Growing up I had a wonderful childhood. A childhood where I was able to have opportunities that I know a lot of people never had. I was a carefree, wild child until I was about 11 years old. August 4, 2005 changed my life forever. Diabetes. That is what they told me when I woke up in the emergency room after passing out and almost being stuck in a coma. A normal blood sugar for someone with diabetes is around 80-120 and mine was in the 800s.

I thought to myself, my 11-year-old self. Diabetes? I was angry, hurt, confused, emotional and searching for answers. Why me? Why now? Why can't I eat that piece of cake that all of my friends can eat? I was angry for a long time, struggling with my inner demons that I refused to confront. Once I confronted those demons, I realized diabetes was a blessing in disguise and here's why:

1. I was able to meet other people who were going through the same thing I was going through by going to Camp Fitch and meeting some of the greatest people ever. They gave me hope and gave me the feeling that I was not alone in my battle.

2. Diabetes allows me to understand what food is good for my body and which foods my body says "No way in hell!" I have most definitely learned to listen to the foods my body likes. (FYI, the picture below is the complete opposite of yays and nays for my body.)

3. It allows me to understand more about myself every day, and allows me to expand my horizons in so many different ways.

4. Diabetes gave me a voice. It gave me a reason to advocate for myself and get me out of my shell that I was in. When teachers said "No eating in class" I learned to inform them on why I needed to.

5. It allows me to see life in a different way. I am grateful that I can rise above my sickness and look at life as gift. Being diabetic has put me in some dark places, and I learned at a young age that life is never easy.

6. I don't even need to drink alcohol to feel drunk. (This is what it looks like when your blood sugar is low).

7. I have an endless supply of juice, and if I don't have it my friends always keep some around.

8. I have found a way to play hide and seek with my test strips on a daily basis.

9. I am immune to needles. I've been pricked, poked, and prodded. Needles= 0, Emily=way too many

10. Most importantly, it has taught me to never give up whether it is drinking juice until 3 in the morning and getting up the next day for school, falling down the stairs because my blood sugar was low or drinking peach juice in mistake of it being orange juice. Diabetes has been one of my biggest battles, and when I learned to love myself with this disease, I was then able to conquer the diabetes battle once and for all.