I'm 21 years old and I have had diabetes for 8 years. My mom diagnosed me when I was in 7th grade. She is an EMT and I started drinking a lot more water than usual. I was at school and I felt like I wasn't completely all there, she came and picked me up from school and took my sugar and it was 564. She immediately rushed me to the children's hospital and they diagnosed me as a Type 1 Diabetic.
I was on the shots for 2 years until I went on the pump and it was the best possible thing for me. I have gone through 2 pumps because one was discontinued and now I have a new one. Now that I have grown up with diabetes, I have learned to live with it. I always tell people I have diabetes as soon as I meet them, it is hard to hide my tattoo on my wrist that says it. I'm happy that I haven't had any major eye, kidney or foot problems and I'm very thankful to my family and friends who have stood by me through everything and nothing has changed. I can't wait until there is a cure for type 1 diabetes. sometimes I wish for a normal life.

Suzi Fairbanks
Manchester, CT