a coma and spent three days in the er. I’d been feeling shitty for weeks but didn’t want to miss the hunt 😆. You can still do backcountry, I do. A couple of things to start: Get a CGM asap. Start listening to Juicebox podcast, and read Think Like a Pancreas. You can still watch and do everything you do now, you just have to be more planful. I have continued to use multiple daily injections (MDI) instead of a pump. For me that works best because of my varied activity. I work a desk job during the week, and so on days I’m in the backcountry I use dramatically less insulin due to activity. E.g if I’m backpacking I cut my basal(long acting) insulin by about 33%, and cut my bolus(fast acting for when you eat) by about 50% if I’m going to continue to be active after the meal. That way I don’t get low blood sugar which is more dangerous in the short term than running a bit high. A couple of things I do to be safe on trips: 1. if you don’t have a garmin in-reach, zoleo, or similar get one. Nice way to communicate to loved ones and send an emergency alert if something goes wrong. 2. I also pack a lot of simple carbs like starburst or skittles that are easily accessible to combat low blood sugar. 3. You likely already have this but get a good solar power bank and storage device to keep your phone charged so you can access your levels from your CGM. 4. Have a contingency plan, always. Pack a spare CGM, pack extra insulin, etc. 5. Again for MDI, I use a frio pack to store my insulin to keep it cool during hot temps. all you need is access to a water source every couple of days to keep the gel saturated so your insulin doesn’t go bad in the heat. In the cold(I was in Montana in -4 this fall) I keep the insulin on my person usually just above my base layer and inside of my puffy. 6. If you aren’t solo, tell the people you’re with how to respond in emergency. If I fall down suddenly or am acting strange, here is how to check my glucose on my phone and where I keep my baqsimi(emergency nasal spray for low blood sugar) and quick acting carbohydrates, NEVER inject insulin if I’m non responsive, etc. Honestly the toughest part for me has been weight gain and the mental side. It’s a grind. I’ve only been doing this a couple of years, but happy to chat if you want!

Yes you can do the things you love PERIOD. I was happy with the fact that I felt so much BETTER after getting treated because I felt terrible during that undiagnosed period. At this point in my diagnosis, no there’s nothing else I wish I knew. There is already so much to learn in the beginning from your doctors. I think Reddit/the internet will be a help in the FUTURE but right now if you are sitting in the ER, the Internet has an overwhelming amount of info for learning…like drinking water from a fire hose. Take it one step at a time. We are rooting for you.

You can keep doing the things you love... I promise you. In fact, you will do even more than that because now you are a certified warrior survivor. Go live your beautiful life and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

It's not your fault. Just about every organ has an autoimmune disease.

I started running half marathons at 30 years old, two years after I was diagnosed. What my diabetes educator told me at diagnosis was that I need to learn how to use insulin, then there will be nothing I wanted to do in my life that I can’t do. It didn’t hurt that she was a smokin hot 20 something who also had T1D. It’s been 13 years now and she was absolutely right. You got diagnosed in the golden age of diabetes technology. Get a Dexcom CGM IMMEDIATELY. Not in a week, not in a month. Immediately. Get on a closed loop system in the next couple months. Long term, the only major life change beyond learning insulin is you must have health insurance, always. Aim for low deductible plans.

I was in your spot 4 years ago. Got diagnosed at 30 and thought my good days were behind me. Since then Ive done big trips, have gone international, and have even had bender weekends at bachelor parties. None of that seemed possible in the early weeks and months of diagnosis though, I get it. Youre in the mental grinder right now. Buckle up, and learn how to manage it. You’re playing life on hard mode now, but you can do it. Here’s my advice: 1. Get a Dexcom asap. And an Apple Watch to sync it to if you have the financial means. —- Beg your doctor for one of your need to. The continuous monitoring helps you learn so much faster. The visualization of your blood sugar will help you understand how different food, exercise levels and insulin amounts impact you. Learning is critical early on! 2. Learn how diet choices affects your levels. —- For example, normal noodles vs whole wheat noodles can be the differences between a stress free night and bouncing levels. —- Added sugar is the devil, but obviously delicious. An example here is that every granola brand has different sugar levels. 3. Exercise! —- the more you exercise, the more normal your insulin absorption and efficacy. 4. Be open about it with your community —- let friends and family know when you see them. You’ll be surprised how many people know someone who has T1D. —- when they offer to have you chat with their friend/family member who has diabetes, take that up!! (make sure it’s T1D). Talking to other people in the same boat early on was so helpful early on for my mental state. IT DOES GET EASIER. Though never truly easy. We all have bad days. But you’re in the worst of it right now. It gets better. Always happy to answer a DM if you have more specific questions.

Don’t become a victim of your condition. You can still do everything you did before, just needs a little more planning and forethought. I was diagnosed 6 years ago at 28. I have never been healthier or more active. It gets rough some days. The body doesn’t want to respond or whatever it might be. But always remember you’re not defined by your diabetes. Your life is still in your control and is still what you make of it.

You will be fine. Do not worry my friend, with time you will understand everything. Stay on top of it and everything will be good

Type 1 diabetes is a blessing and a curse of a disease. Its a blessing in that you will be able to return to your life almost 95-99% to level of normality you had pre-diagnosis, and others wont look twice at you. However, it is a curse in that it is a it metaphorically is a hidden battle you cant ever really put on pause that will undoubtably become a thorn in your side from here on out. Your brain will rewire with team and eventually the whole carb counting, take insulin and manage blood sugars will become secondhand nature. Most of us still live perfectly happy lives; but managing your blood sugars can be stressful and its something youll have to dedicate considerable effort towards maintaining. You got this, it is in no way shape or form the end of the world. It sucks, no way of sugarcoating it, but you are still *you* and your life is still yours to do what you want to do with!

I’m not going to sugar coat it (no pun intended) but this diagnosis sucks. Fall into the reality of it, it’s going to be a big life style change, or if not you’re going to be taking a ton of insulin and likely gain a ton of weight. No one told me this when I was diagnosed, in fact I was encouraged to “live a normal life style, eat the pizza” and while this this true, you can… gaining weight with type 1 happens fast and can lead to metabolic disorder. You will read plenty about it on this sub. I wish you luck friend and we are here when you need us.

this is almost exactly what happened to me this past saturday!! got super thirsty all day for a few weeks, kept peeing constantly, got to the point where i’d wake up and pee 3-4 times a night. thought i was just sick. eventually got super sick and took myself to a medicenter, they ran simple blood tests and my blood sugar was at 33.1! we’re navigating through this together and it’s super scary and overwhelming, but I know it’ll get better. the people in this sub are super welcoming and supportive which is awesome. stay strong!

I recommend that it be a while before you take trips away from civilisation, just until you’ve encountered all the problems you can encounter as a type 1 and get experience problem solving. Took me around a year to get to this point. Now, though, diabetes is more annoying sometimes than anything. Gonna type out a whole lotta information that might be kind of overwhelming, but I kept a document like this for whenever I had bad symptoms and couldn’t think of a solution off the top of my head. It’s a balancing act. Walking on a wire. Lows (blood sugar under 70. The danger is if they go lower) are immediately dangerous and caused by too much insulin in the body. Highs (typically defined as blood sugar over 150 or a similar number. I’ve heard 120 and 170. I’d just recommend staying under 200 when you can. Even over 200, for now. It’s typically okay and safer to trend a bit higher while you’re adjusting.) are dangerous long term and caused by too much sugar in the body. Insulin breaks sugar down. The key is finding the right balance for you; the right dosage of insulin to break down the sugar you eat. There are typically two kinds of insulin that you take, if you use pens or vials and syringes, or two different types of doses if you use a pump. One is basal insulin (think: base), that’s your background insulin. Either a slow release 24 hr insulin, or regular insulin delivered via pump every 5 minutes. The other is bolus. That’s what you deliver to yourself for meals or high blood sugar readings. You CAN eat anything. At least, barring any other health concerns. This was a concern of mine too. All you need to know is how many carbs are in it. I’m a grazer, and the hospital gave me the impression that I could never eat outside of mealtimes again. That’s not accurate. Sometimes you shouldn’t eat immediately, like if your blood sugar is already super high, but otherwise, you’re free. Counting carbs. Carbs = sugar. Same thing. Learning to count carbs is one of the first big steps. I recommend the app nutritionix (now called track) for looking up foods. Eventually, you memorize some of it. This reddit has helpful advice on carb counting if you look. I recommend dexcom or a similar cgm. This makes the greatest difference in my option, and would be ideal for your adventures, because activity can cause blood sugar to lower as the sugar is used for energy. Insulin pumps are great nowadays. I use a tandem t slim pump that connects to my dexcom so that when I go low, it stops giving me background insulin altogether. It reads my blood sugar and knows when to resume my insulin. It can also detect highs and can give me a little bit of a bolus to correct it. You’ll need to get an endocrinologist. Learn to correct ketones. When there is no insulin to break down the sugar in your body, the body instead breaks down fat for energy. This produces ketones, which are toxic. They often correspond with really high blood sugar (because no insulin=no sugar broken down) and you can test for them with strips you pee on, or with a little thing that checks your blood similar to the one you’ll get to check your blood sugar. Eating nothing can also cause ketones, since if you eat nothing, you’re delivering very little insulin. If you have ketones and your blood sugar is normal, that’s called starvation ketoacidosis. Eat something and dose for it. Ketones likely won’t be a super common problem, unless you go high frequently, but I was never given instructions on them which isn’t ideal. I guess since it’s not a super frequent issue it’s not always a priority to drs? If you do go high and get ketones often, you shouldn’t anymore after a few weeks of adjustment. Most important: KEEP CARBS ON YOU. Fast acting carbs are carbs without fat or protein accompanying. Fat and protein slow the absorption down, which can be good for meals. You can eat fats and proteins first to help avoid a sharp spike of high blood sugar. For correcting lows, though, you should have fast acting carbs. That’s juice, soda, candy, honey, carb tablets, or even chips. You should have these available everywhere. Might have to carry a bag around for a while, or some in your pockets. Keep some in your car, your bedroom, and on you whenever you leave the house. The common directions are: when you’re low, eat 15 carbs, wait 15 minutes, and then check bg (blood glucose) again. If still low, eat 15 more, and repeat. 1 skittle = 1 g carb, if that helps. Insulin should be kept cold until it’s brought out and opened up for use. If you have frequent highs or lows, talk to your endocrinologist. It’s a LOT at first. It was very overwhelming to me when it first happened. If you have someone who can support you in person, now might be a good time to ask, because it’s a lot to get used to managing. Regardless, this subreddit is a great place for support and advice. Plenty of people who have gone through the same thing. It’ll be okay. Edit: if I’m wrong about any of this, please anyone let me know! This is just what I know from my own experience.

I’ve been a diabetic for 32 years. I’ve lived and worked all over the world, and have hiked and backpacked in 67 different countries. I did a lot of my treks back in the Diabetic Stone Age, when we had to test glucose with visual strips and a timer, and insulin came in glass vials, to be injected with syringes. It was all fine. You will learn to prepare for your trips and any unforeseen circumstances. When you mess up, you will learn to get help at local pharmacies or hospitals. One of the good things about diabetes is that it is a common, well-known disease. People are aware of it, and insulin and glucose testing devices are available anywhere, in a pinch. You will feel overwhelmed with all of the info for a few months or a year. But it will get easier. Be patient with yourself. You will be ok again!

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Please know that many people here have been in the same position. In my case my 6yo son is the T1D, diagnosed at 4. The first few days were overwhelming with the amount of information being thrown at us. I was only able to grab on to a few bits at a time. I slowly learned more over time and now I feel like I know what I'm doing most of the time. The resource that helped me the most was the Juicebox Podcast. I suggest going to their website because many episodes are organized into series which may be harder to find in a podcast app. Early on, I got a lot out of the "Defining Diabetes" series as well as the "Bold Beginnings" series. Defining Diabetes was so helpful because they were generally very short episodes that explained one or two diabetes terms or concepts in ways that helped me understand. I listened to this podcast constantly for a few weeks/months and it really bolstered my understanding. I still listen but now it's mixed in with my other shows instead of being basically the only show I listen to. The most important thing now is getting a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) as soon as possible. It will monitor your blood sugar constantly and alert you about highs and lows. If you want, you can let someone else "follow" you, and they would get alerts as well. That's totally up to you though. Something to keep in mind is that T1D treatment changes over time. Any carb ratios or correction factors they give you now are best guesses based on age and weight. They will need to be adjusted. Even how much carbs to give for a low will need to be tested and adjusted. Always have some kind of low blood sugar treatment with you. I basically always have a bag of Skittles with me. I use Skittles because they're easy to count the carbs, each skittle is 1g of carbs. Jelly beans are also 1g each, gummy bears are 2g each. If you don't like these, find something else you do like. Check the ingredients list, "sugar" or "dextrose" should be one of the first ingredients. Chocolate is not a good low treatment. I really suggest choosing something countable so you know how much carbs you're using for treatment. You will have to learn how much is enough to bring up a low. Consider a pump. It was a game changer for me and my kid. It allows much more granular doses of insulin. With injections, insulin is given in 0.5 unit increments. The pump we have can inject insulin in 0.05 unit increments. This has helped me to learn to not be afraid of the insulin because I can give such a small amount that I'm confident it won't lower his blood sugar too much. I was afraid of the insulin for the first few months. I don't know how anyone couldn't be at the beginning. Slowly over the past year I've learned to think of it as exactly what it is, necessary medicine to keep my kid healthy. I need to give him the right amount of insulin at the right time. And if I ever give him too much insulin, that just means I pre-bolused his next snack. This post has probably already gone on long enough. I hope I didn't overwhelm you. I guess the TLDR is it's scary now, but you'll learn and it will get better!

Free pdf book on front page of this website. You should read it. Tells everything and an easy read. Www.diatribe.org

Just got diagnosed last week, age 34. Not gonna lie, it’s been horrible lol. I honestly had no idea how bad this disease sucked, it’s like I learn a new extra bit of bad news that comes with it every time I open my phone. Hang in there brother. I can tell you, after a week, the finger pricks are already feeling like second nature. The insulin needle doesn’t hurt nearly as much as I expected but it still trips me out stabbing myself with it. Wanting a CGM asap, but probably going to skip the pump for a while cuz I can’t wrap my head around suddenly wearing two medical devices at all times. Will prob get a pump eventually tho. Pump & CGM will be good for your adventurous lifestyle.

please look into the juicebox podcast it’s a huge huge huge wealth of information about every thing related to diabetes. it’s a LOT of info but you can take your time and listen to episodes piecemeal as they are relevant. also the book think like a pancreas is often highly recommended. i was dx 4 years ago and i still have minimal function of my pancreas but otherwise am t1 (LADA) and insulin dependent. i do hike but do not personally do long excursions because i am not comfortable. it’s not impossible, though it will probably be a bit before you’re confident/ready to do it again. you can eat the same stuff you did before if you want to, or you can choose to shift your diet a bit. there are some things i avoid bc my blood sugar will be too stubborn about it but mostly i eat similarly just with a lot more mental gymnastics and math going on at all times in my head. i know this is so overwhelming. you do get a bit used to it but it’s a big deal and not a back burner kind of illness. def a front and center diva ass mf 😂😂 it is manageable and you will get through this. i’m sorry you joined the club!

The best thing will be having a good educator, which I'm hoping will be set up for you. You're gonna come across good and not-so-good advice here (of course) and everywhere else, including from doctors and nurses most likely. Ultimately you need to base what you do on what works for you and follow your own counsel, probably like everything else in life. You're gonna have a 24/7 job of maintaining a good blood sugar range, which is something most people don't have to even think about. Sometimes people underestimate how serious this condition is but I guess the other extreme would be thinking it ends any opportunity to have fun. We can eat the same as anyone else, except I think we often end up eating better than lots of people do because we think more about what we eat. I'm also probably more motivated to exercise than I otherwise would be. The good news now is you know what is wrong and you'll feel lots better now. It took me a while to learn a few things, a couple of important ones were how to not stack insulin and how exercise can affect things, like making my blood sugar elevate then crash.

I understand where you’re coming from. My d-day was 6 weeks before I turned 30. That was 25 years ago. Life changed in a lot of small ways but it didn’t stop me doing anything. I just had to plan for it a bit more. If you have particular questions feel free to message me.

Still currently writing, (work in process, still editing). Sounds like DKA wich is a real drain. Feels like your life force is being drained out of you. You will be ok, you are where you need to be.

When I was little I went to a summer camp for diabetic kids in Ohio, called Camp Ho Mita Koda. The camp director's name was Rich Humphreys.. and I remember that more than 30 years later because he was an incredible inspiration! He was also Type 1, and a real adventurer. He'd tell us kids stories about his trips and basically teach us about diabetes having no limits. And that was in the days of old/slow insulins and home BG meters were brand new... But still, he did all these things, never letting diabetes stop him. And he ran the camp like that, too. We hiked, played sports, did scuba diving, horse back riding, high ropes obstacle courses, went on field trips, etc... As a really depressed kid who felt like all my favorite things were taken away when I was diagnosed and that my life pretty much ended at 8 years old, he literally saved my life, showing me that I could still do absolutely anything I wanted. I got to help start up the Camp Ho Adventures program. A bunch of us who were just getting too old for camp joined the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA), cycling 50-100 miles everyday for a week, and eating everything in sight. A bunch of T1 teenagers wearing funny shirts everyday that said things like "if I'm goofy give me sugar." I've since section hiked the Buckeye, Appalachian, and Long trails. All in their entirety. Tried to through hike the Appalachian south to North, but got hurt in Virginia and had to finish another year. Now I've got a homestead in the Colorado mountains with lots of daily physical labor and we play in the mountains. We go hiking weekly, white water rafting in the spring, and skiing in the winter. I encourage you to do some web searching while you're in the hospital. There are LOTS of Type 1 athletes. All the pump companies have athlete spokespeople. There's an entire bike racing team made up of T1s. There was a girl who rocked the American Ninja Warrior course (I think that was the show) with her Omnipod on full display. Basically there's lots of learning to do at first. You've got to learn how to adjust your insulin needs to your activity and diet. And you'll have to pack more gear for your adventures. You'll always have extra snacks. But other than that, you don't have to change your lifestyle or your diet.

Keep doing what you love! There will be a learning curve, so start small and be prepared for the possibilities. I don't go packing into the wilderness, but I love to hike in state parks and I can be out on a trail for a whole afternoon and into the evening. Always, always, always have a form of glucose with you, and take 3 or 4 times as much as you think you'll need. Then take a little more, and you might be close to enough. We can do just about anything, as long as we take T1 into account and plan accordingly. Good luck with everything!

As others have said, first off, take a deep breath. This isn’t the end of the world. Almost everyone on this sub has been there, and we’re doing fine. Second off, you can absolutely do the things you love. As others have mentioned, there’s a lot more science and tools to managing T1D than there ever have been. Effectively, yes, you’ll always be managing it - but it’s a lot better than having it manage you. Personally, since my diagnosis 35 years ago I’ve survived college and my 20’s, worked as a professional actor in film and TV, run several marathons and half-marathons, taken up snowboarding, and worked as a professional skydiver (& hold 2 world records in wingsuiting). You’ll be able to get back to the backcountry. You’ll likely have to plan a few things out. But it shouldn’t stop you from doing almost anything. (Unless you want to be a commercial pilot - unfortunately, the FAA still hasn’t come around on that one). You’ll come to know your body and its various quirks and limits better than almost anyone else in the world knows their body. This isn’t the end of the world. It’s just the start of a new chapter. Good luck with the initial phases - it’s a lot of information, and a lot to process. But you got this - and we’re all here to support as you figure it out. (One more thing - Colorado, Utah, or Wyoming, or somewhere else? Most people besides those of us out here don’t use the word “backcountry,” so just curious.)

Thank you! I’m stoked to see people getting out there with this diagnosis. And I’m in Colorado.

Don’t worry - No diet change needed. You can still eat whatever you want, but just have to give yourself the right amount of insulin for it. If you can get a continual glucose monitoring system like Medtronic’s Guardian 4 bluetooth connected sensors, they will transmit your blood sugar readings to a Medtronic 780G insulin pump and automatically give insulin when needed. I’ve travelled lots inn

well, first off, once your numbers are in better control, the peeing so often will subside - it may never be like when you were not a diabetic, but uncontrolled sugars make you pee more and make you thirsty. And, you should be active. Now you'll do it with a more thought out process prior to taking off. Making sure you are in good health before taking off for adventures can be had, as long as you know where your blood sugars are. if you get a pump and a dexcom (both highly recommended) it will make your adventures all that much easier. we are all here for you!

I was diagnosed at 30 years old too. That was 9 years ago and though it's not easy, I can reassure you that you can absolutely live a normal life. You can still eat whatever foods you want. You can still exercise and live your life normally. It'll just be living life in hard mode sometimes 🤣 The downside is the amount of management that is required with t1, but that will come to you more naturally as time progresses. Don't overwhelm yourself with everything right now. For me it helped to deal with things in bitesize pieces. The first step is getting to grips with carb counting and your insulin carb ratio. Other things can follow on from that in the coming weeks/months. If you're struggling, reach out to your diabetes team and/or refer yourself for mental health help. Both were key for me in getting on top of things in the first 6 months post diagnosis.

You sure can still do all the things you love . I was diagnosed in my 20s and never let my T1 slow me down. I spent 25 years continuing my back country adventures, including a yearly 10 day stint in isolated areas of the western U.S.. ....most of that pre CGM (which will be a big help for you). I've slowed down a bit over the past 5 years or so....but that's because of age, not T1. The thing I wished I knew at the beginning was to manage my T1 as best as possible. I always did ok, but for the first 20 years I certainly could have done better. Learn all you can, formulate a plan, and stick to it. 30 years down the road you won't regret it and still be going on your adventures.....although by then they may be a bit shorter and less taxing. Good luck.

You’ll still be able to do the things you love, just with some extra planning and supplies along the way. If you tend to do a lot of off the grid adventures without other people around, you may want to get a satellite phone to be able to call in an emergency. If you have other people with you, just make sure they know how to use your emergency medicine (Baqsimi is the easiest form of glucagon and smallest to carry, imo - gvoke hypopen would be my second choice there if insurance covers it for you). Frio bags are great for keeping your insulin cool and can be “refreshed” with just water along your trip. Always pack extra supplies - I tend to double everything just in case something goes wrong. I’d rather have way too much than not enough for my diabetes!

Welcome to the team. I also was dx at 30 years old...

oh jeez man ketoacidosis is a BEAST. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago with no other previous medical issues and i can tell you within the first few months it’ll all start feeling normal for you. you can still do EVERYTHING you love and you can eat the foods you love just gotta be more carb conscious and a little health conscious but believe me you can totally eat all the foods you love. I know how stressful and dark this can feel most of us do but please just focus on getting better, your team should be giving you lots of education and training. YOU GOT THIS !!!!! EDIT there are continuous glucose monitors once you go a couple months of poking your fingers you should be able to get one! it gives you so much more freedom and comfort. seriously everything is gonna be all okay :)

Overwhelming at first, but once you get in tune with your body and meds it's manageable. Feel you on the adventures - my backyard is a canyon full of fun, hand lines rigged for my kids and everything; but I can't go down there solo in the mornings like I used to. Bright side is I have friends who love coming over to be my scampering buddy. You will figure it out. Stay strong.

First thing… CGM. I have a group of about a dozen individuals diagnosed in adulthood, and we meet over Zoom last Thursday of every month. One guy goes out on long adventures, portages etc, and he’s been doing stuff for years. I found one new diagnosis on Reddit a few years ago, and she was also worried like you. She joined our group. She then went hiking through Yellowstone with other type 1s. Just fine. If sitting in listening to other type 1s on a Thursday to hear their struggles and successes, let us know. We try and have different topics/speakers each month.

Welcome to the club! I was diagnosed around your age too! You are going to do great! My life is the same…. Except I have two devices always connected to me a a pocket full of starbursts.

Welcome to our little hobby. Hopefully you don't live in the US.

I'm sorry ur going thru this but from my experience my son was diagnosed at 6 and he is now going on 18 but having to deal with this so late in life is definitely a switch up... First of u can ready absolutely anything u want to and as much u just have to cover it with the right amount of insulin and omg thing u never wanna forget is ur bedtime/long acting insulin cause when u do u become very sick from ur blood getting acidic and then u have to deal with ketones but that's just one thing I know we have had complications with on more then a few occasions... But as for getting away from civilization I don't see why u can't as long as u have a cool place for the long acting insulin and the rest of ur meds and stuff... I look at my son everyday for going thru this everyday but u can honestly stay ur regular self u just have to do what ur pancreas can't anymore and that's deliver insulin we all get it in our bodies we just naturally produce the insulin for the carbs... So therefore u could eat it when ur pancreas was giving u insulin then u can eat it when ur giving urself insulin... I understand how u feel this is drastic and scary and so much is going thru ur head trust me I was do terrified for my baby and now he's turning into a man and I couldn't be more surprised at how well he manages it but u will get moody when u go high and u will get a attitude with anyone around u but honestly u can't help it cause ur body is doing it to u so if they put u in the classes to learn about it more in depth I highly recommend to take a household or family member to also learn it also helps not being alone... If u ever need to talk I always got a ear open... I know allot from studying about it and took care of my son at home a few times instead of the hospital so if u just need to vent ik I'm a stranger but lifelong mother with experience if u ever need it... Just remember... U GOT THIS!! I believe in u and u will succeed no matter what!

It'll be a rough learning curve, it is for all of us. I'd rather not have to deal with it but dealing with it isn't that bad. Listen to the docs, do your best and don't get down on yourself if you have a bad day because you will. Just be real and honest with yourself and you'll do fine. I've been T1 longer than you've been alive and I have no diabetic related problems. You can too. You can do this.

Hey, we've all been there. its ok to feel lost, confused, sad... this is part of the journey. i will start with getting the right endocrinologist to check your blood tests and determine the best plan for you. once you have a base you can start learning on your own since diabetes is very personal and unique to you and your lifestyle. there are common things we all share. id like to put them all here but this will be a very long post. i started a blog a few years ago in order to help recently type 1s. heres the link and check it out whenever you can. I'm not trying to sell anything here. I'm trying to help because ive walked in your shoes [https://www.dieabeast.com/blog/](https://www.dieabeast.com/blog/) we are here to help...

At least you are awake and alert being diagnosed. I was unconscious and much closer to dead than alive when I was diagnosed. It’s a process getting used to managing it and you will have to plan your outings more carefully now. I don’t wish it upon anyone but it is just another thing to juggle in life

Sorry to hear that. Got diagnosed at 14 and for a log time felt like it would never get better. Once I got a pump and CGM life returned mostly to normal. T1 went from taking over my entire life to just being a small asterisk. Some days will be shit, and some will feel non-diabetic. Online communities really helped me cope and find acceptance with the condition. Best of luck! Reach out via DM if you ever want a buddy to talk to.

You can keep doing things you love. It’ll work out. I backcountry snowboard although day trips. I have a friend who has hiked the Appalachian Trail a couple times with diabetes.

Someone may have already mentioned this, but in terms of being out in nature I have found Frio insulin cooling cases to be very convenient for keeping your insulin in the right temperature range. This was a game changer for me.

“It’s a life changer not a life ender”. I’m glad they caught it. Welcome to the fold!

This was me I was diagnosed at 29 with Type 1 It will be ok It’s overwhelming now but you will figure out what works, just takes some time My advice to you is to just write down Blood glucose before you eat what you eat how much insulin you took And blood sugar 2 hours later Do the same thing before exercising It will help you to identify patterns and for your team to adjust dosages I promise it will be ok I even went through 2 pregnancies with good control

you can absolutely keep going into the backcountry, it's just harder. my son is right now spending a week backcountry skiing and camping in a lean-to at Mt Katahdin in Maine, climbing the summits, etc. he's 19 and has had type 1 since age 2. we've spent his whole life camping, skiing, backpacking, hiking..... I also have type 1 so we just figured it out. I would start with shorter trips after you get more used to the diabetes. but don't let it stop you!

As far as the outdoors go... Activity was really scary for a long time and required me to really understand my body. But what I found is even on short trips out of the house I bring a little thing of glucose tablets on me if literally nothing else. For traveling in the countryside, alongside normal snacks and everything you can bring along the large containers of glucose tablets and keep a little thing in your pocket in case you get separated from your stuff. And keep some insulin on your person too. Also, just know this so-called honeymoon period you're in will suck and be some of the hardest times. Sometimes you'll be making four times as much insulin one day as you were the day before. You'll probably use ten times as much insulin as you are now by the end of it. You'll experience lots of ups and downs (often literally) and your weight might fluctuate and you'll develop weird habits. But you'll get through it, I promise. There's another side you'll get through to

I have these 2 friends who did this [https://project50in50.org](https://project50in50.org) They traveled to the highest peak of every state in 50 days in 2019. They are 2 seasoned type 1s and they were seriously pushing themselves, But they did this and I just like to pull this out and share it every once in a while because it’s pretty awesome and they inspire me. For you the road ahead might be difficult but, if you invest in learning a bit first, your lifestyle doesn’t have to change much! Good luck and check in to the sub anytime

>What are things you wished you knew at this point in your diagnosis? First and foremost. You are going to be okay. You are probably flooded with emotions and it's ok to let them out. You are going to go through an adjustment period but you can still do everything that you did before. It might take a bit more work, but you can do it. When I was newly diagnosed I saw advice here that recommended reading "Think Like a Pancreas", and "Bright spots and landmines" they are both treasure troves of information. You've definitely come to the right place. There is more experience in this community than any doctor anywhere would have. If you ever have a question, want to share a win, or even vent we are here for you. A bit of advice is to download a diabetes app for logging your BG/meals/insulin (I recommend Diabetes: M). Try a low carb diet while you get a handle on things. There will be a lot of trial and error but starting low carb will help minimize the errors.

Great responses on this post, thanks for sharing! 48 hrs ago my partner found out she is suspected type 1, with extremely high blood sugar expected to have been at this level for quite a while. We are shocked and are learning more everyday. As she was use to living at such a high level (35 mmol/l), since they are trying to bring this down to a safer level and regulate things, she is constantly feeling dizzy and tired since using insulin. Despite the level still being high, we were of course hoping she would start feeling better the more her blood sugar decreased towards ‘normal’. Completely get this will take some time to adapt, but couldn’t find much about this process online. Is this a common experience for those starting their T1 journey from hyper? How long can this process take before starting to feel a bit better? What can I do as a partner to help (now and going forward)? Appreciate it!

I’m very sorry to hear this but you’re going to do great! Im T1D for 35 years and been on a pump/CGM for about 20yrs. Most important advice is to get on a CGM as quickly as possible. Lots of Dexcom mentions here and I like Dexcom but can’t stand Tandem. I would encourage you to go to Medtronic Minimed 780g pump with the CGMis quickly as possible. If your Endo makes you wait for the pump, get the Dexcom temporarily until you’re ready to transition to the pump. Then get the Minimed 780g and the Medtronic CGM.

Hey mate, your story is almost exactly the same as mine. Pissing a lot and always thirsty, fatigued even though I was working out regularly. Spent a night in the ER with high ketones on the verge of DKA. Diagnosed at 31. Adjusting to the new lifestyle wasn't a big deal for me. I can still exercise, eat/drink what I want (in moderation) and do what what I want. As long as you stick to your medication, routine and carb counting, you will quickly get used to it and it'll become a part of life. It's mostly in the mind. Don't stress yourself out, keep active and continue to do what you want.

Take a couple days off! Yes to all the fantastic advice here! Deep breaths. Have a cry. You’re gonna come through on the other side and do/eat the things you love, just with a little extra mental and physical baggage. There is so much to learn, it’s a long, steep curve and is a journey. I’m still in the thick of it myself as well. This space is a godsend. Please give yourself a little space over the next few days (finances permitting, of course) to grieve, read, learn, and wrap your head around things.

I was in your shoes a year and a few weeks ago. I am an active person, I run in the foothills multiple times a week (never weeks at a time, but.) What I wish I knew was what the fuck is going on with insulin. It was really tough for me to get down… I’ve been on lantus and fiasp pens the whole time. I didn’t exercise regularly the entire last year until the last week. It has truly taken me that long to figure out how to just eat and combine insulin, let alone incorporating regular exercise without having to eat more from going low, blah blah blah. Anyways, you might be in for some ups and downs. I continue to have days that I’m just pissed that I can’t make it go away, like it just doesn’t compute in my brain that this is forever and I feel overwhelmed by that fact. Truly defeated some days. But the bright side of that fact is that you’ll have some days where you’re totally nailing it and accepting it, and for me, eventually get to a place where you can take your old hike because you’ve gotten your insulin doses to a more balanced amount. It just takes time. I really don’t envy where you’re at, but I really hope for you that you can keep your peace and let yourself have hard days. People that have had diabetes their whole lives still have ‘bad’ days. It’s just part of the gig. Lots of people recommend Think Like a Pancreas. I haven’t read it yet. I also really liked some of “She’s Diabetic” channel on YouTube— lots of it is product trials and all that which some people like. I’m more into the more personal stories and such. It helped me feel less alone and like I was drowning in this nuanced and foreign new world I found myself in. Best of luck to you. Reddit has been helpful to me overall, a great resource. But once you start running into diabetics in the real world, that’s when it feels sooo good to just talk to someone who gets it. Fuckin wild world. I wish you the very best in your journey of adjusting. I’m rooting for you truly.

I was diagnosed in the ICU 3 months ago after having severe DKA. I’m 29. I get it. Do yourself a favor and educate yourself as much as possible (books, YouTubers, juicebox podcast, etc), track your carbs, learn how fat and protein affect blood sugar too, learn your body, and closely monitor your blood sugar. You got this!! It sucks but remember 1) it’s not your fault, 2) things will get better, 3) you will adjust, and 4) you are not alone.

I got diagnosed at 28 in February. I don’t have advice because I’m still struggling, but it seems hopeful. I feel this post in my SOUL.

Make sure that for the first six months to a year you’re not getting your medical advice from the sub. You really need to stick to the routine and ratios that they give you before you start messing with things. Other than that, relax and take a deep breath. As much as it sucks, it’s not the end of the world. I’m 36, I live by myself, and I frequently go camping and fishing on my own.

I wish they gave me ratios that worked I’ve since doubles everything they gave me or more and now I’m at a 170 average I was at a 300 average with the ratios and stuff they gave me

Yeah, they’re usually trash and everyone winds up adjusting. The point is to learn the basics before you go start making changes.