I was in middle school, 2001, when my symptoms first began. Fatigue, extreme thirst, sleepiness/drowsiness, and frequent urination were just a few. At the time, I was overweight, about 230 lbs at 5'7''. One night, my grandfather, a type 2 diabetic, decided to check my blood sugar, and to our surprise, it was 643! I remember being sleepy but my parents forced me to drink water and to ride an exercise bike. The next week, I had an appointment to meet with an endocrinologist. At the Endocrinology Center, blood work revealed a high A1C number, and I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. A strict diet and 4 pills a day were prescribed to help me manage my type 2. Three months later at my checkup, I had lost over 75 pounds! My A1C had climbed again, and I was then diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic. At the age of 13, I was forced to face a new life with this disease. Blood monitoring, insulin injections, and medications are now a part of my daily life. I am now 21, and I still have my days where I can't get my blood sugar under control. Some days I feel as if I am fighting a losing battle, but fighting this ongoing battle is the only way I can survive! Diabetes affects every aspect of my life.
Thank you for listening to my story!
Rienzi, MS
