It's hard being diabetic. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes a long time ago. I couldn't understand why I kept passing out and gaining weight. I figured out that I had pre-diabetes when I was thirteen. I couldn't stay awake in my math class. The teacher thought I had narcolepsy, but it was really that my sugar got so low that I would pass out. I didn't really care at first because I didn't see it as a big deal since I was young, skinny, and didn't think it was anything bad. I felt fine most of the time, so I didn't think about taking the medicine. I didn't want to take the medicine or accept the fact that I had something like this to worry about, and all of my friends didn't.
When I was diagnosed, I hated that I had something wrong with me. I just wanted to be normal like everyone else, but I knew I wasn't. Also, I am scared to take pills. I hate taking pills, so I didn't want to take the pills prescribed to me. By not taking the medicine, I made it so much worse. I kept gaining weight and passing out more frequently. It got really bad one day, and I passed out against the lockers in front of my whole class, and some classmates ended up almost carrying me to go to the nurse. I finally went for a check up, and they told me that it had gotten worse as I had gotten older, and that I was fully diabetic now.
The doctor decided that it was best to put me on the insulin shot. It is hard to give yourself a shot every day, but I do it. Everyone asks me why I do it, why don't I just take the pill, and I tell them it's because I didn't listen. I didn't listen when I was that thirteen year old. I didn't listen to my mom or anyone because I was convinced that it would get better, but it didn't.
I don't like living with diabetes .but I don't let it define me. I am more than just the girl with diabetes. I may have issues I have to worry about it, but diabetes will never stop me from living my life. Diabetes is a disease that can be genetic or could happen by gaining too much weight. Mine was genetic, and I hate when people say that it was because I ate too much. I also don't like when people say things like, "If I eat all these sweets, I'm going to get diabetes!" That may be so, but people need to think about what they say because there could be a diabetic like me listening to you.
I know that there are many young people, and people in general, going through struggles like me. It's hard being diabetic; it does come with daily struggles of having to get your sugar right, taking your medicine, and eating portions, but it's something I live with, and others do too. It's something we have, not who we are. Don't let it define who you are; I won't.
