Annie

Annie, age 15, California, diagnosed in 2009 (age 8), Omnipod user

Describe the day you were diagnosed.

I remember the day I was diagnosed very clearly. It was the beginning of summer and I was in this camp at my local community center. I really hated that camp. The entire week I was in the camp I felt sick, was super cranky, and was tired all the time. The camp was called Camp Awesome but to me it was Camp Disaster. Since my mom, brother, and uncle all have type 1, I had been visiting the endocrinologist for about a year before I was officially diagnosed. I had received my very own meter at one of the prior visits and had to check my blood sugar every week to make sure that my blood sugar wasn’t above average for a person without diabetes. The night before I went to the hospital I did a check and my blood sugar was in the 300s. My mom emailed the endocrinologist and was told to bring me in to the hospital the next day. Once I was in the hospital, nothing was that bad for me. I already knew how to do most diabetes related things because my brother and mom were both diagnosed many years before I was. I knew I was lucky that I didn’t have any severe symptoms and that my family knew how to take care of me.

What annoys you about diabetes?

Something that annoys me about type 1 is all of the stereotypes people have for people with diabetes and how ignorant some people are.

What do you like about diabetes?

Every year I go to camp for children with type 1 diabetes and it is the best week of my life. Everyone understands all the problems I face relating to T1D and can provide a comfort that no one else can for me.

How has diabetes changed you?

Having diabetes has changed me a lot. Since I was diagnosed relatively young, it is hard for me to remember a time when I didn’t have to do a check before I ate or do insulin. Diabetes has definitely made me more mature because I have had to take care of myself.

Describe a time where diabetes made you cry and/or laugh.

One time when I was around 11, I was in Italy with my family on vacation. After a few years of being diagnosed I truly struggled with realizing I had to take care of myself to stay healthy. One of my family members at dinner had reminded me to do a check before dinner came and I absolutely lost it. I started crying and ran outside screaming that I would never be normal and that no one would ever understand what I deal with and that I could never had kids. I’m happy now to report a few years later that I have found solutions to all of these problems! I realized that there is no real normal and that everyone has stuff to deal with. I started going to camp and met a ton of new friends who understand me like no other. I also met older women at camp who were moms and had been pregnant with T1D which gave me hope for my future. Type 1 is hard but it’s all about finding solutions to the problems!

What has been your highest blood glucose reading?

I’ve been so high that the meter has just read HIGH. So somewhere over 500.

What has been your lowest blood glucose reading?

28

Describe a time when you used diabetes in your favor.

Once I was in Washington DC on a class trip and we had to listen to a super boring lecture but I went super low so I got to leave with my friend and go to a café and eat food. I’m not suggesting that it is a good thing to use diabetes as an excuse but sometimes things just happen!

What are your fears about your future with diabetes?

My biggest fear would have to be not being allowed to do something due to my diabetes. To me, diabetes is a disease not a label so why should it define me?

I’m a diabetic and…

I’m a diabetic and I try to never let diabetes define me.

What advice would you give newly diagnosed diabetics?

To the newly diagnosed: The first year is hard in terms of learning how to take care of yourself medically. The next few years are hard in terms of learning how to cope with the fact that you have been diagnosed with a disease that you will probably have for a very long time (we need a cure!!!). Just remember that it will get better. It may not get easier, and some days you will not want to do a check, a shot, or a bolus but you will have to. You will have to face those days with a smile and remember how far you have come and how far you have to keep going. Diabetes shouldn’t be who you are. Diabetes is something you have the privilege of dealing with, and you can’t let it win.