Inspiring Stories

2 Diabetic Sisters of the 3

On December 22, 2000, I walked into the front door, after just having won full custody of my 5 year old twins from their abusive father, and one of my 5 year old daughters, Haley, slid down the wall to her bottom and complained of stomach pain. Her twin sister, Savannah, walked over to me, took my hand and said, "Mama, I feel sister dying". With those words from Savannah, it jolted me into action. I picked up little Haley and put her on the couch and her eyes began rolling to the back of her head. I called the pediatrician's office who wouldn't allow us to be seen due to a past due balance. They had already misdiagnosed Haley and told me she had sugar in her urine probably because she had eaten cookies or something. I put the girls in the car and drove straight to the nearest ER. The intake nurse kept sniffing Haley and then doctors and everyone began moving fast. Haley was critical and she was dying. An ambulance was called to get Haley to transfer to a hospital with a children's intensive care unit. Once at the new hospital in the PICU, I was informed her blood sugars were approx. 1100 and they couldn't predict if she would live through the night. I was warned of brain swelling and they inserted huge open lines into her little body in case of emergency. As I paced the PICU floors, I had trouble walking and my knees would buckle until I went to the ground. Later I realized it was shock that was causing my knees to buckle. Haley and I spent Christmas in that lonely empty hospital ward but she learned to thrive. Haley and her twin became state volleyball champions and are doing great! Haley's little sister got Type 1 as well.

Anonymous
Menlo Park, CA

Diabetics Survivals Never Give Up

I am 22 Years Old and I am Type One Diabetic.
I was 7or8 years old when i became sick had fever also and keep going bathroom with in 20mins. While also drinking a lot of water daily. My Parents was un known with my illness, they were thinking i got simple fever. So first they give me simple medicines but nothing was in control and day by day i was becoming more sick. My dad took me to the nearest Clinic. In 1999 Those days diabetic was not common dr gave me few medicines but nothing got happen. I was back to the same clinic so they did urea test and finally dr realized i got the diabetic. Dr said to my dad your son got diabetic. My parents was unknown with that so dr advice them take me to the city hospital before going to the city hospital my dad again took me on another clinch where an expert dr directly did my blood test as well as urea test that time my blood test result was 40 mmol/l = 720 mg/dl as I remember . Dr was shock how the kid is still alive he did 3 tests in different machine by his self. So he just said to my dad take me in city hospital in emergency then i was there almost for 45days they trained my mom how to take care of me and give me insulin injection on time.

Its a hard life and its hard to control from eating but i am happy that I am in good condition and better then many of goods just trust in your self for those who got problem like me and never give up. Hope for the good and enjoy the life for at least for those who love you, for your own good life. Life is so good just try for best and keep move on with little awareness.

Abdullah Syed Ali Shah
Makkah Al Mukaramah, Saudi Arabia

The endocrine system from hell!

I was diagnosed with T1D in 1979, at the age of 12. I had lost a lot of weight, was thirsty, hungry and urinating all the time, all the usual suspects. I was rushed to the hospital and was in DKA when I was diagnosed with a BS of 893. I am now 47 and have been a diabetic for the last 35 years. In addition, I have hypothyroidism and had Cushing's disease as well, and had to have a pituitary tumor removed from my brain in 2007 to cure it. To say that my endocrine system is faulty would be an understatement. When I was diagnosed, I had to check my urine with a test tube, there were no BS meters, and there was only beef and pork insulin; a long acting and a medium acting. Typically you took two shots per day. Counting carbs was not done at this time. It was difficult to control in those days, and I was sick and in the hospital a lot, especially as an adolescent. My doctors referred to me as "brittle". I still remember the first BS machines being the size of typewriters!

I work very hard to control my diabetes and like the rest of you, I struggle with it every day. I love all the latest advancements that allow me to be in good control. I am now on a wireless pump with my BS meter built right in. I test several times a day, count carbs and exercise. I do have some complications, such as diabetic retinopathy, but it is in control. I also have Gastroparesis, but it is also well controlled on meds.

I will never let this disease own me or defeat me and I believe that being a diabetic taught me a lot about responsibility at a young age, and has shaped the person I am today. I am married with a successful business and no matter what, I try to stay positive.

My pediatrician used to tell me, "they will cure it in your lifetime", and I believe they will!

Mary
Palm Beach, FL

6 and diabetic!

I am 17 years old. I have type one diabetics.
When I was 6 years of age, I was constantly drinking a lot of water and always needing the bathroom. I remember becoming ill with a really bad throat infection. I was off school for a while, and spent a lot of time at home. One day My granddad noticed that I have a sore throat and took me to the doctors, they said it was nothing and sent me home with medication. A few days after I got really ill and the meds weren’t working, my temperature raised a lot to the point I was up all night with fans running to keep me cool. My mum sat up with me all night to keep an eye. The morning after my mum woke to hear me struggling to breath; this is when my mum phoned for an ambulance. When the ambulance arrived my mum carried me to them, and they turned the blue lights on. I remember being told that my little brothers went to school telling everyone I wasn’t breathing. This was very frightening to hear. When we got to the hospital a team of nurses were already waiting for me but my mum was told if I didn’t respond the ambulance would have to take me to another hospital. It was an emergency. Lucky I responded and was took in the hospital. They treated me, and taught me all about how to use my insulin pens and manage my blood sugars. It took awhile to get used to taking insulin/injections 3-4 times a day as I wasn’t; am still not a fan of needles. I have been diabetic for 11 years now and have control of my glucose levels. I read so many stories on this website and it encouraged me to share mine. I’m always afraid to tell new people I have diabetics as when I was little I was always the strange one. But since joining this site, it’s made me realise there’s nothing wrong with having diabetics. And am proud to be diabetic!!

Emily-Ann Wood
Staffordshire, United Kingdom

It's a Long Tough Road Don't Quit

I am a 27 year old type 1 Diabetic. I was in fourth grade when I went home from school sick. My parents thought I had the flu, so like any good parents they gave me juice, 7-up, Popsicles etc. After a few days of me not getting better my parents decided it was time to call the hospital. At this point over the few days of being home sick I had lost about 40% of my body weight, was using the bathroom every 15 minutes, I was delirious, pale and very sick looking. The hospital at the time of admission took my blood sugar, it was a staggering 1960 (yes that is correct, at the time, it would have been a world record for an individual still conscious). After the diagnosis of Diabetes I was in ICU for a while, not sure how long since I have no recollection of any of this after that first day of school going home.
Since then I have had some blood sugar control issues, been hospitalized almost once a year for the last 10 years for one Diabetes related issue or another. From DKE almost shutting down my Kidney's, to the simple flu that just won't go away. Already, at 27 with being Diabetic for 19 years I started to show some complications from poor control. As I have never had an A1C under 7 and have been as high as 12.1. Having nervous decline to my feet and legs, up to eye sight issues and cognitive processing problems.
Over the last few years however, I have started a family. Realizing that I need to fix the above to live for my son I have re-evaluated my life and started to focus more on control. With better A1C levels and more watching what and when I eat and check my sugars, the complications have slowly started to go away. For those like me with control problems, don't quit, it can be reversed.

Jeffery
Iowa City, IA

The Beginning.

Not many people have a wealth of knowledge regarding Diabetes, Type 1 or otherwise. If you don’t have it yourself, or have someone in your life that has this disease, why would you be an expert on it? You wouldn’t. It’s that simple. I certainly wasn't. I was a senior in high school, 1986, 17 years old. I, of course, didn’t know I was sick. No one did, even though I had all the classic signs.
I was the moodiest thing on the planet. I would be laughing one moment, crying the next. Kids at school started to expect my tears. In fact, my yearbook is filled with comments such as 'Will you ever stop crying?' 'Stop crying!
I was tired...all the time. I thought it was because of school, cheer and the party life. I couldn't sleep enough or eat enough or drink enough either.
I would pee 100 times a day.
I was a stick figure. 5'8, 95 pounds. I would estimate that 1 out of every 2 people would ask me if I had an eating disorder.
I remember going to this party, I remember drinking so much that I passed out. I am Irish and German. I am bred to handle my liquor…even at the illegal age of 17! But, this was different. The next day I called my mom and told her something was really wrong with me. I told her that I thought I had an eating disorder because that’s what everyone was saying at school. She took me to the doctor for some testing.
I was at school a few days later when my mom called. I walked into the office, picked up the phone and heard ‘You have Diabetes.’ I had no idea what Diabetes was but knew it was bad. I heard iand felt it in every fiber of my being. Then I fainted. I woke up in the Principal’s Office with my mom standing over me. Next thing I knew I was checking into the hospital for a week long stay. & a life long disease.

Kelly
High Falls, NY

Diabetes is a tough Illness to control!

I am 28 years of age, I was Diagnosed Type 1 at 10. At 26 I suffered an extensive Brain Hemorrhage almost 2 years ago now. There is no proof that bad control was or could be the cause but that is what I put it down to so I can close that aspect of my life. Since the Hemorrhage I have never been as well controlled, my nutrition is so much better, my physical activity is routine (I am a Fitness Instructor) but I am happy the incident happened and it opened my eyes! As I say it was a good thing that happened in a bad way. I have always been a positive guy and I never let Diabetes get the better of me, even though it often has! It can be frustrating and hard to understand even 18 years of dealing with it! But, It should't control your life. It means a little more preparation and planning than usual but you still rule your body!! I have a Fitness saying 'I Can AND I Will' that is very motivational and great in any situation but I think it is perfect now to live your life in this way of thinking! That goes for Diabetes, any Disease any Illness and any Mental Health issues be positive and take control and it will never control you.

Mark Kavanagh
Castlerea, Ireland

Artificial Pancreatic Treatment Works

I am a 52-year-old type-2 diabetic who began the APT (Artificial Pancreatic Treatment) 2 weeks ago at Trina Health in Memphis. Since then, my years-long depression has completely lifted, I have energy to do the simplest things that I could no longer do, I even started exercising again - something that I had given up on a long time ago. I was never promised a cure, as there is none, but this treatment has made me feel good again. I had forgotten what that feels like. Each treatment takes 4 - 5 hours once a week at first, then less often, and the treatment consists of drinking 1 or 2 ounces of dextrose (with lemon) several times throughout the morning, and intravenous insulin in controlled small doses. This procedure works to retrain your liver and pancreas to play well together again. It's been in use for over 20 years, but the treatment facilities are few and far between. If you are a type-1 or type-2 diabetic and live anywhere near one of those treatment centers, I urge you to research this treatment for yourself and get in on what to me has been a miracle. I even lost 1.5 pounds last week, and have 100 more to go, and I feel like I will actually be able to do it!

Sheri Hall
Memphis, TN

I was the Chosen one

My story is simple, I have never felt sorry for myself, maybe scared and confused with a denial of it will go away. I felt that as a child of nine children, I was the chosen one, and accepting who I am and what I have to do to improve my health and not let the Diabetes destroy who I am or allow it to WIN. I try and educate people who ask, with questions and comments of "you don't look like a diabetic" Don't you hate taking shots? How do you do it, taking shots everyday I hate needles. I simple say, I don't look at it as a chore, I look at it as a challenge. I will continue to fight this fight with a positive attitude and doing the best I can to control my diabetes. After all I am the one that has to understand what I can and cannot eat. I appreciate all my friends and family who support me, and have been there for me with my good and bad moods and highs and low, especially my dear other half, who has seen me at my best and worse, I love you more than you will ever know. I thank my two dogs Zooey and Mavis who have been their when I have had my highs and lows, and wake me up. I want nothing more than to remain healthy, with over 20 years being a diabetic I have been grateful to not been hospitalized and remain in pretty good health. This is the year, this is the day I start to and continue to beat the D, after all I was the chosen one.

Teri

Teri Guinn Reinig
Milpitas, CA

God gave me this life because he knew I was strong enough to live it

Our family’s lives were drastically changed on June 16, 2014 when our beautiful energetic 11 year old daughter,Lilli, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. When we arrived at the ER we were told she had Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetic Keto-Acidosis. We knew it was serious but had no idea at the time that DKA can quickly lead to coma, or worse. Family and friends began praying and miraculously despite a blood sugar of near 1,000 and acidic blood, Lilli remained responsive. The next morning we expected to learn about a strict diet and medications Lilli would need to reverse this condition. When we asked the doctor what we do next and she said, “You learn to give her insulin shots” we felt like someone had stabbed us in the heart. We had read so much about the importance of diet and exercise when it came to Diabetes. Surely since our family adopted a healthy lifestyle our little girl couldn’t possibly need insulin!?! Little did we know that when we read about diabetes being prevented and cured they were only talking about Type 2 Diabetes. We were completely devastated to learn that Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Lilli’s strength and perseverance through it all has been incredible. By the 2nd day in the hospital a girl who was terrified of needles began giving herself injections. Not once has she complained or had a “poor me” moment despite the fact that she gets stuck several times a day, even in the middle of the night. When we came home from the hospital she made her screen saver to read: "God gave me this life because he knew I was strong enough to live it." Her extremely artistic cousin, Nicholas painted her a picture with this saying. She has proved over and over to her family that she truly is strong enough to live a long full life with Type 1 Diabetes.

Judi Kunkle
Weatherly, PA