Inspiring Stories

Go To ER for a cold come out with Diabetes

I found out I had Diabetes when I went to the ER for a terrible flu bug I could not kick. As I am sitting in the check in area, the nurse asked me if I had been drinking. I answered NO I don't drink. She then asked if i had Diabetes. My Answer was no. They rushed me into a room where they did several blood tests and then came back where I was officially Diagnosed on Dec. 5th. 2012. I spent 4 days in the ICU trying to get my blood sugar down. When I left the hospital my blood sugar was down to 250. 1 week later I went blind for 3 weeks. That was even more scary then being diagnosed.
From that moment I have changed my entire way of eating and what I put in my body. I have lost over 30lbs and I am happy to say my 1st A1C at 3 months was 5.9 and my most recent A1C was 5.4. I am so aware of my body now and how I feel. It is like night and day from how I was before. I feel better then I have in years!
I am super proud of myself and I am happy I have a wonderful man in my life who supports me and helps me tremendously! He has lost 100lbs since my diagnoses. I take 60 units of Lantus every morning and 5 units of Humalog with breakfast lunch and Dinner. My Goal is to get my weight down and to someday come off insulin all together. My Dr. tells me all the time that if i continue doing what I am doing, it will happen. I pray for it every day.

Heidi
Anchorage, AK

It's all about 'Being Strong'..

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was a 9 year old energetic, carefree, oblivious to the term 'Diabetes'. Since then, it's been 23 years and I am proud to wear this fact up my sleeve that I have become 'Stronger, bolder, conscious, empathetic and socially aware' with Diabetes. I regard it as my close 'alibi' who teaches me everyday 'How to fight', 'never give-up' and being extremely 'disciplined' with my eating, exercise regime and lifestyle. And it has been a very very tough journey with my closest pal, and the journey still continues.

Over these years I have realized while it is humanly 'impossible' to accept it at times from what I was and how I have been now, but that's the reality i needed to 'accept'. I have learnt it the hard way, going from extreme hypoglycemic to hyperglycemic with none around to tell me, teach me, help me understand how to cope, until I decided to take it all by myself and gain knowledge to survive and fight out, not allowing my close pal to win over me. So, while it may still put me down every now and then with injuries, pains and other problems, it can NEVER defeat me!

Twenty-three years on, I fight daily. To survive, to adapt, to stay alive! With a guitarist and avid athlete, who used to perform and play, terms like 'Trigger finger', Achilles heel, Nephropathy, etc. became synonymous to me. I still refuse to give up my passion and continue to play (though less), write, compose, sketch, and help other diabetics to cope up with what they going through. As long as one's mind is strong, problems cannot break them! I advocate, live and practice it daily. I only wish for a cure to come up soon.

In the end, I wish love and care for all those who are affected with diabetes and want to hug all and say, "Be Strong. You are Special. Let's Fight it Out. Be Proud and Stand TALL", because the story won't end here.

Najeeb
Hyderabad, India

My Little Miracle

My daughter, Miracle, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in October of 2012. She was 3 yrs old at the time. I had been taking her to the doctors office since august of 2012 with symptoms of excessive hunger, excessive thirst, pain in her legs, problems wetting the bed and her pants, (which she had been potty trained since she was a yr old.) The doctors even found glucose in her urine during an appointment to check for a bladder infection. they scheduled her for a fasting urine and when we did that one there was no glucose, so they sent us home saying she was fine. Her symptoms began to get worse and she was even throwing up after eating. yet her doctors office informed me over the phone that she was already seen for her symptoms and there was nothing wrong with her. 2 months later I finally was able to get her insurance to approve her to see a different doctor. her first appointment the doctor heard her symptoms, checked her blood sugars and had her rushed to the hospital. Her blood sugar level was 795 and her A1C levels were 14.7%. They started her on insulin and after 3 days of videos and books and meeting with diabetes specialists and nutritionist, we were finally able to go home. Its been 8 months and her blood sugar levels are under control and she is able to check her own insulin and help with her injections. Everyday I look at my little girl and realize just how amazing and strong she is and there is no doubt in my mind she is going to have a normal life and wont let diabetes determine what she will do with it! Im a proud mother of an amazing little girl!!

Tiffany Norris
eugene, OR

My Journey

It was a nice summer/fall day , It was September 7th, 1980 about 5:30 in the evening, I never thought that time would change the rest of my life. It did, that was the exact time I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes with a blood glucose level near 1900, I was 8. Well, 32 years later and wiser to Diabetes and medicine I learned a lot about this disease I called the "beast". Through the low blood sugars in the morning, almost about every 5 days, from the growth spurts growing up. The numerous rides in the ambulances for low blood sugars, the emergency room visits, the overnight stays in the hospital, the worrying if I am going to have a good blood sugar day or bad. Through seeing the doctors for my regular check ups and the "cute" nurses as well. Now I have a insulin pump for three years now which have made my life a bit easier.
All of these challenges have made me a stronger person and a wiser person to this I live in day in and day out. I know quite a few people that have died from complications from Diabetes, including my dad. But whatever I do, I don't wish this on anybody even my worst enemy because simple just need to find a cure, so the next generation doesn't have to go through this......For all that read this that have Diabetes, I say Live wise and stay strong!!!

Tom. W.
Dubuque, IA

I'm a diabetic

I've been a diabetic for almost a year now I've worked all my life 46 years old I was recently laid off I have no health insurance looking for a job my sugar count is six to 700s I watch what I eat and can't afford medicine than the social services made phone calls and nobody seems to want to help crazy no one wants to help me. My toes are numb my joints are sore seems like it's just falling apart Canada would be nice if there is a cure.

Rick swartz
Jessup, MD

Anything is possible!

My son, who is 13yrs old, was dianosed with type 1 at the age of 8. We, like many other parents, were shocked and terrified at the radical change that our lives would soon take. Brady was very brave and strong throughout the 4 days that we spent in the hospital learning how to deal with this new life style change. He has always tested his own blood and administered all his shots himself. We have always been a very active sports family and Brady was just as involved. One of the very first questions that he asked me was.."Can I still play sports?"...of course the answer was an absolute YES. He has excelled at everything he has tried and Type 1 has not slowed him down at all. He plays on a Major level USSSA baseball team that won the Missouri AAA State title and is currently ranked #6 in the Major Division: he plays on a high level AAU basketball team that is currently the Iowa AAU State Champions, and he is the starting quarterback on his school football team as well as excelling on the school track and basketball teams. He has never let being a diabetic slow him down one bit and dreams of playing college sports one day. To all of those kids out there who are playing sports, do not let being a type 1 diabetic change your dreams or desires one bit...you can do whatever you want to do!

Rick&Ann Sartorius
Mount Pleasant, IA

My Champion

My son, Harrison Tharpe, was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes on Friday, October 26, 2001, exactly 3 months shy of his 3rd birthday. Harrison's pediatrician sent us from his office, to the ER at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. The words he cried out loudly, "I DON'T WANT THIS! I DON'T WANT THIS!!" as they attempted to put in a routine IV drip, to begin administering insulin, still haunt me to this day anytime I see someone that has an IV. We all spent four grueling days at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, learning all we could about diabetes, counting carbohydrates, and learning how to test his blood sugar, and how to calculate the number of units of insulin to administer via injection. Reality set in (for me) on Day 3 of the hospital stay, when we met with his Pediatric Endocrinologist, Dr. Jennifer Najar (or, "doctor in a jar," as she liked to say jokingly.) Harrison immediately took to Dr. Najar, as did we. She was very comforting, reassuring, and knowledgeable, in her actions, and words. I can still remember Dr. Najar's words, as we sat in the playroom of the hospital, watching Harrison play with several kids that suffered from various other diseases. As she looked at some of the other kids, and back at Harrison, she said, "You know, with a slight modification of lifestyle, Harrison can live a normal life. Everything will be fine. You'll see!" I couldn't "see" much at the time, because of the tears that were pouring from my eyes, as I thought that most his dreams, and hopes, had been shattered. It has been almost 12 years since Harrison's diagnosis. However, Dr. Najar was absolutely right! While we have had our struggles with diabetes, and Harrison has even cursed the disease, he has dreams of joining the United States military (the Marines,) and the attached picture is of his 1st Place victory, just this past weekend, at his first ever Jiu-Jitsu competition, that was held in Lakeland, Florida. But then again, I have ALWAYS known that he was a "champion." He is MY champion!

John Tharpe
Greensboro, NC

Going to Kindergarten with Diabetes

My son Blake was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on August 15, 2012, just 10 days before he started kindergarten. He spent 4 days in the hospital adjusting to his new life on insulin. He took it like a champ! It wasn't until a few weeks later that he asked, out of the blue, "when is my diabetes going to go away?" Until this question, he simply thought that he was going to get shots until he got better. I had a hard time explaining to a 5 year old that there was no "cure". Now, nine months later, he wants to grow up and be a scientist so that HE can find a cure! He pricks his own finger and tests his blood several times a day. We even let him guess how much insulin he needs since he knows what has carbs and what doesn't. He has gained so much responsibility in the last year with the burden of diabetes, but I know it is going to make him a much stronger person! I can't wait to see what he will become!

Jessica Fields
Wichita Falls, TX

Our way of life

As a child, I had absolutely no knowledge of diabetes, what it was or what it meant. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in the August of 2000, aged 6. I had very little idea of what was actually happening, the concept of being in hospital scared me a lot, and I knew that something was evidently wrong when I saw how upset my parents were.

Then, I was on two injections a day of mixtard 30, an extremely strict dietary routine, and multiple blood glucose tests a day. If I'm honest, I did not feel at all that different from any other child, and I still don't feel all that different now, diabetes has always been a way of life for me, and I could not imagine my life without it now. I am now carb counting and on multiple injection therapy which gives me much more control although I do suffer from multiple daily/nightly hypoglycaemia.

As a family, Diabetes is no stranger, shortly after my diagnosis, my Grandad was diagnosed with type two, followed by my Mum, Sister (Type 1), cousin, and Aunt. I have been so lucky to have all of the support of which I have received over the year, and I could never be thankful enough. This has not always meant I have made the right choices with Diabetes though, and like many, a few years ago I rebelled against what I believed to be abnormal.

I'm now older and accept the dangers of ill-treated diabetes and am doing my best to ensure that I do everything I can to help myself. I am currently discussing my options and hope to switch to insulin infusion therapy within the next few months to better my control further.

I am now 19, I have just completed my first year of my degree at a Music college in Leeds, and I am extremely proud of how I have coped living away from home. It has not been easy, but with a breadth of support, and determination, it is possible.

Good luck, and think positively!
Lucy,
:-) x

Lucy
Birmingham, United Kingdom

Sometimes you just want to give up

8 years ago I was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor the size of a grapefruit. After a long road and a brilliant surgeon, I am still here but insulin dependent. :0(. It has been a mental struggle, 5 shots a day and endless testing. I am at a point now , I am tired of it all. Don't want to test, inject or count carbs I want to be normal. Just recently my best friend who was type 2 diabetic under went gastric surgery to lose weight and get healthy. I couldn't be happier for her , she has an A1C of 5.0 now, she was able to reverse it !!! Wtg BFF! Why do I feel resentful, I can never reverse my diabetes!! I hate it and sometimes you just want say "that's it I am done". Thank for letting me have my pity party.

Anonymous
Anytown, NJ