My name is Randy and I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in April 2013. In March 2012 I moved across the country from California to Michigan to start a new life with a new career. Things were going great had great friends and a great job. I turned twenty-one in January 2013 enjoyed my birthday with friends. March came around and I started reconsidering my options of transitioning from male to female transgendered, I knew I would have the support of my friends and I knew I would not have any issues at my job. Come April I finally came out and started working on the transition. Few weeks later I started noticing that I was drinking about a gallon or more of fluids a day, peeing a lot more, and eating a lot more then I normally ever did. I ended up going to the doctor's where I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes with my blood glucose level over 700. In that moment everything stopped. Type 1 Diabetes runs in my family, but I thought at age 21 and not having been diagnosed yet I was safe, turns out I was wrong. I was scared, being far away from family as well as afraid this would stop my transition. I spoke with my doctors, and was happy to find out that It would not cause any issues with my transition. I continue both my diabetic and transition treatments and have taken control of my life and diabetes with the support of friends and family. I am in control not my diabetes.

Randy
Lansing, MI