Dr Claire Bennett – Being A Type 1 Diabetic Researcher
Today is World Diabetes Day. For many, this just another day, but for me, this is an important day of reflection – writes Dr Claire Bennett.
I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic 14 years ago. I was 33 and had just started my PhD. After losing two stone in two days I knew something wasn’t right. Although I had all the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes I had completely dismissed this. Afterall, I wasn’t a child and there was no history of Type 1 in my family. This was a big mistake and the first of many myths I have seemed to pick up over the years.
My body was in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). I was struggling to walk and keep my eyes open. I later learnt if I hadn’t gone to hospital then, I would have been in a coma. This is why learning the symptoms and learning about Type 1 diabetes is important.
Most diabetics have Type 2 diabetes. In the UK for example, about 90% of people with diabetes are Type 2. Consequently, a lot of knowledge people have about diabetes relates to Type 2. However, Type 1 diabetes remains without a known cause or cure and myths and misinformation about the condition continue to exist.
Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes
There are a number of key differences between the two conditions:
The key thing to remember is Type 1 is an auto-immune condition.
It can affect anyone at any age. It is now not uncommon for people to be diagnosed in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s+. Diagnosis can feel very daunting and scary and there is little advice on how to manage it. It is something you have to learn yourself as everybody is different and the insulin you need varies. You have to learn to think and act like your pancreas, which is harder than it sounds. It is a condition which, for me, is mentally and physically exhausting.
However, I feel very lucky in many ways.
I feel lucky I was diagnosed later in life when the pull of fitting in and peer pressure had passed.
I feel lucky that I have access to a closed glucose monitor (CGM) and on a insulin pump, both available through the NHS.
I feel lucky that I am now in an organisation – M·E·L Research – which is disability confident and offers me flexibility when I need to step out to respond to low or high blood sugars. Colleagues try to avoid lunch time meetings with me as they know how important eating by a certain time is. I’m grateful because not every organisation is as accommodating.
You can live a relatively ‘normal’ life with Type 1, we just need flexibility.
It is estimated that on average a Type 1 diabetic makes at least 150 daily decisions connected to their diabetes. So having some awareness of the impact goes a long way.
That said, I still dream that one day a cure will be found, to help take the burden and burnout away. Breathrough T1D have produced a brilliant video of what a cure would feel like. For me, watching this was very emotional as it captured my feelings exactly. Just a bit of peace.
Please watch and share the video, and help raise awareness of impact of living with Type one diabetes.
Claire is an Associate Director in our qualitative research team. The team are currently working with Breakthrough T1D to understand the experiences of adults living with Type 1 diabetes.
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