I'm not 50 or over but I do know how he feels. I've had type one since birth and it is hard to deal with, but it is possible to live a long life. I've found that out through research and classes. That might work.

Hi Michelle...My nine-year-old niece has Type I, and she is just starting to have similar fears. Fortunately, there are quite a few examples of Type I diabetics living long and productive lives, including:

Actress Mary Tyler Moore -- She lived to be 80.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor -- She is 63.
Rocker Bret Michaels -- He is 54.
British Prime Minister Theresa May -- She is 60.

There are also athletes and sports figures who are living well beyond 50. The example that immediately comes to mind is Bill Carlson, who in 1983 became the first person with Type I diabetes to complete the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon World Championship. You (or your son) can read more about him here:

https://asweetlife.org/bill-carlson-returns-to-the-ironman-world-championship-in-kona/

He is currently in his 50s, still rides his bike at least 40 miles per day, and qualified for the 2016 Ironman World Championship in Kona.

Your son is right, in part. It isn't fair that he should have to constantly check and correct his blood sugar, watch his diet, etc.. However, in spite of diabetes, he can live a long life and be practically anything he wants to be. Wishing you both the best!

Richard Vaughn - it's a name to remember and yes, he is still very active today and is a diabetes advocate on many websites. Get his book: https://www.amazon.com/Beating-Odds-Years-Diabetes-Health-ebook/dp/B003M5IQ0Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499284312&sr=8-1&keywords=Richard+Vaughn A seriously good read even for those who don't have diabetes. Great history on how treatment has changed over the years and covers how he lived with it through childhood, adolescence, college, marriage, having kids, and even seeing your grands when you're in your 70's. I myself have had diabetes for 35 years and am now 40 - no complications to note of yet. I fully plan on being able to write to your son when I'm 51. No checking out from this life due to diabetes for me at 50 if I can help it! Yup, God's gonna have to send a very silent Mac truck to run me over or a very sneaky bee to get me that early in life. ;-) Hey, happy reading and good luck. Those teen years can really suck!

Hi there,

I am not over 50 but my dad is. He is 62 and living with type 1 diabetes. His A1C is within the 6.0-6.6 range and he does not have any heart or kidney problems whatsoever, he is very alive. I am in my mid twenties, have had type 1 for 13 + years and I'm living life to the fullest and I plan to live a long life. My sister, however, is 33 (type 1 for 30+ years) and had dual kidney failure, dyalisis for 4+ years, as well as 1 failed kidney transplant followed by a second (that we pray will last). She has seen the worst that diabetes has to offer because she didn't strive to beat the disease and live life to the fullest. She believed that diabetes was in control and she did not take care of herself. Diabetes is not fun and it's not easy, but it is not "the end". Life is whatever a person sets out to make it, and it is so worth the fight! "I am strong, I am a fighter, I have Diabetes, Diabetes doesn't have me".
-Relatable

Hugs, my friend. Yes your son is right, it is not fair. But there is nothing he can do about it. He is young. My father had one of the worse diet and he was 84 when he passed away. He had type 1 for over 40 years. He passed away from heart failure because he was a heavy smoker most of his life. Diabetic had nothing to do with it. My sister is another one that has had diabetic for almost 30 years. Her diet is bad too. I have it too, little over 3 years. I am 67. It can hit any one at any age. It forces us to eat healthy. That is the bottom line. Eating healthy. I still have ice cream, chips and chocolate. But I buy the good variety that has very little sugar and carbs. Tell your son, even hockey players have it. What keeps those pesky numbers under control is a healthy lifestyle active lifestyle.

I'm on the close side to 50 and have been T1 for 42 years with no complications as of yet (knock on wood). This is a really sucky disease, especially when you are a teenager and hormones/emotions are running high already. We are so lucky to live in this day and age because treatment for T1 is flourishing now with pump therapy compared to back when I was diagnosed. My parents were told I'd live only to the age of 20. I was 5 when dxd. I'm now 47, live a full life and even have 2 kids. They also told my parents I'd never be able to have kids and survive. Well I've beat the odds of just about everything they said back then. And still going strong. It's a daily fight and it isn't easy but we'll worth it! Maybe a T1 support group might be good for him? With kids especially so he doesn't feel so alone. Just a thought.

Hey there. My dad just turned 70 and he has had T1 since he was 14 years old. Technology these days has made managing BG and Insulin so much better than it used to be. Yeah, it isn't fair that your son has diabetes, but what is fair? Through healthy diet management he can live a long and active life. My dad was OK at keeping track of his BG, but was never great at counting calories or carbs, nor did he understand the effects of artificial sugars or sugar alcohols. He was very active, very strong, and had a lot of fun. I have learned a lot from his disease, and I hope I never have to deal with it. But if I do, I know that it is not the end of the world.

I've met a lady in her 80's who is type 1.

If your son looks after himself and keeps his blood sugar under good control there is no reason why he shouldn't live a long and relatively normal life. Even if he may find himself on occasions, stuffing sweets in his gob at an alarming speed at 3am due to a hypo. You learn to adjust.