Inspiring Stories

My "Special" Life

People say I'm special and I get lots of special attention. But diabetes is a lot more than that. Its needles and alcohol swabs. Its sickness and its annoying. But most of all, its money! It takes time to get used to, and once you're used to it, its annoying already.
I was 6 years old. I was sick and weak. I was using the restroom lots. My mom was concerned and took me to a doctor. They took some of my urine and tested it. The results came out as a U.T.I. After asking many questions, they took my blood sugar, and found it to be 396. They looked mom in the eye and told her to take me to the hospital immediately.
After getting to the hospital, the anxiety caught up with my emotions and my whole body was weak. I remember getting hooked up to tubes and screaming. My family was there for me and holding my hand. I couldn't believe what was happening to me!
I had spent those few, horrible days trying to figure out what to do and how to take care of diabetes.
Since the day I was diagnosed, five years ago, my life has been nothing but "special".

Raylee Martinez
Blue Springs, MO

How Diabetes changed my life forever

I was deeply affected by this disease 17 years ago on February 18th, 1995 when my brother at the age of 33 passed away due to complications of Diabetes.Then 16 years later tragedy struck again when this disease claimed the life of my baby brother on November 30th, 2010,at the age of 29. My oldest brother was hospitalized for an infection and he took a turn for the worse, the infection spread rampant through his body and as a result his heart stopped. My youngest brother had both of his legs amputated,one above the knee and one below the He became depressed and I feel he gave up on life. He was hospitalized for an infection and the day before he died my parents said he was in good spirits and he asked that they bring a few of his things from home to have with him. Early the next morning he passed away. As many parents have said you don't expect to out live your children, and I can't fathom what it feels like to lose 1 child much less 2. I have a story my little brother told a few months before he passed away.He told me of a dream he once had of a pretty woman with long blonde hair and a bright light all around her, but he had said she didn't have any wings but she did remind him of an angel. He said she kept telling to stand up and walk and he had said to her I can't my legs are gone.Then in a moment he said he looked down and he had his legs, he stood up from his wheel chair and he began to walk. He told me " when I started to walk I felt so free, I had never felt that free since before I lost my legs". I had a tattoo done to honor the memory of of my brothers so they can always be with me and give me hope that we will find a cure for Diabetes someday.

Christine
Esterhazy, Canada

Starting Over

I was diagnosed in February 2010 with Type2 diabetes. I was hoping that I would be on the simpler side of it by just having to take oral medications to control it, along with the dietary changes and exercise. I was not so fortunate. I was put on insulin within 24 hours because my blood glucose was above 600! Knowing what numbers like that meant, I knew it was time for a new beginning and starting over... retraining myself to do what I should have been doing my whole life! Its been 3 1/2 years and I am still learning new things every day! As long as I have a breath left in me, I will continue to learn and grow and just become a better, healthier person!! I have Diabetes, but it does not have me!!

Wendi Bennett
Junction City, KS

xan williams

On February 7th 2013 my husband and I found out that our son was a diabetic. One week before that xan was hospitalized for pneumonia, the doctors couldn't figure out why his breathing was so rapid. So they ran several test and found that his blood sugar was elevated. Then at that moment they did more testing and sent us home to come back a week later for the results. Finding out the news and him being hospitalized again, trying to process all the information was devastating. I felt very overwhelmed and was very upset. But through it all we are coping..

Billie
Fresno, CA

Emily Anne Swartz only 10 years young

Emily was brought into the emergency room because she vomited. We had been wondering what could be wrong because she seemed so tired. She said she couldn't burp. She had gone home one day from complaining of a tummy ache but it was my husbands day off so we thought she had missed him. So many of us parents who have lost children find out on their first visit to the emergency room that their child has diabetic ketoacidosis. Some don't even make it that far. There is what is called "dead in bed syndrome." When her blood test came back it was in the 300's and to them that was lower than many children who are brought in with their first diagnosis of juvenile type 1 diabetes. It can also be called "early onset." Right away we were sent up to Boston. Emily's initial x- ray didn't show pneumonia but she developed it and may have been treated too late. Things worsened after she said her last words ever to us. She survived CPR and open heart surgery after what felt like forever and they debated on putting her what is called an eckmo machine. It pumps the heart so she could rest. They kept her temperature low for fear of brain swelling and eventually, after a blood transfusion, a profusionist and two nurses watching her overnight, something happened again. The cardiologist was called to come in and the debated on lifting her to put a new gel pad under her. The brain and heart specialists argued over this and it was never done. Her eyes that had looked okay before were dialated. Her brain had swelled. The fight was over. I lost it. All parents need to know that a simple blood test if your child seems really tired, thirsty, complains of a tummy ache, and no- she had no fever! Bring your child to get a simple blood test. It doesn't run in the family! Type one doesn't have to do with weight. Emily was getting thinner. We thought she was growing. Please don't wait.

Laura Anne Crowell Swartz
Plymouth, MA

Journey of Wellness

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes with an A1c of almost 9. I had two choices: 1) Continue on this path and get complications, or 2) Change my lifestyle. I decided to make some changes in my life for the better. Once I made up my mind to get better and to begin doing something about it, I have been able to lose weight, increase my muscle mass, and get off my diabetic meds. More importantly, my A1c has steadily been 3 points lower and is now around 6. These results are due to a constant monitoring of my food intake that includes greens, beans, and less meat, as well as, movement of some kind each day, and tai chi and yoga classes at least once a week. I certainly hope I have given you the motivation and inspiration to try this new journey of wellness for yourself. Be happy and stay well!

Camille LoParrino
Bronx, NY

My Story

Hi, I'm 48, female and was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about 4 years ago. I also have Bipolar Disorder and have Anxiety attacks and onset of Heart Disease. I struggle day to day keeping a check on my health and sometimes I feel like a pharmacy with the amount of tablets I take. My partner too has the same problems but he doesn't have Bipolar or Anxiety. Together we rack up a hefty sum each fortnight in medication. Fortunately our government gives us a safety net so we pay for a certain amount of scripts and then they are free for the rest of the year.
Living in a rural town we don't have much in the way of specialist care and when we do get it we are on a waiting list to see them. I rely on my GP and Websites for my information and just to talk and get reassurance that I'm doing ok.
My readings range between 10 - 23 at times so I'm on a slow release Insulin which I am self monitoring along with my GP.
Living with my problems are hard as I like sweet foods but I am being fairly good about what I eat now. I'm supposed to be exercising but I am very overweight and have a back injury which limits my movements.
I am trying hard not to let my problems take hold of me and drag me down and I have 2 wonderful children and 2 beautiful grandsons that keep me going. They are my reason for going on and helping me get through my dark times. I won't let Diabetes take the better of me and I pray for a cure for all who are feeling the way I do.

Mikki
Ayr, Australia

18 Months

When I was 18 months old, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I don't know how to live without diabetes. I'm currently 14, so I've had it for 13 years. At times it was very hard for me to overcome my diabetes. When I was little, I was hospitalized several times because I wasn't in a good home with my mom, who failed to take care of me to a horrible alcohol and drug addiction. I dealt with my home for 8 years and was usually sick from lack of care. Now, six years later, it's all under control and I'm fairly healthy. If you're in my situation or you ever were, PLEASE GET HELP. Diabetes isn't a burden or curse if you're I'm a good home and environment. It makes you who you are. If you're reading this and you feel alone, you're not. So many people are just like you. I promise that you're never ever alone.

Sierra
Fredric, MI

My story

At 21 I was enjoying my college life. I was recovering from major shoulder surgery and my sister was just about to graduate college. What seemed to come out of nowhere, I was peeing all the time and always seemed thirsty. I was losing weight at a fast pace without trying. Then fatigue set in. WebMD said these were symptoms of diabetes. My mother said there is no way because it was not in the family. Then, the blurry vision. My mom got scared, called the doctor who did my shoulder surgery, and he said these things were not normal post surgery. Then I threw up after eating breakfast. The next morning my mom called and said to go to the ER. She was in the area because my sister was graduating that weekend.
As I sat in the ER and answered the questions from the nurse, there was no doubt in her voice about it being Type 1 diabetes. I was admitted and hooked up to all sorts of IV's. I scared everyone but never thought about what I was going through. I had to learn to check sugars, count carbs, and take shots. Very frustrating to learn. I ended up in a room with a Type 2 diabetic who was getting a toe removed because of neuropathy. Early lesson on taking care of myself. After four days I was released. Before I knew it, I was home for the summer, I met with a nutritionist and began exercising regularly. I got right into my regular schedule with these extra things I had to make sure I did everyday, multiple times a day.
From that day, I have never looked back. I educated myself on the disease, everything I could learn. I do any activities that someone without diabetes would do. I became a personal trainer and currently have a number of diabetic clients and am sharing everything I know. I also have a company that is raising money to find a cure for Type 1.

Tyson Sunnerberg
Hanson, MA

The Diagnosis Day

I had be sick for about two weeks. Excessive thirst, hunger and urination. A friend's Mom told me it was a symptom of diabetes.
My Mom made a Dr. appointment, the evening before Good Friday. That was it, urine test in the office.
They allowed me to stay out until Easter was over, then to the hospital for 10 days.
I was 13 years old, it was 1978.
Went home with one type of insulin, Lente (only one shot a day) and urine sugar strips. I wonder now why I bothered to check, there was no sliding scale for high sugars.
In the 90's they switched me to NPH and R, that was the WORST thing ever ! ! ! 40 - 400 - 40. It would drop so low, so fast I hallucinated. One day I knew my street would be flooded, but dropped before I got home and drove thru the thigh high water. Another time I "came to" in a gas station parking lot, not on my way home. "Came to" in the shower, no recollection of getting out of bed.
Yeah, late 90's and switch to the pens.
Then to the Lantus and Humalog.
Finally the pump.
They have come SO far in 35 years. Had any of what I use now been available in 1978, I'm sure I'd be in much better condition.
Tslim, the small dose of only 0.01 unit, the BEST invention yet.

Cindy Groves
Orland Park, IL