Being a college student, it is very hard trying to balance life. There's classes, work if you have a job, a social life, parties, etc. Add diabetes into the mix, and well, it's not a dream come true in the very least. I refer to the acclimation period of college when you have diabetes a nightmare.
My first semester at my university I took terrible care of myself. I didn't do my insulin all the time and I hardly ever touched my blood sugar monitor. Even though just a few short weeks before moving on campus I found myself in the hospital in DKA, it hadn't really hit me just how important it was I take care of myself.
It hasn't been till recently that it registered in my mind that there is so much on the line. Being in college I only have a couple years before I leave and have a career. In less than 10 I'll be married and starting a family. For me to get the most out of these huge milestones I realized I needed to buckle down and take care of myself. I had to get over the hatred I've had for over 10 years towards this disease. I needed to get my crap in order or else I may lose a foot, lose a kidney, lose my ability to have healthy pregnancies, and may even lose my life.
College does more than teach me the information I need to have a successful career one day. It has taught me that to be my best me, to live to do what I want, I need to become a good diabetic. I hope other young people who have struggled like me will learn this sooner rather than later. I don't think anyone wants to become a statistic.
Indianapolis, IN
