I was 10 year old, and eating non stop, always thirsty and lost about 15 lbs. I constantly had to pee and had sleepless nights. Mother looked at me one day as I ate desperately at a grapefruit and said "You need to see a doctor, I'm having your father take you tomorrow". I didn't even like grapefruits but I was eating anything and everything I could get my hands on! The next day we went to our local family practice. The doctor came in after running a number of test and looked my father in the eyes, and with a heavy heart said to him "Does anyone in your family have a history of Diabetes?" my father stood up, placed his hands on his hip and said "What? No...". The doctor explained to my father that I was Diabetic. I had NO clue at the age of 10 what Diabetes was. I thought OK, I'll get some prescriptions and call it a day. Boy was I wrong. My father was silent the whole way home. As he sat on the couch looking confused and sad, I asked him "Daddy, if I go to the bathroom a lot, will it go away?" he looked at me with a sad smile and said "Yes baby..." So I ran to the bathroom and tried to go as much as I could. My mother came home shortly after, he sent my sister and I to the bedroom but we snuck out and decided to eavesdrop. He sat my mother down at the Kitchen table, and told her that I was diabetic. She lay her head in her hands and began to weep. I didn't understand then, I didn't know what the big deal was. Now, I am 28 years old, and I understand it very well. I have a beautiful 6 year old daughter and an amazing Fiance. It has never been easy, but I have and will always continue to find a way each day to keep going. And having my beautiful little family only makes me want to fight even harder!

Sahayonara
Austin, TX