November 21, 1985 my mom knew that at 10 years old I was a bit extra sassy, was not sleeping at night, was losing weight and was drinking more- this was not normal for me. She would not let the doctor ignore my 7 days of symptoms and that day they tested for mono and diabetes. At around 4:30 we got the call that I would be admitted in the morning to the hospital to start my journey. My glucose level was barely 200 but diabetes was the answer. My glucometer was not covered by insurance back then and cost my parents $600- I needed a huge drop of blood on the strip, the blotting and the lancing device looked like a torture machine to a child! They discharged me with instructions to my parents to weigh and measure my food and I was on a nearly 2000 calorie diet at 10 years old and only 100 pounds! I can't believe that when I know how we do it now. As a nurse, my passion is teaching others how to manage their disease and not to let their disease defeat them.....this is a challenge, a puzzle. And every single one of us responds just a little differently to our therapy making the stories even more intriguing.

Theresa Woolever
Clinton, WI