It has been a long road with diabetes since age 11. My pancreas was damaged when I was struck by a car in 1981, so doing the math, 43 years of being type 1. I have endured and learned to deal with diabetes for 16,191 days to date. So yes, I am experienced and still relatively healthy.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 3 and now I am 17! I was the first of three to be diagnosed in my family. Growing up with diabetes there have been many struggles and amazing opportunities, such as the insulin pump and CGM. When I was 3 I was doing [insulin] shots and then they created the Animas pump. Now they don’t make Animas pumps and I have a CGM and Tandem pump and they are so helpful.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this year. I am well controlled with diet, exercise and medication. My diagnosis has been a rollercoaster of emotion. I was fearful and angry over my diagnosis initially, but this has turned into determination. I will not let diabetes be my identity. It’s just a part of my story. As a nurse, I have educated my patients over the years of the importance of taking charge and control over their diabetes. Now I walk this road with them.
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