Inspiring Stories

My diabetic life

So at the age of 11 I found that I was a diabetic. When I found out my blood sugar was over 1100. The doctors were surprised that I walked in and talked to them with a blood sugar that high. I was also told that I was am hour away from dying that day. After about two weeks in the hospital I was finally let out. Since I was three years old I wanted to join the Army. I talked to a recruiter and was told that I will never be a soldier like I wanted to be. After a few days of crying I felt like my was ruined by God and it was his fault that I had diabetes. I blamed him for everything and got so depressed that I attempted to kill myself. Lucky for me my brother stopped me. I thought to myself later on and regretted attempting what I did. See God or diabetes didn't ruin my life. It just led me to better future. A future to were I could help others that have and are going through what I did. I put my faith in God once again and started to see the future he has planned for me. Diabetes is a horrible disease but it has changed my life a lot good and bad. But all in all put your faith in God and you will see that no matter what happens, what he does is always for something better in your life. And that's my story about living with diabetes.

Caleb
Mnt.City, TN

Diabetes doesn't control me anymore!

I was diagnosed as Diabetic last November and I went into the hospital because it started with me feeling REALLLY sick and not being able to keep any food or liquids down, not even the tiniest sip. And when they checked my sugars when I got settled into the hospital room, it was OVER 600! And honestly, who knows how long it had been that way. But I really thank my mom for saving my life, literally.

They tried me on a couple different insulin shots, and we had to keep switching due to my insurance not being able to cover certain ones. We finally found one that's a syringe and you mix it up yourself, and it's just a once a week shot. And I was already taking some of the Metformin twice a day. I didn't mind the once a week shot too much, but the needle was a lot thicker than I was use to.

I just had an appointment yesterday with my diabetes doctor, and she said that whatever I was doing, I should keep doing, because when she looked at my numbers, everything looked completely normal

That's when I got the best news that a diabetic could probably ever get. My endo doctor said that I'm doing so well that I don't need the weekly Bydreon shot anymore!!! My mom was so happy with this news that she cried, because she came in the room for the appointment.

She said that she was praying for me, a lot. And here's perfect proof that prayer CAN and DOES work wonders and miracles.

So no matter what age you are, or what type, it IS possible to get better. Don't give up on yourself yet!!!!

Melissa F.
Wilmington, NC

Diabetes, my life

How has diabetes affected my life? That's a tough question. After living with type 1 diabetes for 42 years the question is more like how hasn't it. It hasn't always been easy but it has been my life for so long, I'm not sure what it would feel like to live without it. I have had a good, healthy life and have a wonderful husband and two healthy children who have supported me through lows and highs and everything that's involved in taking care of myself. Diabetes affects all aspects of your life, but you don't need it to control your life as long as you control your diabetes.

Anonymous
Albany, NY

The Miracle Girl

My name is Cassie. I'm 23 years old and my life is always busy. I never seem to stop, until one day my body decided it had enough. I started getting very sick and very tired, I thought it was stress, but I only got worse. I went to the doctor and they diagnosed me with diabetes. I was devestated. In those few moments my life changed forever, but little did I know it was only the beginning. My condition only got worse and soon I wasn't able to move my body at all. I was vomiting all the time and hadn't eaten in days and I was dangerously dehydrated. My husband called 911, he saved my life. The nurses even told some of my family if he had called 10 minutes later I probably would have died or went into a coma. When we arrived at the hospital they told me I was in DKA and I was dying. I was in ICU for a week. It was terrible. I had IVs all over me, including my neck. I had DKA, pancreatitis, and pneumonia, not to mention my potassium level was 1! The nurses and doctors told my family they weren't sure I would survive this. But I did! They all have called me, "The Miracle Girl". I'm still fighting trying to regulate and learn about this disease since I'm a new type 1 diabetic. It's tough. It's changed my life forever, it will never be the same. It's hard to deal with but at the same time I'm thankful because it has showed me that I'm stronger than I think & that God isn't done with me yet! I had so many people praying for me & that's what helped pull me through! It's tough, but it can be done and miracles do happen! I'm living proof! God is good and prayer is powerful! Praying for a cure!!!!

Cassie
Elizabethton, TN

my story

this is my daughter rosa she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of four on dec 8th 2012 rosa had gotten up she was throwing up but she was still drinking and playing around but she would not eat and she used the restroom alot on dec 9 2012 she got up still throwing up she looked worst then she did on the 8th as the morning went on she started to look really pale as the day went on i was brushing her hair she couldn't sat up i had rushed her to the hospital when we got there they rushed her to the back and told me she had dka which has to do with diabetes her sugars were 1962 they told me if i didn't bring her when i did she won't be here today her a1c were 13.9 today she is a happy fun loving child who sometimes don't want to take her meds her sugars are still going up and down she gets sick alot but she is still happy

debra mcfeeley
NEW PORT RICHEY, FL

A Hard Road

I was diagnosed 15 years ago. I'm 46 years old now. My journey hasn't been one of fun and happiness. I'd been really sick and lethargic with a fever for almost a year. When one of my doctors finally sent me too the lab for diabetic testing. He'd seen me enter the exam room with an abnormally large jug of water. 3 days later when I returned for my follow up he told me that I was diabetic and sent me to my first class the next day. I didn't believe him and I didn't want to do what the teachers and nutritionalist taught me. I was in denial. I ended up with diabetic Neuropathy and extremely bad eye sight. The Neuropathy is so painful sometimes it makes you want to cut your legs off. I also have chronic intestinal problems. My A1C is now 6.7 and I'm very proud of that. I take Janumet twice a day and insulin once a day. And even then I still have trouble with highs and lows. It's very scary sometimes but it's not something you can't handle. Now I'm fighting swollen veins and hardened blood vessels in my eyes. There is always something that is being damaged because of my diabetes. Numbness in my feet is uncomfortable. It's an all day, every day battle. Being scared if your sugar is going to drop low at 1 am. Or just being so tired all the time. Thank God I have my husband and daughter who watch me like a hawk. Diabetes is scary, painful, nerve racking, numbing and deadly. Don't be mischievous and not do what your told. The sooner you accept it and handle it like big men and women should the easier it will be for you to manage. You Will Still Have Bad days. That's the nature of the beast. But you can do it. And live a long wonderful life. Keep God first, do what the doctors say and you'll be fine.

Ellen Burno
King George, VA

It won't happen to me

There I was in the Doctors Office about 1 1/2 years ago with him telling me I was diabetic. I am very obese and my Grandfather had the same kind Type 2 Diabetes. Everyone always thinks it won't happen to me well, I am here to tell you that is not always the case. I started sharing with everyone that I knew and I also started hearing a lot of really bad horror stories and I didn't want to be one of those. So, I started exercising and eating healthier and the weight slowly but surely started coming off. I have lost a little over 60 pounds in the last year and my blood sugar is right around the 100's in the morning. I have come to terms with this disease and I simply live my life day to day, the best I know how. I was devastated when I first found out and now I am a work in progress, striving to meet my goals. I will get there one day and hopefully I won't have to take any more medication.

Chrissy Molen
Patterson, CA

The Day I Woke Up as a Type 1 Diabetic.

First I will start with a little bit about myself. As a kid I would love to challenge everybody to running races. I soon joined a track team and continued to run track in jr high school, sr high school and also ran on the cross country team. Even after high school I continued to run. I did everything from the high jump, running long jump, pentathlons, 200meter, 400meter, 800meter, 1600meter, 3200meter, 5k, 10k, 10 mile trail races and 20 mile trail races. I also love to ride a mountain bike and road bike, hike and horse around with my kids and dog. I also served as an infantry soldier in the US Army. The physical training in the Army wasn't enough so on my own I'd go on runs up to 25 miles on my free time. So being healthy my whole life has been important to me.

Soon I met the love of my life, Kim and we have an awesome son and a lovely princess and a great dog.

So at the age of 43, one night I woke up very thirsty, kept drinking water, kept on having to urinate every 15 minutes. The next day I woke up with severe leg cramps and blurred vision. The doc told me I had diabetes, my BG was 500, she thought I had type 2, but 2 weeks later after my blood work came back I actual was diagnoses with type 1. I lost around 40+ LBS and I thought I was going to die because I looked like a prisoner in a nazi concentration camp. A month later I was back to riding my bike 100 miles a week, then soon after that I was riding as much as 300 miles a week.

Brian Good
Littleton, CO

Life Changing

Hi! I'm Julia, I am 15 and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about two months ago. I was losing a lot of weight over the summer and still during school, and my parents did not know why. I was about 92 pounds. I then started to get flu like symptoms right before Christmas. I kept throwing up and then I would be fine and go to school, and then get sick again. My mom then made us an appointment to go see my doctor to see what was wrong. On the day we went I was feeling fine. When we got to the doctor they asked a lot of questions and decided to do some tests. When the doctor came back into the room she told us that we had to go straight to the hospital. I was so confused on what was going on. They told my mom that my blood sugar was around 570 and that I was to go straight to the hospital. My mom and me both started to cry. I asked my mom what was wrong and she said that it was type 1 diabetes. I knew a little about diabetes and was scared of what was going to happen. I had always hated shots and I realized that I would be getting them for a while now. We went to the hospital and I went straight to a room. Luckily I only had to stay one night and got to go home the next day. I was a very long two days. At first I was so mad, I don't know what I was mad at but I hated it wondering why it had to be me. My blood sugar is now under control and I am doing so much better. I was mad at first, but then I thought to myself, it could be worse. It may be life changing. but you can get through it. Like they told me you control your diabetes, don't let diabetes control you!

Julia
Peoria, IL

It'll all come out in the wash.

In 1998 when I was 8 years old, it happened. I was falling asleep in school, had lost a lot of weight, and was constantly thirsty. My teacher sent me to see the school nurse, who checked my blood sugar and immediately called my mom. I remember that on the way to the hospital I kept telling my mom "please don't let them give me a shot!" And then I learned that I would be giving myself at least three shots a day. Forever! I have definitely struggled to control my diabetes, I've gained weight, lost weight, been on injections, pump, pens. For a while, the hospital was my second home.(Seriously, the doctors and nurses knew me when I walked in)

In 2008, I met a man, fell in love, got pregnant...I had a really rough pregnancy.Some mornings I would be unresponsive and my boyfriend would have to either shove cake icing in my mouth or call the paramedics. Then, it would get sky high. And my blood pressure got high. And every germ in town landed on me and I stayed sick with colds, viruses, etc. I spent the last 2 months of my pregnancy in the hospital. I felt like I was in jail and the walls were closing in on me! The only upside was that I had an ultrasound and got to see my little fella every single day.

On April 15th, 2009, I finally gave birth. He was a perfect 5lb 13oz healthy baby boy who we named Brian. He is now almost 5 years old and he is my best friend, my world!

I still struggle to control this disease, but I'm slowly getting better at it. Especially with the help of my son, my wonderful fiance'/son's dad who understands and excepts my crazy mood swings, my mommy, who has always been my rock and my shoulder to cry on when this disease wears me down, and of course my doctors.

I sometimes HATE diabetes, but like my momma always told me, "It'll all come out in the wash, baby." ;)

Shayla Smith
Batesville, MS