The day I found out I had diabetes changed my life forever. I had just recently graduated high school and was suddenly feeling terrible. I was constantly leaving school early, feeling like I was going to pass out because I felt so nauseous and hot. I was also constantly having to use the bathroom from drinking so many fluids, which is not like me. I delayed going to the doctors, thinking that my symptoms would stop but it just kept happening. It was becoming very tiring. I was getting no sleep from waking up four to five times in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or get another drink of water, so my mom and I decided that it was time to go to the doctors. When I went to the doctors a couple of days later, we thought I had a UTI or something of that sort. My doctor had to take a urine sample from me and told me he had to prick my finger because I had a lot of sugar in my urine.
The number that came across the glucose meter had my Mom run out the room.
I knew then something was wrong. I didn't know what to do but cry, not understanding. I was admitted to the hospital right away where I stayed in ICU and was officially diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Normal blood sugar levels range from 70 before meals and 140 after. It was the scariest thing in my life that I've had to go through, especially since it was my first time being in a hospital since I was born.
I was so scared and sad because I didn't know what was going to happen.
I honestly didn't think I would be able to prick myself 4-5 times a day or give my self shots of insulin 4 times a day but I've managed to do it. I've managed to learn how to eat properly and to not make myself suffer when I want that cookie that's sitting in front of me. I've managed to change my eating habits that were once not healthy at all to eating better. Eight months later and my sugar is in the right area for a Type 1 Diabetic.
I'm proud of myself for how far I've came since I was diagnosed in June and I know I just will get better and stronger over time.
I wish people understood that Type 1 Diabetes isn't something to mess with or make jokes about. I wish people understood that I can't leave the house or go anywhere without my glucose meter, insulin, and my glucose tablets. I wish people understood what it's like to go through high blood sugars and the lows, the panic I get when I see my numbers high in the 200's or when it gets low and I feel as if I have no control over my body and I eat everything in sight.
I know I was put in this situation because I could get through it.
Some days I'm sad because I don't understand why I have to go through something so terrifying at such a young age. Every day is a different day with different numbers of my blood sugar, some days I feel great and others I have a hard time getting out of bed, wanting to lay there all day and do nothing at all. I want to help others who are facing the same problem as I am with this disease and to find a cure someday.
I wonder all the time why I have to go through the rest of my life with this disease but with God, my family, and friends, I can get through any obstacle that comes my direction.
