Hi, my name is Carla Fontanez. I'm a type 1 diabetic. I was first diagnosed when I was 14 when I was a typical, candy loving, young teenager. I'm currently 20 so I've been dealing with it for about 6 years now. It has been a very hard thing to keep up with and deal with everyday of my life because its something you must take care of. I cannot say I haven't cheated on my diets and on making sure I shoot my insulin. Because I have plenty of times. Still to this day have days and moments I just act like I don't care or I forget. It upsets me so much because it has changed my whole life. Nothing's the same. Everyone says you are still the same person but I'm really not. You have more responsibilities. The meals you must eat are different. You have to be checking blood sugars every time you eat, every where you go. Your health depends on it just like every organ or anything that has to do with your body. I've had 3 DKA's so far and those are by far the worse. Sometimes I get really depressed and emotional because of the diabetes and how it affects me in so many ways. But yet it's still hard to take care and control. I could probably go on but I would like to wrap it up with its very hard to know what's right to eat and what to do to stay healthy but that shouldn't be a reason to not take care of myself. I would love so more support an to hear about others with my same situation.

Carla Fontanez
Lowell, MA