Inspiring Stories

Zachary and his "Buddy"

Zachary was diagnosed with T1D in March of 2013. He was drinking constantly, and using the restroom nonstop. He would get very cranky for what we thought was "no reason." We noticed him dropping weight since the previous summer. He went from 147 lbs. down to 111 lbs. over the course of 7 months. At first, we thought it was due to his activity with football and basketball. When he came home from school one day saying there was a "weight loss" and get fit challenge and that he had been weighed in at 111 a red flag went up. We told him he was not going to do this weight loss challenge, that he was already too thin for his height. We decided to have some blood work done up. It confirmed our suspicions, and we were sent to Children's in Omaha the very next day. He spent two days in the hospital learning all about his diabetes and how to get a handle on things. Since his diagnosis, he has gained back some much needed weight for his 5ft. 4inch body. He also now sleeps so much better. He was never a good sleeper, since birth he was up at least 2-3 times a night. He has better color in his face, and just looks much healthier. He is a very active 10 year old. He participates in football, basketball, and is very active with his 4-H calves. He has his highs and lows, but is learning more everyday how to manage them. Zachary is our inspiration to eat better and watch everything we put in our mouths. Zachary has to have 4 insulin shots per day, and handles them like a champ! He amazes us everyday with his ability to deal with the things his diabetes throws at him. Sure he gets frustrated with it all, but he knows he will be dealing with this for the rest of his life.

Marla Huwaldt
Osmond, NE

Beating Diabetes..

The day I found out I was type 2 diabetic Changed my life forever. 2 months prior I went to my Doctor telling him I was in so much pain. I was tired all the time so he diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. , Gave me medicine . Three weeks later I was feeling worse. I lost 12 ponds in 2 weeks. I was reading side effects of the medicine I was taking for my Fobromyalgia and it had all the symptoms of a diabetic. But I thought it was just the pill that was doing this. Didn't say nothing to no one until day 3 of my blurred vision. Called my Doctor I explained all my symptoms he said It has to be your sugar. Sent me home with blood work to get done. Called my mom and told her she said go to your grandmothers she has a glucose reader. So I took my sugar and the meter read HI 3 times. Called my sister she is a RN she said get to the Er your sugar has to be more then 500.. Sure enough it was 655. and my A1C level was 10.5.. I was so scared didn't know anything about Diabetes. I was in the hospital for 4 days. I didn't want to leave the Hospital I was afraid I couldn't do it on my own. I had a 3 year old at home and was afraid I couldn't care for him..One day I said this isn't going to ruin my life. It's not going to beat me I am going to beat it. It's been almost 8 months since my diagnosis and I am amazed of how much I learned when I look back of how tired I was and could barley lift my baby boy up to take care of him I cry. If it was for my vision being blurred I don't know if I would even be here. The doctors couldn't believe I didn't go into a sugar coma. My family has been great through all this. So thankful for them.

Marissa Kliem
New Castle, PA

Riley's story

Before my daughter was diagnosed with T1D I had never seen/heard the symptoms, I wish I had. I had noticed my daughter had not been herself for a few weeks. Extreme thirst, frequent urination, sleepiness, and moodiness all seemed normal for a four year old, especially just starting back to school in the south (hot) with a history of kidney reflux. Riley is a very active sweet natured child, but is also 4 so being less agreeable and somewhat cranky at the end of a long day of school did not shock me, especially after talking with her teachers and hearing how sweet and kind she is all day at school. I was worried Sunday when she laid around seeming to have no energy. She stayed home from school the next two days thinking she was getting whatever bug was going around. I worked and let her Grandmothers each have a day with her. The thirst and urination had me concerned she might have a UTI, so I made an appointment for Tuesday afternoon. I remember telling the doctor her symptoms and he agreed that a urine sample was needed because of her history of kidney reflux. Moments later he came into the room and asked to do a finger prick because there was glucose in her urine. Even though I had very little knowledge about T1D I immediately felt a huge lump in my throat and knew where this was leading, he came back confirmed her T1D and told me I needed to take her to the ER she needed more blood work and a more precise BG count. At the hospital they notified us that her BG was 678. Through all of this she has been amazing, within a week she jumped right back into her normal activities and began helping with her care. She wrote a book to share with her friends when she returned to school telling them about her time away and the new things she would be doing at school. I could not be more proud of her strength and positive attitude.

Courtney Fincher-Foster
Fountain Inn, SC

How I Saved Myself

I had just battled 7 months of mononucleosis, staying out of school for almost an entire year and being home schooled, and losing 15lbs from feeling sick 24/7. My mother thought it was because I was anorexic, but no matter how much I told her I wanted to eat but would just get sick again, she wouldn't listen to me and just continue to ignore me. It was just a few days after my 16th birthday, when on January 1st, 2009 I become more paranoid about what might be wrong with me, as nothing had gotten any better. I started to look up my symptoms online and diabetes was the first thing that popped up. I realized I had those symptoms and I needed medical attention right away. I told my mother right then, and she told me I wasn't diabetic and I wasn't sick, I was just looking for attention. That night, like all other nights, I drank another 8 bottles of water throughout my sleep. I showed my mom the next morning and I told her if she didn't take me to the doctor, I would go myself, because I did not want to die. 6 days later she finally took me to the doctor. As soon as the doctor walked in, I told her I was diabetic and I needed to go to the hospital. My mother told her not to listen to me, but the doctor told me to do a urinalysis. About 10 minutes later, she came back into the room and looked my mom dead in the eyes and told her "Your daughter is diabetic. She's really sick. You should have listened to her sooner, you could have killed her." Of course, my reaction wasn't sadness, but relief that I knew that I was right and that I was going to be okay. Today, I go to Pharmacy school and although I might have a ways to go, I still thank my family for helping me with this horrible disease and helping me get through school. I couldn't have done it without them. 01/08/09.<3

Jordynn
Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Just got Diabietes

I am 24 year old and just graduation 5 years of university. I was on winter break, I go home to be with my family. Most of the time I notice I always been thirsty and never stop drink lot of water. I go bathroom like 20 times a day even night time I wake up to go bathroom. I don't understand why I cant stop drink lot of water. Then I went back to school. I still drink lot of water and go bathroom lot. In my college, lot of people said wow I look lose weight lot and look good. I was confused I did not eat lot healthy and not excise much. I been too busy with my school. Then by March, my friend and my roommate suggest me to see doctor, they knew it something wrong with me. So I went there to check up with my body. They test my sugar and it was 350. They told me I have Diabetes. I cried lot, and mad at myself for not take care of myself. There nothing I can do because I cant miss anymore school. I am senior and soon graduation. I have to deal with lousy foods café college have. I have to wait until 2 months to finish my school and go home. I been struggled with this lot thought rest of the semester.

Right now I am home and learn lot about my diabetes. I have type one diabetes for 7 months since and still counting. I am still new about this and read all other stories about their life being diabetes. I am glad I am not only one who been thought this. Now i understand how we all feel about this. I wont let diabetes ruin my life. We all stay strong. :)

Anonymous
Berlin, MD

I am as normal as can be.

I was 12 when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It was the beginning of 6th grade and at first everything was well. Then I started getting so sleepy, that there were times where I would stay home from school and just sleep. The days I would go to school, I'd be asking to use the restroom every half hour and I lived at the drinking fountain. My parents said I smelled weird and they kept smelling my nails thinking the nail polish I was using was too strong. After a few concerns from people, my mother decided to take me to the doctors. Getting there had to be the most exhausting experience I ever had and when we arrived, the nurse asked me about my symptoms and took blood then sent me on my way like any other routine appointment.
Just a few days later, while my mother was cooking dinner, we received a call that changed everything. They told my mother to take me to the hospital immediately. And there, I spent a week learning how to relive. I was 5'2" at 73 pounds and had a lot of healing to do but got through it with the help of the amazing staff.
After that, I thought my life was done and that I would never be normal. People called me disabled and insisted I was diabetic because of my diet and I started to believe them for some time which lead to a hard teenage life.
But I am here to tell you, that that is not true. I am now 25 years old. I am married. I have a beautiful three year old son and next month I will welcome a little girl to the family. Sometimes life is so normal that I forget about my Diabetes (that is, until I get low or need to eat!).
Diabetes does not define anyone. It is just another challenge we must face in life. But we can overcome this and live happy healthy lives and we will, I have no doubt there. Just keep living.

Kirstin
Rathdrum, ID

Where Do I Fit..Sigh

1988, I was a single mother of 2 fighting with Brittle Asthma. Nothing was working to keep it under control, my Dr. said finally we would have to try corticosteroids. She asked if anyone in my family had diabetes. I could only tell her I don't know..I was adopted and we had no health records. A year later in 1989..I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. 3 genetic diabetic predilection racial mixtures and the steroids nailed me.

Today I am on constant insulin feed via a pump. No matter how hard we try, how carefully I track my food, I still have break through highs and lows that are dangerous. My pancreas produces next to nothing on it's own, I am resistant to most insulins now and pills never worked for more than a month at a time. I am not Type II anymore but yet I am not considered Type I. I call me Type 1.5, Insulin Resistant, Minimal Producing. I live with neuropathy in my feet, legs, hands and left inner ear. I have mild retinopathy, had cataracts at 45, and watch my kidneys and other organs harder than a dog watches a treat. I am lucky I have a Service Dog that alerts to low BG's, helps me walk straight and get up and down from chairs, I will always be on an Insulin Pump unless they make a break through.I will always watch every morsel that enters my mouth and calculate for it.

I am simply..Diabetic and I will survive this disease. I am an everyday Survivor. You can be too.

Anonymous
Titusville, FL

I am no where near done fighting

8 years ago today, I started the biggest battle of my life.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 14 years old. I missed two months of my sophomore year of high school and lost a lot of my peace of mind. To date, I have tested my blood sugar over 15,000 times, taken more than 8,000 insulin injections, and been hospitalized twice.

My high school guidance counselor told me I was too sick to go to college and suggested I "try" community college if I wanted a challenge. In April of my senior year, I was given a track scholarship to attend Cabrini. In May of 2012, I graduated with honors from college, and started my first teaching job in Arizona. I've traveled the world and I have seen some wonderful things and met fantastic people.

I've been hiking in the Grand Canyon. I've been to the Eiffel Tower. I've played soccer in the streets of Ecuador. I'm in my second year as a teacher, and in my second semester of graduate school. I am not letting this disease stop me. I won't back down from a challenge. I will continue to face diabetes head on and champion for a cure.

In 8 years, I've done more than what people expected of me. I've build a career for myself. I've become successful at what I do. I've helped raise millions of dollars for a cure. And, I am no where near done fighting.

Until we find a cure.

Jamie Tadrzynski
Philadelphia, PA

My Brave Girl

One night when my daughter was 2 she got very sick. She was throwing up and very thirsty. This continued all through the night. Towards 7 in the morning i looked at my husband and asked him to clear a path to the main road because we had had a snowstorm overnight. He asked if I was going to wait until the clinic opened at 9 and I replied " No I was taking her to the emergency department." He asked me why and I told him that she wasn't throwing up right!! She is the youngest of three so i know how my kids get sick!!!! When we got there the doctor asked if she had ever had her sugars checked and i said no why would she? He checked her sugars on the meter there and it said 30.8 he then told me that he thought that they were higher than that and he wanted to do some blood work. I told him fine just do whatever you can to find out what is wrong with her. when her blood work came back her sugars were 50.8 or 914.4 mg/dl. they rushed her to the childrens hospital when we got there there were 4 nurses, 2 doctors and an EMT waiting for us in the emerg. when we were being moved into ped ICU later that evening I overheard one of the nurses say that if we had been 1 hour later she very well could not have made it. After all the tests we found out that she was severely dehydrated as well. the only thing that wasn't affected was her brain. but after a few days on insulin all her organs were back to normal!!! We were so lucky that day. She has now been on her insulin pump for one week and is loving the freedom that it gives her. The picture is the day she first had her pump she was so brave and so proud!!!!

Jenille Meade-King
Placentia, Canada

Blessing in Disguise

Christmas of 2008 began like any other Christmas. Family parties were in full swing and countless Christmas cookies were consumed. I was 22 and had just graduated from college. However, my family started noticing that I was loosing massive amounts of weight and drinking insane amounts of anything I could get my hands on. My vision started going blurry, my legs cramped up a storm, my mouth was like cotton. Less than a month later, I found out I was pregnant. And three weeks later, I started having massive cramping and called my mom. She ended up rushing me to the hospital for fear that I was miscarrying. At the ER, I had my suspicions that I had diabetes. I asked the doctor to check me and sure enough, my blood sugar was well over 800. Had I waited one more day, I may have been in a coma. It was confirmed that I had adult onset T1 diabetes. Immediately, I was poked and prodded, given a blood glucose meter, diet plan, a barrage of insulin pens, EKG's, you name it. Sadly, after spending the night in the ER and on my now-husband's birthday, I miscarried our child. It was awful. We were incredibly distraught and heart broken.

Looking back, I am absolutely convinced that this child saved my life.

Today, I am 27 and nearly 5 years into my journey with T1 diabetes. I have my daily struggles, like any other diabetic. But I have a supportive husband, a beautiful 3 year old daughter, and another precious baby on the way! Words cannot express how incredibly bittersweet it is to know that such a precious gift ended up saving my life.

Katie V.
Houston, TX