When I was young I noticed I started becoming thirsty all the time, drinking lots of water (easily downing a pint) just to bring some moisture to my mouth. Then it got worse, I started wetting the bed, waking up with stomach pains and being very emotional and moody and losing weight. I lost all energy, and I found it really difficult to wake up in the mornings, and so weak I needed to sleep after a normal day at school. I recognised that more food made me more thirsty and as a result lost my appetite. I was eight years old and weighed just over 3 stone, which meant I was severely underweight.
I kept complaining to my parents and eventually saw a doctor. My grandmother was diabetic and my parents were recognising the signs in me. A simple test from a urine sample confirmed it.
Growing up with diabetes was difficult, especially at Christmas, Easter or birthday parties where there was always a lot of sweet food about. My family and friends made sure there was always something there for me, even if it was just a sugar free jelly, which made me feel better about it all. I remember once at the end of a school year, my teacher bought everyone in my class a bar of chocolate, and then proceeded to give me a pack of sugar free mints. These kind gestures made it all so much easier to live with.
I still had fun though, like a "normal" child would - I was a member of the school netball team and helped them win a few trophies along the way. Now I dont play as much sport but play music instead, playing clarinet in my band at university for the past four years.
I am now a fully qualified maths teacher and aim to support any diabetic pupils I teach as part of my job. Diabetes didnt stop me achieving my goal, and shouldn't stop anyone else either. Its part of who I am but it does not define me. I just live with it.
Sittingbourne, United Kingdom
