I have always been active, from the time I was in sixth grade I had been on a
competitive basketball team playing multiple games on the weekends. My freshman
year of high school I made the school basketball team. Before Christmas break I
was in the starting line and play the entire game. After Christmas break I lost
my drive. I was falling a sleeping in class, constantly eating and drinking, and not being
able to get through practice without wanting to hurl. My coach sat my down after
a game in February and told me I needed to figure whatever was going on that she
had taken a huge chance on me and I was letting her and the rest of my team
down. I told my mom and that next day we went to the doctor. He checked my blood
sugar with a puzzled look went and checked the urine sample. He came running
back in and said look I'd love to chat but we need to get you to the Barbara
Davis Center (type 1 diabetes research place in Colorado). They took one look at me and
knew I was sick. I had a blood sugar of over 700 and wondered how I had even
been able to get through such a busy lifestyle. They said I had class on what
was going to become the new normal. I cried I hated needles how could they
become part of my life? That next morning I looked at my dad and told him he was
going to have to do my shots for me. I am now a freshman in college living with
my diabetes. I still play sports (rugby is my game) and live like a normal
college student. It has become part of my life but does not rule me.
Greeley, CO
