Inspiring Stories

diabetes in the 90s

Growing up I was and still am a typical boy enjoying the outdoors and sports associated with being outside until January my 4th grade year of elementry school when I began to get sick. Like most parents my mother thought it was a cold or flu until a month or so went by and I was only getting worse. I was taken to Irvine Medical in Irvine, Ca where I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 1,600. Even though I am considered a brittle diabetic I am strong and I control my diabetes my diabetes doesnt control me. I surf, bowhunt, hike, camp etc. And thanks to lilly quick pens life has become even easier to enjoy the great ooutdoors. Thanks to my family for all the support and encouragement for keeping me in an active and healthy lifestyle.

William McSpadden
Lake Forest, CA

Little hero

My 11 yr old son just celebrated 8 yrs cancer free to find out he had type 1 diabetes. This is not something that chemo or radiation can cure. Diabetes type 1 is forever until we find a cure. My son said he will just have to be a speaker to tell others how he survived cancer and overcomes day to day with type 1!

Kris M
Portage, IN

Double Trouble

I was in 6th grade 1 year and a half ago and when i was at school i got really sick. My mom came and picked me up from school and took me home were i laid on the couch for a couple days and i wasn't diagnosed yet so my mom gave me sprite to help with the stomach pains even though it made my sugar rise higher and higher till finally my dad who was a nursing student at the time came and stop bye to see how i was doing. He saw how sick i was and took me to the emergency room.

While i was in the hospital my mom put my sisters into bed because they still had to go to school the next day and she came to see me. My sugar was 894 and they could care for me at that hospital so the sent me to the ICU at another hospital. I had to stay there for a long time and it got really boring in their. So my aunt called me and told me my younger cousin had also got diagnosed at the same time! When i finally got out it was a lot and still is hard for me to take care of myself. I am happy to have great parents who care for me because without them i probably wouldn't be here.

Anonymous
Greenup, KY

My Story

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes, insulin dependant, at the age of 17, a senior in high school. It took me a long time to come to terms with this, that I have Diabetes and will for the rest of my life. I have gone through a lot of things since then and I am still struggling with this. I was doing so well with it, my A1c was down to 5.8% and then I found out I was pregnant. I struggled the entire 9 months and ended up having my baby 3 and a hlaf weeks early. It was very scary for me because I had to watch my blood sugars constantly. I was at my Endocrinologist and OB/GYN every week practically checking to make sure everything was okay. Pregnant women already have restrictions, I had way more restrictions because of my Diabetes. I gained a lot of weight and to this day I am still struggling with that. My sugars have been up and down and I have a hard time keeping up with things. I am determined to get everything back on track and with the help of finding a cure for Diabetes I will be on my way to a healthier life!

Emily Sunderman
Columbus, OH

Own It!

Hi, my name is Jean and I've had type 1 diabetes since the age of seven. Forty two years later and I still remember that phone call from the doctors office like it was yesterday. Within an hour I was in the hospital and over the next week I learned about meal plans, testing urine in funny glass test tubes and practicing injections on an orange. I also remember my mom asking the doctor how long I would live to which he replied "if she takes care of herself she should live a long, healthy life." He also went on to tell us that research was uncovering some exciting news and that a cure was "just around the corner." I must admit that makes me laugh and almost cry at the same time!!

I'm sharing my story because I want to encourage those who have been newly diagnosed, especially the young people out there. When I was diagnosed I didn't know anyone my age with Diabetes. I heard all kinds of horror stories from people who were much older and It was overwhelming!! I want people to know that Diabetes isn't a death sentence but until there's a cure it is a "life sentence." I encourage you to learn all you can and be your own advocate. Your attitude is the single most important factor when it comes to living "with" Diabetes. You can let it work for you or against you. I've learned that the better I treat my Diabetes the better it treats me. I live a full life, am married, have a wonderful son and love life. My motto has always been "do the best with what you've got." So we have Diabetes... let's own it!

JEAN
Colona, IL

42 and Counting!

YUP! Been a tyle 1 for 42 years. When I was diagnosed I was at the doctor with my sister trying to get a passing for camp! Needless to say, my sister went to camp and I went to the hospital for 10 days. I had all the symptoms but back then (especially if there was no family history) no one knew what the symptoms were! Anyway, the doctor drew my blood and it was over 900!
Diabetes has effected me in many ways; numbness in the extremities, memory loss, I don't get any warning signs for my low blood sugars any more! (DANGEROUS!!) and....Diabetic Retinopathy. I've been blind twice but with faith and God's touch I can see! The surgeries and meds have led to glaucoma now too. I guess with all this some people would throw their hands up and just give up! I've been doing this for 42 years! Don't give up! Keep the faith! We can do this TOHETHER!!!

Kelly Kruchkow-Moore
Winston Salem, NC

Shelly D

Our family had moved across the state due to my dad's military career. Although, the transition was difficult for Mom and I, there was things happening with my muscles that had not ever happened before. I was eleven years old when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. My mom made my disease easy to control as a teenager. I took an average of 4-6 shots per day.
My son was born when I was 25 years old. My diabetes really took a toll on my body during pregnancy. I was advised not to have children, but he is worth it. I am currently 36 years old & my son is 11. I am trying to get a pump because my injection sites are limited to legs & stomach because of condition of my arms. Diabetes is a daily struggle and I have one diabetic episode about every 2 months. I have only been to the ER twice this year with passing out. My family was a military family so we did not need financial assistance or medical help. We were unaware of filing for disability. I struggle now to keep any job because I have had the disease for 25+ years. There is no assistance when you are an adult.
Hopefully, a cure is in the future. Until then, I test 4-6 times a day. No complaints other than being tired, but that is part of the disease. I wish people were more knowledgeable about type 1 diabetes. I am dealing with the labor board/EEOC over being fired from my teaching job due to FMLA diabetic related issues.

Shelly Donaldson
Paragould, AR

Type 1 Diabetes

Hi My name is Brittney, i am 17 in December and i have been Type 1 diabetic for since i was 3 years old, it was very difficult for my parents i was there first child, they where really scared and is still. they took turns each night watching me 24/7, They did not allow me to have any sugar then but i can now. i have had a ruff past couple of years, and i am at the point of not caring about my health and it caused me to go into 2 Diabetic Seizures and it caused me to feel sick all the time. i haven't been able to get anything under control... But i have been working on it and i am doing better i don't feel as sick as i did before. I never give up even though i am depressed and have a High anxiety and suffer from trauma and memory loss it doesn't put me down. i just keep working at it with my family, i love them and they love me and i know that no matter what happens

Brittney Beuck
Walla Walla, WA

I may not be the Best...But I'm not the Worst

I've been diabetic for over 19 years, and although it has a times been very limited on my social and personal life, I realized that it didn't have to limit me. I live a full and complete life, I'm not always feeling my best and some times my energy level is low, but I know that it's the nature of the beast. You have to pull up your big girl panties and just keep it moving. I promised myself that I'll leave this world with everything I came in it with, see I leave no room for failure.Take care of yourself, try to do whatever it takes to be a healthy you...Remember you can do it....almost twenty years of ups and downs...but the ups far out weigh the downs. Good Luck.

Renee
Arlington, TX

A life worth living

I was 9-years old when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I didn't know what this meant. I remember thinking that I would leave the hospital and be "all better" - no more shots. I remember running from my mom crying when she had to give me my first shot at home and my parents explaining that I need to take the shots everyday. I remember my mom giving me the shots everyday and my parents teaching me how to eat and bringing me to my doctor visits. I remember my teen years and having low blood sugar reactions. I remember my friends who supported me and cared for me - never shunning me. I remember taking responsibility for my health and how insulin, checking blood sugars regularly, exercise and eating right all play a vital role to controlling my diabetes. My parents instilled this in me. I then had my two wonderful daughters and it is a daily struggle to stay on top of my diabetic care now but it is something I am committed to. I witnessed my beloved grandfather live with type 1 diabetes and I pray everyday for a cure....for myself, for my children, for everyone. Diabetes is part of me and I felt inspired reading your stories of people leaving with diabetes. I always said there would not be a cure in my lifetime, but maybe my children's. Well there is always hope and I know that I want to instill in my children strength, optimism, and hope. A life worth living.

Shari
Hawthorne, NJ