My thirty-five years of Type 1 diabetes has had its ups and downs. My diagnosis at 17 was a definite low point. Months of declining health, ignored and neglected by a fiercely independent teen, led to near disaster. Yet, I entered college a year later, and enjoyed it--thrived in a challenging environment.
I had a productive work life as a graphic designer, but diabetes and challenged me over and over. The disease flattened me periodically, but I struggled back each time. Recently, diabetes hit me particularly hard. I'm 52 now, and bouncing back is no longer an option. I plan to maybe slide, roll, or crawl back instead. I can't see exactly how I'll do it, but I have a history of "getting knocked down, but getting up again." That's just the norm for me. I have three and a half decades of experience fighting back.
St. Louis, MO
