I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2004 and it's hard to believe that was over two decades ago. In many ways, it feels like I’m just getting started, yet in others, it seems as though diabetes has been part of my life for centuries. Being a mere mortal, this paradox doesn’t quite make sense. I often think that in past lives, I might have escaped diabetes, only to be burdened by something else. Because if it weren’t diabetes, it would almost certainly be something different. That’s just human nature.
Every generation on my mom's side has/had type 2 diabetes. It's unreal how people don't understand the damage diabetes can do to your body. It can affect almost every organ. My mom had glaucoma, retinopathy, needed a kidney transplant, and had portions of her foot amputated. My mom passed when she was 53 due to complications with diabetes. Past relatives also had amputations of the feet and legs. I just didn't realize the extent of the damage from diabetes until I was diagnosed. I am using what my family members went through to monitor my health. It's been rough, but I am trying.
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