Eight months ago, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after nearly a week in the ICU. Eight months since hearing the words that finally explained what had been happening to my body. And eight months of slowly piecing myself back together physically, emotionally, and mentally.
I was diagnosed specifically with LADA, latent autoimmune diabetes in adults. But the truth is, it didn’t start the day I was diagnosed. It took years for me before anyone realized what was wrong.
When blood glucose (blood sugar) drops too low, it’s called severe hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia can happen fast, and knowing what to do can save a life. Join us to learn about recognizing the signs of dangerously low blood glucose, what puts you at risk, and how to respond in an emergency. We’ll discuss treatment options to have on hand so you can act quickly and confidently.
I was diagnosed at 10 years old. My parents saw I was losing a lot of weight, and I looked very sick. I played soccer and I wasn't able to keep up anymore. My mom took me to the doctor and that’s when we found out I have type 1 diabetes: a scary thing that I didn’t understand. My friend’s dad had type 2 diabetes, so I understood some, but not the full extent. I was shown how to use an insulin pen and to check my blood sugar and went home. I was terrified I couldn’t play soccer anymore; I love soccer.
Weight has been a struggle throughout my life. Growing up, there wasn’t much information out about healthy food choices, how to lose weight safely, how to incorporate exercise, or how to maintain a desirable weight. I tried on my own every once in a while, and then when commercial weight-loss groups started to appear, I went that route. I never learned how to maintain my goal weight, so the cycle of joining a weight-loss group happened a number of times.
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