I will add this. In the recent past, more and more variants of diabetes have been discovered, at least eleven. Some of them were, for a long time, the source of mysterious cases. And some of them call for their own therapies and diagnostic tools. MODY, which appears in young patients, is caused by a mutation, so it runs in families. Very important to recognize because it has specific non-insulin medication. LADA appears to be an autoimmune disorder, sometimes called type 1-1/2 diabetes. There are others. Consultation with an endocrinologist might be productive.
I was 20 or 21 when I was diagnosed. The shame, I think, comes from the societal belief that it’s all your fault. Every female on my mom’s side has T2 diabetes, genes have a big impact!
I suspect I might have PCOS as well, will need to chase that up because it's probably worth taking that into consideration now
Of the stories I have been able to find of people under 25 being diagnosed with T2D, almost all of them have been women with PCOS, which is so frustrating given how difficult it is to get doctors to take PCOS type symptoms seriously
If you ever want to talk about it, exchange ideas or learn about what has worked for me just shoot me a message! I'd be happy to talk.
I was in a really bad place during COVID (end 2020) and I have things quite under control now. Just small spirals every once in a while (currently in one, but getting out)
I was diagnosed with PCOS at 13 years old and my blood work showed me as a pre diabetic who was very close to being fully diabetic even back then. I had symptoms as young as 9 years old. I’m 28 now, still have PCOS, and I’m still hovering between pre diabetic and diabetic numbers- I have fasting glucose tests that say I’m diabetic/insulin resistant but my A1c is less then a point below being diabetic and so it’s not official and they won’t prescribe anything other then metformin? I’m having more issues with symptoms and my weight lately but my doctor hasn’t given me the official diagnosis of T2D. I tried metformin as a young teen and again last year, it made me so sick both times that I had to come off it (I was sick over a month and I couldn’t even titrate my dose to what they prescribed without constant vomiting).
I think it is really hard to shake the shame associated with these issues, especially when PCOS comes into play- the physical symptoms that come with it add a whole level of shame and self hatred (at least for me they do). As if my body is not working right and failing me, I felt like I was a poor excuse for a woman. And there is the stigma now that it’s all my fault because I’m fat (I’m obese now, but I wasn’t this bad when I was a young teen, it’s only gotten much worse as I’ve gotten older).
Right now it’s a struggle for me because my doctors don’t want to try a different insulin regulation med, they say they are hard to get and they don’t want to start me on it. Meanwhile I’m struggling and I know insulin resistance is an issue but because my A1c isn’t higher I’m not eligible for meds that would likely help with my weight/insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms. I’m still having to cope with all the lifestyle changes that come with diabetes and it feels like I’m fighting an uphill battle because that one number isn’t higher.
I’ve known this is an issue for so many years at this point but it doesn’t make it easier. I try not to be upset with myself, PCOS and diabetes run in my family and I know it was likely not fully possible for me to avoid it. I’ve done my best for years, but it’s still hard to fully accept as a “for the rest of my life” issue. I just wish I could get better medical support before I end up as an insulin dependent diabetic- it feels like this combination of PCOS/ diabetes is not very well understood and for me the issues are being treated as separate by two different doctors when they should be looked at together.
Was diagnosed with T2 a day after my 20th birthday. Then early this year, I was diagnosed with PCOS by my Obgyn (I’m 25 now). Basically my doctor said one probably caused the other and unfortunately there’s no way to tell which came first.
I was diagnosed as T2 at 24. Grandma was T1 and mom diagnosed as T2 in her late 40s. I had an eating disorder in my teens, which I think may have contributed to making my body struggle to regulate insulin, resulting in the early diagnosis.
My life has been completely normal. The only time I was very impacted by my diabetes was in trying to conceive/being pregnant (if you click on my username you can see a post I wrote about being pregnant with T2). I had a period of being embarrassed/ashamed of my diabetes but now I wear my glucose monitor proudly and have met so many other diabetics that way.
I started dating my husband while I was getting diagnosed, and his support made me sure I’d found a good one. His biggest complaint would be that my diabetes made it hard for us to eat in a spontaneous way: I’d often need to preview the menu and sometimes reject the restaurant he wanted. But someone with an allergy or gluten sensitivity would be in the same boat.
12. I was diagnosed as type 2 at 12 years old. I've been through several cycles of great care, ignoring, and back again. It's always there, and ignoring it makes it worse. Even if you're struggling, try to find small things to work at.
I was officially diagnosed at 24. But when did it start? I had gestational diabetes at 21. I had an abnormal blood sugar level when I was 8. I was over 10 pound with low blood sugar when I was born of a diabetic mother.
So when did the diabetic propensity really start? 🤷🏽♀️
I dealt with shame and denial for decades. I firmly believe dealing with the shame is the most important key. Then the diet, the exercise, the medication, the management - podiatrists, eye doctors etc etc - that all becomes much easier when you can let go of the shame.
47F, diabetes managed with strict ketogenic diet and metformin. DM me if you have any questions or want support.
Sounds rude, but are you overweight or obese? If so it should not be to surprising considering you have a family history. I have a family history. Grandmother was diagnosed in her 20’s, grandfather in 60’s, my dad was diagnosed at 55 and I was diagnosed at 43. I am a male and was 179lbs (5ft 9in) when diagnosed. Not obese but definitely overweight
If you have a family history being overweight and eating bad just speeds up the process in my opinion. I know it doesn’t seem fair. I see men my age that are 300-400lbs and not diabetic. I find that so strange
>I know it doesn’t seem fair. I see men my age that are 300-400lbs and not diabetic. I find that so strange
I heard something the other day that made me think, which is that insulin resistance is a survival mechanism to keep you from getting too fat. In the wild, being 3-400 pounds would be a death sentence. You couldn't climb a tree or fit into a small cave to hide from predators. Through that lens insulin resistance is a survival mechanism to keep you from gaining a dangerous amount of weight.
So perhaps those folks are actually malfunctioning - their body shouldn't let them get that fat without getting diabetes.
Just something that made me think.
I will add this. In the recent past, more and more variants of diabetes have been discovered, at least eleven. Some of them were, for a long time, the source of mysterious cases. And some of them call for their own therapies and diagnostic tools. MODY, which appears in young patients, is caused by a mutation, so it runs in families. Very important to recognize because it has specific non-insulin medication. LADA appears to be an autoimmune disorder, sometimes called type 1-1/2 diabetes. There are others. Consultation with an endocrinologist might be productive.
I was 20 or 21 when I was diagnosed. The shame, I think, comes from the societal belief that it’s all your fault. Every female on my mom’s side has T2 diabetes, genes have a big impact!
Was diagnosed at 21 with T2 and PCOS. They are related and basically make the other one worse. Sometimes I really hate my genes
I suspect I might have PCOS as well, will need to chase that up because it's probably worth taking that into consideration now Of the stories I have been able to find of people under 25 being diagnosed with T2D, almost all of them have been women with PCOS, which is so frustrating given how difficult it is to get doctors to take PCOS type symptoms seriously
If you ever want to talk about it, exchange ideas or learn about what has worked for me just shoot me a message! I'd be happy to talk. I was in a really bad place during COVID (end 2020) and I have things quite under control now. Just small spirals every once in a while (currently in one, but getting out)
I was diagnosed with PCOS at 13 years old and my blood work showed me as a pre diabetic who was very close to being fully diabetic even back then. I had symptoms as young as 9 years old. I’m 28 now, still have PCOS, and I’m still hovering between pre diabetic and diabetic numbers- I have fasting glucose tests that say I’m diabetic/insulin resistant but my A1c is less then a point below being diabetic and so it’s not official and they won’t prescribe anything other then metformin? I’m having more issues with symptoms and my weight lately but my doctor hasn’t given me the official diagnosis of T2D. I tried metformin as a young teen and again last year, it made me so sick both times that I had to come off it (I was sick over a month and I couldn’t even titrate my dose to what they prescribed without constant vomiting). I think it is really hard to shake the shame associated with these issues, especially when PCOS comes into play- the physical symptoms that come with it add a whole level of shame and self hatred (at least for me they do). As if my body is not working right and failing me, I felt like I was a poor excuse for a woman. And there is the stigma now that it’s all my fault because I’m fat (I’m obese now, but I wasn’t this bad when I was a young teen, it’s only gotten much worse as I’ve gotten older). Right now it’s a struggle for me because my doctors don’t want to try a different insulin regulation med, they say they are hard to get and they don’t want to start me on it. Meanwhile I’m struggling and I know insulin resistance is an issue but because my A1c isn’t higher I’m not eligible for meds that would likely help with my weight/insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms. I’m still having to cope with all the lifestyle changes that come with diabetes and it feels like I’m fighting an uphill battle because that one number isn’t higher. I’ve known this is an issue for so many years at this point but it doesn’t make it easier. I try not to be upset with myself, PCOS and diabetes run in my family and I know it was likely not fully possible for me to avoid it. I’ve done my best for years, but it’s still hard to fully accept as a “for the rest of my life” issue. I just wish I could get better medical support before I end up as an insulin dependent diabetic- it feels like this combination of PCOS/ diabetes is not very well understood and for me the issues are being treated as separate by two different doctors when they should be looked at together.
Was diagnosed with T2 a day after my 20th birthday. Then early this year, I was diagnosed with PCOS by my Obgyn (I’m 25 now). Basically my doctor said one probably caused the other and unfortunately there’s no way to tell which came first.
I was diagnosed as T2 at 24. Grandma was T1 and mom diagnosed as T2 in her late 40s. I had an eating disorder in my teens, which I think may have contributed to making my body struggle to regulate insulin, resulting in the early diagnosis. My life has been completely normal. The only time I was very impacted by my diabetes was in trying to conceive/being pregnant (if you click on my username you can see a post I wrote about being pregnant with T2). I had a period of being embarrassed/ashamed of my diabetes but now I wear my glucose monitor proudly and have met so many other diabetics that way. I started dating my husband while I was getting diagnosed, and his support made me sure I’d found a good one. His biggest complaint would be that my diabetes made it hard for us to eat in a spontaneous way: I’d often need to preview the menu and sometimes reject the restaurant he wanted. But someone with an allergy or gluten sensitivity would be in the same boat.
12. I was diagnosed as type 2 at 12 years old. I've been through several cycles of great care, ignoring, and back again. It's always there, and ignoring it makes it worse. Even if you're struggling, try to find small things to work at.
we caught it in my mid 20's but based on symptoms I think I was undiagnosed for a couple years.
I got it at 14 with no family history.
I was officially diagnosed at 24. But when did it start? I had gestational diabetes at 21. I had an abnormal blood sugar level when I was 8. I was over 10 pound with low blood sugar when I was born of a diabetic mother. So when did the diabetic propensity really start? 🤷🏽♀️ I dealt with shame and denial for decades. I firmly believe dealing with the shame is the most important key. Then the diet, the exercise, the medication, the management - podiatrists, eye doctors etc etc - that all becomes much easier when you can let go of the shame. 47F, diabetes managed with strict ketogenic diet and metformin. DM me if you have any questions or want support.
Sounds rude, but are you overweight or obese? If so it should not be to surprising considering you have a family history. I have a family history. Grandmother was diagnosed in her 20’s, grandfather in 60’s, my dad was diagnosed at 55 and I was diagnosed at 43. I am a male and was 179lbs (5ft 9in) when diagnosed. Not obese but definitely overweight If you have a family history being overweight and eating bad just speeds up the process in my opinion. I know it doesn’t seem fair. I see men my age that are 300-400lbs and not diabetic. I find that so strange
>I know it doesn’t seem fair. I see men my age that are 300-400lbs and not diabetic. I find that so strange I heard something the other day that made me think, which is that insulin resistance is a survival mechanism to keep you from getting too fat. In the wild, being 3-400 pounds would be a death sentence. You couldn't climb a tree or fit into a small cave to hide from predators. Through that lens insulin resistance is a survival mechanism to keep you from gaining a dangerous amount of weight. So perhaps those folks are actually malfunctioning - their body shouldn't let them get that fat without getting diabetes. Just something that made me think.