Fifty Plus (50+) - "Normal ageing process" OT(ish)

So after my diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes last month, I went to the eye doctor as advised. She took a long time looking into one eye, strange never took that long before. And the same machine on the other eye was much quicker. The final result was a small change in the rx for my left eye. AND the beginning of a slight cataract. The Dr. said it was just a part of the "normal ageing process"! WTF?!? That's for OLD PEOPLE, not ME!
Well at least I can still get a hard.....ride in now and again. I really, really need one.

Very unsettling to get news like that! Hope this is your last trip into being "normal" for a while. Get out on that bike and be way beyond normal for a little while!

I think I'd better get my eyes checked as well. The person I see reflected in the mirror certainly can't be me! He looks twice as old as I think I am.:p

Getting older is not for sissies! My wife, 57, was told she'll probably need cataract surgery before 60. They run in her family. I'm almost 60 and don't have that particular issue...but did finally control my Type 2 diabetes after losing 45 pound!
Good luck. I've outlived most of my family and I'm still not 60 - so my time is bonus time. :D

Welcome to Diabetes.

Get a Red Ride Jersey and keep your pedals turning.


245427

Exercise and weight control will really help.

Getting "OLD" is supposed to be difficult. I'll let you know when I get there.

Why are all the doctors I see younger than me? Hell, for the first time ever, the PRESIDENT of the USA is younger than me. Something's seriously out of kilter here.

So after my diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes last month, I went to the eye doctor as advised. She took a long time looking into one eye, strange never took that long before. And the same machine on the other eye was much quicker. The final result was a small change in the rx for my left eye. AND the beginning of a slight cataract. The Dr. said it was just a part of the "normal ageing process"! WTF?!? That's for OLD PEOPLE, not ME!
Well at least I can still get a hard.....ride in now and again. I really, really need one.

Living on planet earth everyone will , in time, get cataracts from the suns UV light exposure.

Then there is your bodies imperfect self cloning process. Yep, self cloning that like any copy gets fainter and fainter the more copies that are made. The last numbers I heard on self cloning was a complete self replacement every 7 years with loss of gene information along the way which means we all loose some of ourselves in the process.

Is it just me or are the posters on 50+ younger than they used to be?

And it's good to have a doctor who is younger than you. That way they won't retire and leave you stranded right when you really need a doctor.

Living on planet earth everyone will , in time, get cataracts from the suns UV light exposure.

Then there is your bodies imperfect self cloning process. Yep, self cloning that like any copy gets fainter and fainter the more copies that are made. The last numbers I heard on self cloning was a complete self replacement every 7 years with loss of gene information along the way which means we all loose some of ourselves in the process.
My understanding is that your neural tissue does not undergo replacement. Once you kill off a few brain cells, they don't grow back or anything.

On one hand, I'm not pleased with this aging crap, but on the other hand it could be much much worse. I see people younger than I in the obits all the time.

Cataract surgery is very routine these days. If bright light causes glaring, or driving at night is difficult, it time to get it done. Afterwords, your vision will be so clear you'll wonder why you waited so long. Your vision gets worse so gradually, you barely notice it. After the procedure, your vision is almost good as new again.

People who've had it done remark on how vivid colors are afterwards.

I'm just about 64 and am told that I have not the slightest trace of cataracts despite spending a lot more time outdoors than most people. I think the reason is that I've always and religiously worn UV protecting sunglasses.

Right before he died, my father told me "This getting old stuff is really difficult!" He was 83 then, so at 62 (and so far), it's not that bad.

No cataracs and no diabetes, but for sure something (disease or condition) will catch up with me! Anyway, my father died of heart failure of some kind, so I guess it's likely I'll meet the same (or similar) fate.

As noted above, however, I agree that the guy in the mirror is getting to look lots older!

Rick / OCRR

I'm way overdue on my eye exam. I need to get on that!
Good luck w/ the type-2. Remember, it CAN be reversed w/ diligence. Aging is a @#$%! My diagnosis 1 yr ago was just into pre-diadetes zone with a 104 glucose number.:mad: That was enough to scare me. I'm trying to keep it at bay. Due for an A1C test this wk. Last one was 5.8 so I've been maintaining so far. Keep riding/keep moving regularly if you can!

getting old is not difficult; it's just a pain in the ass. As my physical and mental powers slowly decline, the things I normally do in the course of a day become annoying because I can't do them as well as I used to. There are numerous petty annoyances I have had to get used to: misplacing my reading glasses--cant read a word without them, dropping things all the time, aches and pains galore in all parts of my body, decreased stamina, poor sleeping, weight increases, short term memory loss, diminished manual dextrity, increased blood presssure, more digestive discomforts than when I was young, decreased hearing, increased tinitus, diminished overall strength, loss of patience, can't drink as much as I used to (to me, one of the most serious age-related debilitations), and there are probably more that I have forgotten. But, one lives on, trying to enjoy oneself as much as possible.

Cataract surgery is very routine these days. If bright light causes glaring, or driving at night is difficult, it time to get it done. Afterwords, your vision will be so clear you'll wonder why you waited so long. Your vision gets worse so gradually, you barely notice it. After the procedure, your vision is almost good as new again.

To me no surgical procedure whose outcome if it fails is loss of vision is routine. Yes, the success rate is high. But, it is not 100%. The best advice as far as I'm concerned is to do a lot of research into lenses, doctors and results. Be sure, very sure, you are ready before commiting to any eye surgery.

Like old cars, our body parts wear out; fortunately some can be fixed and/or replaced.
Have had some issues, but most were fixable. A few broken bones, cataracts, glaucoma, cancer.
Turning 80 this year and still pedalin' 100+ miles a week (among other things)!

There is no "normal" aging everyone age at their own pace.

Although with discipline in most cases diabetes should not be an issue with aging.

Keeping fit with good living (exercise and balanced nutrition) will help to age gracefully.

Although I wish I could have done something about macular degeneration that bothers me, but so far there is no remedy?
And I wish I did not end a ride in somebody's windshield causing a serious concussion that left me with hypopituitarism!

Or aches and pain from broken bones over the years.

Dealing with these ailments are still better than the alternative.

Happy aging! :)

Like old cars, our body parts wear out; fortunately some can be fixed and/or replaced.
Have had some issues, but most were fixable. A few broken bones, cataracts, glaucoma, cancer.
Turning 80 this year and still pedalin' 100+ miles a week (among other things)!

Congratulations--impressive--keep pedaling!

Turning 80 this year and still pedalin' 100+ miles a week (among other things)!

Well keep doing that. :):)

Turning 80 this year and still pedalin' 100+ miles a week (among other things)!

With all respect and admiration; you lucky b*****d!
Don't stop.

And it's good to have a doctor who is younger than you. That way they won't retire and leave you stranded right when you really need a doctor.

THIS ^^^

I've had both a doctor and a dentist retire on me. Finding suitable replacements was difficult, at the very least.

I'm quite content with getting old. The alternative sucks.

Type 2 diabetes is tough, but not as tough as Type 1, which I have had for 40 years (since age 14). At least you can take pills instead of shots to help deal with it.
Lose weight, eat better, and keep riding your bike.

I miss my 28-yr old body -- in those days I rode several centuries every summer, and I could commute 30 miles to work. Nowadays, I'm trying to regain my stamina (as well as lose weight).

After cataract surgery, you'll have good clear vision from a couple feet on out to long distance, but you'll need reading lenses. But most of us without cataract surgery need reading glasses eventually.

O.T: Just an FYI, there are drugs that need to be injected for Type II other than Insulin. I take one of them, Victoza, The other injectable is Byetta. Both are relatively new, Victoza been in release for about 2 years in the USA and Byetta has been out 3, 4, or so years.

My FIL had the surgery and it made quite a difference.

Is it just me or are the posters on 50+ younger than they used to be?

And it's good to have a doctor who is younger than you. That way they won't retire and leave you stranded right when you really need a doctor.
Yes... cataracts are fixable too. Life could be worse. Just head on over to the 80+ forum.

My understanding is that your neural tissue does not undergo replacement. Once you kill off a few brain cells, they don't grow back or anything.


Commonly believed, but not true. And what promoted cell growth in the brain? Exercise! (Hint: Goggle BDNF and exercise)

My understanding is that your neural tissue does not undergo replacement.
...

Nope, not true. Or at least that is what both my neurologist and neurosurgeon tell me. In fact, that is what they are relying on to restore me to full function.