Diabetes isn’t in any way shape or form “fun.” I certainly didn’t ask for it, and I would not wish it upon anyone. Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that kills the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels against food, emotions and other occurrences. Without insulin the sugar levels in your blood rise and create ketones. Ketones cause your blood to become more acidic which could in essence kill you in extreme circumstances. However, before my diagnosis while my body was accumulating ketones I had an array of “flu” like symptoms. My main one though was the severe weight loss. Months before it was nice because I started to lose weight and what fourteen year old teenage girl doesn’t want to lose weight, but then the closer I got to finding out the thinner I got and it was uncomfortable and my bones were rubbing on things and it was really bad. Then I felt like I was constantly being followed and that people didn’t trust me anymore. All of my friends quit being friends with me and I got really lonely really fast and everything was quickly starting to change. I didn’t know how to handle it. This new way of living was definitely not something I asked for, but it is something I manage. I don’t really remember the life I had before, but I do know that if this would not have happened to me I would not be where I am today. After my diagnosis though I do remember feeling like a burden. I was sick. I was always going to be sick and if I wanted to live medication and supplies are expensive and that was now a new thing my parents were going to have to figure out. This in essence caused me to grow up faster, but now I can share my experience with others.

 

My only advice would be to push through even when you feel like you have no more to give you have to keep giving this doesn't make you who you are but it does change your attitude about who you are and you have to be the light for the person who is looking up to you because one thing I have learned is that there is always one person looking up to you no matter what.

 

I am outgoing, strong, independent, motivated and just a little bit sassy. I am a daughter, a friend and a soon to be wife. I love spending time with my husband and I have been dancing since I could walk. I’m about to graduate college and get my degree in education. I am me, diabetes is not who I am. Diabetes will always be apart of my life, but “I Define Me”