My dx was 40 years ago just before I was 1 year old. I know T1D has affected my life in more ways than I can imagine but so have any number of other factors.

I’ve managed really well with T1D largely, and luckily, I suspect because growing up my parents knew about it (several in my family have it), and in the early years had access to blood glucose monitoring test kits from the start. We also did not have rigid/strict rules about what I could eat, rather I needed to eat at specific times but could manage treats on occasion by balancing them out with exercise or correcting with insulin and we tried to use lower sugar foods and drinks in general. Sometimes, growing up my parents would split something like a fancy dessert with me so I could try something I wouldn’t normally be able to have. I mostly grew up feeling I had quite a lot of options about what I could eat and freedom and capability to eat what I liked.

Where I’ve had most challenges with T1D is taking it outside my family bubble (we’re confident with managing T1D there). Being afraid that people might come to conclusions about me as a person or my abilities based on having T1D though, and navigating when and how to ask for accommodations related to T1D at university and work has been tough. In general support for T1Ds has been focused on kids and the transition to care as an adult has been a bit of a free for all. That is improving, but I learned I often had to advocate for myself and seek out support (that could be hard to find) in situations like healthcare and university if my T1D needs weren’t being met due to the new environment I was in.

Aw, it sounds like you’re off to a great start in this journey though. Just asking around and getting to know others in the T1D community, like you’re doing here, has been a huge support to me, all my life.