Inspiring Stories

what do you mean 1010 blood sugar

I was fishing in a fishing tournament with a friend and I couldn't get enough water to drink. By the end of the day I had drank all the waters, gatoraid and cokes we had. Since the tournament was done for the day I decided to drink a few beers, about 6-8. I woke up and couldn't feel my left arm and three fingers were completely numb. Since we were far from home I ignored it and kept fishing in the tournament, again drinking everything we had. I came home and just kept drinking and peeing not thinking to much about it. I went to work offshore for 7 days. On about the 3rd day and I had drank all the water on the platform I posted on my facebook about it. Everyone said to get in and go to the hospital. The next day I decided I wasn't as tough as I thought so I went ahead and called for the helicopter. I drove home (about 70 miles) and picked up my G/F. I then drove us to the hospital joking and cutting up with her because I didn't think anything of it. I mean hell im a tough as a striped spider. When I told them my symptoms they took my blood sugar and the meter read high. They made me sit down and got my in a wheel chair and into the emergency room. I was still not worried even after they took blood and were rushing to get IV's in me. The doc showed up and his first words were im impressed. Joking I said me too Doc. That's when he told me my blood sugar was 1010 and my A1C was 13. He explained my body was shutting down and this was really serious. They had 3 IV's and pushing hard. After 3 days in ICU I was finally release. I know now how serious it was. I thank god and the people that cared enough about me to tell me to get in from offshore. I could have died out there.

mickeyd1968@yahoo.com
Houston, TX

My Life Today

I was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 7. My parents took very good care of me and taught me how to care for myself. I on the other hand wanted to party like I did not have Diabetes. I am blessed to be alive, when family members with the same disease are no longer alive. Everyday is filled with dealing with a health problem from the effects of Diabetes. At age 54 I am retired and not able to work. I take medication like a elderly person, I walk with a cane and I have had 5 surgeries in 10years.

Anonymous
Sacramento, CA

My little Hero's fight

My little boy Ian, was 10 months old when one Sunday afternoon right before Thanksgiving, 2001, his breathing became labored, he was wetting diapers repeatedly and he was vomiting. We called his pediatrician and because it was a Saturday, he wouldn't see him, said it was just a virus. For a short time, we took him at his word.
The next day, when his condition worsened, my wife took him to the hospital. It took the attending physician a couple of hours to give us the diagnosis.
By this time, dka had progressed to the point where they threw my son and I into a helicopter and rushed us to a trauma center.
Ian is our only child and we were just learning how to become parents when this happened. It was the most devastating thing we could ever imagine. We were at a teaching hospital outside New York City and adding to the horror was the fact that few people aside from the endo's even knew how to care for a diabetic. He was being served the wrong foods, Carb heavy foods, we were getting conflicting information from the nurses and GP's. It was the most confusing, terrifying moment of our lives.
Twelve years on now, Ian is thriving. He's had several hospitalizations when he was younger but hasn't been in the hospital for years now. After approximately 43,800 finger sticks, countless injections and constantly hearing about the foods that he can't have, Ian just keeps excelling at everything he does.
He's on Honor Roll most of the time, he plays sports, knows computers better than both his parents combined, and is universally loved by everyone he ever comes in contact with.
He has his days where he's just sick and tired of the whole thing, however he seldom complains. He's been on the pump now for about 7 years. Maintaining control of his BS is always a challenge as has been his life. But he just keeps swinging.
The most inspirational little guy ever.

Steve Sanford
Slate Hill, NY

Rachel's story

This is our daughter Rachel. She was diagnosed type 1 diabetic at age 3. She is now 28 and in kidney failure, blind, amputated left leg (BTK) and is on the national transplant list for a kidney. With all that she has been through, she continues to smile and have hope that one day they will find a cure for this horrible disease. She is so thankful to have all of the support of her family and friends through all of this. Diabetes has taken so much from Rachel, but it will never take her love for life, her smile and her hope for a cure.

Barb Mckibben
Frankfort, IN

Labrease's Story

It was 4 years ago that change our life forever, Labrease was 6 years old when he was diagnose with type1 diabetes:::: It was the year 2009 Christmas eve. I was in the kitchen getting the menu ready for christmas day and Labrease had been acting strange that whole day going to and from the bathroom and was doing a lot of drinking a lot more than usual.So I said to my self that something is not right, drop everything and got him dress and rush him to Palmetto Childrens hospital at first they didn't think anything was wrong with my son and they was about to send us home and then I ask them please to run some tests cause my son doesn't usually act this way so they did and when they came back and said your son has diabetes and it was extremely high, they started him on insulin drips and up to the intensive care we went. He was in the hospital for a week!!! But years has past by and now he is 10 years old and he takes 1 unit of novolog to every 15 gram of carbs after each meal and he takes lantus for his long acting insulin. He has to check his sugar 10 rimes a day. But with God help he is doing better and better each day. Praying for a cure.

Anonymous
columbia, SC

How God turns bad circumstances into blessings

My daughter Marina was diagnosed at 22 months old, she will be 15 next month. Marina didnt eat very much and her pediatrician said not to force her, she would eat when she was hungry. I noticed on a Monday that she began eating more, it was like she couldnt get enough to eat. And by Tuesday she was vomiting, I just thought she had eaten too much. This continued the rest of the week and on Thursday she began to complain that it hurt to pee, and I noticed she was going a lot. I thought she had a stomach bug and possibly a uti (which wasnt uncommon for her). On Friday morning she was worse so we went to see her Dr. We were immediately put in a room and they began to draw blood. It seemed like we were there forever before the Dr came in. He said and I quote "you are not gonna believe this but Marina has diabetes, you need to take her to the hospital, I'll meet you there." We spent 6 nights there, and were given a crash course on diabetes care. We left there on the seventh day terrified that we wouldnt be able to give her 3 shots a day and check her blood sugar more than 5 times a day.
Marina is now 14 and I can barely remember a day without diabetes. She has grown into a strong, independant young woman and she doesnt let diabetes stop her from doing anything she puts her mind to.
God has blessed her with the ability and the knowledge to take care of her daily diabetes needs. And God has definitely blessed my husband and I with a remarkable daughter who will straight up tell you that she has diabetes and its a pain in the butt BUT it will not stop her...not now, not ever. We thank God for our strong-willed daughter who just happens to have type 1 diabetes.

Nikki Tucker
Gadsden, AL

A Young Type 2's Story of Hope

I am law student in Houston Texas. At age 31, following my first semester of law school, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I had noticed the symptoms and was in denial about what it could be. Eventually I gathered the strength to visit a doctor and was told that my blood glucose level was near 400. Of course the first question I asked the doctor was, "will I ever be able to get off of medication?" The response was a grim, "It's unlikely." I was devastated. My first round of medication cost me $500, as I was put on cholesterol medication, blood pressure medication, and diabetes medication (Actos). My wife and I were trying our best to work through it, but it was difficult to stay positive. I decided to see another doctor who specialized in diabetics with Type 2 and helping them make lifestyle changes. It was very difficult to get off of the sugary and salty foods with lots of carbs, but I knew that I had to do it not only for myself but for my wife and my daughter. I am proud to say that I have not taken a single pill for diabetes since October of last year, and was taken off f the the cholesterol and blood pressure medication last December. I still check my blood glucose levels at random times and I have not had a single reading over 90. My a1c went from a 9.4 to a 5.6, and I have lost over 60 pounds. I know that we can beat this disease if we educate ourselves on what we consume, I am living proof of that. It's important to remember that we eat to live and not the other way around. Feed your body what it needs and it will be good to you and you won't have to live your life dependent on drugs with scary side effects and sitting in doctor's offices. To your health!

Trenton L Brough
Houston, TX

She drew the genetic short staw :(

Between my mother, grandmother, and aunt, it should of been me that got stuck with Diabetes. Instead it skipped me and got my 4 year old daughter.We noticed Draven started to guzzel water. 2 bottles in an hour. Then after she started to wet the bed after being potty trained for 2 years, I knew something was up. I knew the signs so we called the doctor, only to have to wait 2 weeks. The day before, i gave her a bath and noticed she had lost almost half her body mass. I burst into tears knowing something was seriously wrong with my baby. We took her in the morning of her appointment, only to be sent to the ER and then to be life-watched to Witchita to be admitted to the PICU. 2 days later we were able to go to the regular Pediatric area and we began our new journy. At 4 years old, she knows what she can and can not have, takes her insulin without batting an eye, and is back to the crazy, lovable, little girl she was just months ago. I would give anything to change her fate, to carry her burdens, but I'm proud to say she's a fighter. She may have Diabetes, but Diabetes DOESN'T have her!! She's my hero, and I don't let a day go by without her knowing how precious she really is!

Racheal
Dodge City, KS

my life with type 1 diabetes

my name is Renee. When I was very small up until I was 21 I wet the bed. I could not enjoy sleep overs with friends for the fear of wetting the bed. I was always thirsty and tired and everyone thought I was lazy. My mom had me checked out, but nobody could ever figure it out so they insisted I was normal and lazy. I gained weight from sleeping all the time. I had the worlds worst mood swings and I do not remember a lot of them because I blacked out through the worst of them all. My family was afraid to be around me. Finally in 2002 I had a miscarriage and the doctor said I had high blood sugar, but it was probably due to pregnancy. Several miscarriages later and I have a beautiful 3 year old daughter.

In 2009 I became very ill and I was sweating and very sick. I went to the MEA clinic where he found my blood sugars monitoring HIGH. He sent me to the Emergency room and then from there I began to see my endocrinologist. She has been by my side through all of this. She diagnosed me as type 2 and noticed my pregnancy went excellent with the insulin. They tried oral medication after my daughter was born and my sugars ran in the 300s. She switched me back to insulin and I did great.

june 2012 I became sick with virus which caused my sugars to spike to the 400s. They found ketones and admitted me and this is where I learned I was type 1 and had been many years and how fortunate I am to be here to tell my story. I could not do this without my husband and my daughter. He has stuck beside me with each mood swing or set back and knows just what to do to help me through it. My daughter helped by being born to show me I was stronger than diabetes.

Renee Cornette
Natchez, MS

My Saddest Day

I have been a Type 1 diabetic since 1968. When my diabetes was discovered I was 16 years old. My doctors said that I probably wouldn't live 20 more years. I am now 62 years old. When I first became diabetic, there was no inhome technology to help manage our disease.

I moved from doctor to doctor to try to find one that truely understood the challenges presented by being type one diabetic. Finially in the last 3 years I found a doctor who understands. He understands because he too is a type one diabetic. He is a great doctor!

I know this isn't a political forum, but here is my saddest day.

My saddest day came just a couple of weeks ago. My doctor informed all of his patients that due to the restrictions imposed by obamacare, He will no longer accept insurance payments or government assignments for payment. Everything will be a cash in advance for treatment. It is now too expensive to hire staff to do the paperwork required to meet the federal criteria for payments.

If you have any political capital, please lobby to get rid of obamacare!

Randy Aly
Hearne, TX