I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes on the afternoon of February 28, 2007. I had just turned 10 two weeks prior. Nineteen years have passed. Nineteen years of adjusting, learning, changing endocrinologists, changing insurance companies, changing the way I take care of my Diabetes. Diabetes isn't something that can be summarized on a page, so I thought I'd go over my own personal experience.

The Signs

10pounds, that's how much weight I lost before getting the diagnosis. I remember feeling tired and thirsty. The biggest thing was I wasn't being my usual happy self (teachers & family members could tell). But Diabetes doesn't run in the family - Dads adopted and as far as we knew no one on moms' side had it.

Mental Load

Diabetes, like any disease, takes its own mental load. There are days I feel like I have the upper hand, then their others when it's the other way around. There are nights I'm woken up due to a low blood glucose level; then there are nights I get a full night's rest. I've gone to the hospital twice in the last 19years because levels were too high. There are days I wonder if I'm doing enough as well as days where I just don't want to care anymore. But I have to care, cause the alternative is giving up and letting the disease consume me.

Biggest miscomputation I've heard the last 19years is people thinking Type One is the same as Type Two. Let me say this loud and clear: It is NOT the same! How I'd describe the difference is this: Type One the body makes ZERO insulin on its own, Type Two the body makes insulin it just doesn't now the correct way to use it.

Community

When you're 10years old and you go through a life altering event, who would you turn to? Would you turn towards your family? Friends? I did that just that and still do to this day. But I also turned to a wonderful organization known as Breakthrough T1D, but when I was first diagnosed it was known as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF for short). This organization raises awareness and funds for a Diabetes cure. They work with legislatures, medical equipment companies, the public in making the public aware of Type One Diabetes.

The biggest thing that has helped me these last 4years is firstly, my endocrinologist. He was my doctor when I was sent to Children's Mercy that February afternoon 19years ago. Remained his patient at 3 different medical offices. In high school I decided a break. Up until 4years ago, I was seeing different endocrinologist. But none of them saw me as a person and patient like he did. So, I did some research and found where was at, haven't left since. He knew right away that I needed a restart, to forgive in being imperfect with diabetes.

The second is my boyfriend. Past relationships, the other person only saw the disease and either wanted to control me about it or didn't care at all. Boyfriend T sees both. He took me to the hospital both times, keeps juice boxes around for when I'm low and reminds me to dose when I forget.

New Pump = Better Experience

Spent my first year as a diabetic doing the old fashion way with Humalog and Lantus pens. Then switched to Medtronic diabetes pump for the next 4years. But after an incident with a doorhandle and the cord from said pump being ripped off, I made the switch to a CORDLESS pump known as the Omni pod. All worked well and were what I needed at the time.

This past February my endocrinologist and I asked ourselves "What will lighten the load? What would do most of the work for me?" The answer was a new pump that was recently approved by the FDA. It communicates with a Continuous Glucose Monitor, predicting what my blood sugar levels will do before it happens and can react to it. Decides if I need less or more insulin. Meanwhile, I just have to change it and dose for carbs.