Hi group,

I've been lurking here a few days, and thought I might as well introduce
myself. My name's Marina and I've had type I since 1970 (I was 5-1/2
years old when I was diagnosed). The care was so different back then.
Naturally, the health care professionals did the best they could, based
on the current knowledge at the time, but things like home testing
wasn't very accurate. The result is, I do have all the complications,
but I still muddle along and try to follow new developments and adapt to
new care recommendations.

I had my first cases of retinopathy as a teenager, but the past 15 years
or so, my eyes have been clear (except now it seems I'm developing
cataracts). I have neuropathy, which makes exercise a bit of a chore,
and nephropathy, which brings me to diet. Because of the kidney thing, I
have to avoid animal protein as much as possible, so I've gone almost
completely vegetarian. I've also discovered, since I turned 40, that
carbs affect my BG much more than before. So I've been pondering my
eating habits a lot lately.

While I used to have to make sure I ate enough carbs at each meal so my
BG wouldn't sink too fast and too low (especially as a teenager and
20+), these days I hardly need any carbs to keep me going.

Sorry this is such a long post, I'll try to be briefer in future. Oh,
and I live in Helsinki, Finland with my two cats. Finland has the
dubious honour of having the highest percentage of type I diabetics in
the world.

--
Marina