Yes, on average "all diabetics" have shorter life spans

Life expectancy for a Type 1 is currently about 72 years and 75 years for Type 2 (these are Canadian numbers)

But those are just averages - if someone dies young then someone else gets to be quite old

All we can do is try to manage to normal blood sugar levels. If you want to be one of those that beat the averages you have to be hyper vigilant about keep great control - no slip ups, no excuses, no ignoring the disease

But yes, we have a chronic disease and it usually shortens our lives

Type 1.5 or L.A.D.A. (Latent Auto-Immune Diabetes in Adults)

It was first (discovered) in 1993 which is why it is still often misdiagnosed as Type 2

It is Auto-Immune like Type 1 but typically only a single anti-body causes the disease so the onset is slow to very slow so it looks like Type 2 (and is treated with Type 2 protocols)

But when it progresses, months or years after onset, it stops acting like Type 2 and looks identical to Type 1 requiring Insulin therapy as the only treatment

Initially being misdiagnosed is not a problem but can become one when it advances and the Doctor mistakenly thinks it's still Type 2 and plays around with ineffective treatments

There is still lots to learn about the condition

In the UK doctors are advised to send any newly diagnosed "Type 2's" that are under Age 35 for a GADA (or just GAD) test to check for LADA

They found that upwards of 20% of younger adults diagnosed with T2 actually have LADA

Estimated at 8.5% of all Diabetics (most not properly diagnosed) it would be even more common than Type 1 in the general population

It's good that you were (identified). Sucks you will end up on Insulin but better to live with the injections then die while the Doctors scratch their heads because you are not responding to the standard Type 2 treatment protocol

Thanks Graham. If anything, it's my CGM and diet that keeps me from "slipping up". If for my husband's sake, if anything, makes me hope I'm one of the lucky ones.

Thank you so much for the information. I've been on insulin ever since they found out I had diabetes (a DKA is what it took) and I don't mind the multiple injections each day. What does concern me is now I might be type one and i read that type ones die about 12 years earlier than the average life span. That gives me only 12 yrs with my husband. I don't want to put him through all of that, especially near the end, and the life long trauma and loneliness afterwards. I've been a full time palliative caregiver before,with my mother. I ķnow i need a living will and to give him power of attorney.