My story begins in 2006 on the day after Christmas when we were eating dinner with my dad and my sister. My daughters and son were at home. They asked if I was feeling ok and I said that I was. But we checked my blood glucose just in case. It was over 300. I'm normally active but with parents and sisters living with diabetes they wanted to make sure I was ok.
Then the next year I came down with an infection in my throat. This was unusual since I sang in church. I went to a nurse practitioner in November of 2007. She diagnosed me with diabetes but was unclear as to what type I am and she prescribed me pills, due to my family history if type 2. Not even a year later I came down with a bad backache and did not feel well at all. I tried to do normal stuff but the pain kept getting worse. I went to the clinic twice and to a chiropractor who gave somewhat a clue to what I have and suggested I go to the hospital. It was after I developed paralysis and lost 100 lbs. that I went again to the hospital. It was a spinal cyst and I had mrsa. The doctors tested my blood and showed that I had antibodies in my blood and it was clear that I had type 1 diabetes.
At first I did not believe it, I thought how could I get a kid's disease....I was 43, fairly active, about to be a granny, and needed to walk again. After eight months in rehab I could walk again, but needed a cane due to lack of balance. I now eat better, counting carbs, got more active, use insulin and I realize that type 1 diabetes will never go away, but I should never give up just because I have type 1 diabetes.
Oklahoma City, OK
