About Us
Mission Statement:
Our mission at One in Many is to share type 1 diabetics’ stories about their experience with diabetes, showing all diabetics that they are not alone. We are a not-for-profit organization.
About:
One in Many aims to give type 1 diabetics a voice. We think that telling the personal stories of diabetics will inspire others with different perspectives to share as well. Every person has their hardships along with accomplishments with diabetes that deserve to be shared. While the personal accounts are as diverse as the people who write them, we can all agree on one thing: diabetes sucks. We hope that type 1 diabetics, and their families and friends, will find these stories relatable and encouraging.
About the founder:
Hi! I am Shiraz Harel and I was diagnosed with diabetes on March 1st 2014. I am sixteen years old and have been living in the Bay Area for the majority of my life.
My One In Many story:
Describe the day you were diagnosed.
The day I was diagnosed (age 12) I spent the day biking around my neighborhood with my best friend drinking a slurpee and eating as much candy as I could get. I kept craving sweets but I was never full. Every little thing my friends and family did irritate me like crazy. Later that day my family and I planned to go see Frozen in theaters but my tongue was incredibly swollen making it impossible for me to eat dinner before we left, so my mom decided to take me to the hospital instead of the theaters. When I was told that I had diabetes I was in disbelief. I was completely overwhelmed and confused.
What annoys you about diabetes?
It’s annoying to constantly worry about my blood sugar and having to have a weird machine on my body, especially the OmniPod, that people are judging.
What do you like about diabetes?
I like the community that I’ve met through diabetes. I have also learned to appreciate other things in my life more because of diabetes.
How has diabetes changed you?
Having diabetes has made me a more responsible and confident person because I see how many things I can do even though I have diabetes. I was also able to summit Mt. Whitney with a group of diabetics which an incredible and life-changing experience.
Describe a time where diabetes made you cry and/or laugh.
When I was diagnosed, I was in so much disbelief that I thought it was a joke so I started laughing but when they told me they were serious, I cried.
What has been your highest blood glucose reading?
My highest blood glucose level was 600 (when I was diagnosed).
What has been your lowest blood glucose reading?
36
Describe a time when you used diabetes in your favor.
One time in school, I didn’t know the answer to a question on my math test so I told my teacher that my blood sugar was low and I couldn’t finish the test. He let me finish it the next day after I figured out how to solve it.
What are your fears about your future with diabetes?
I’m worried that when I leave for college, I won’t be able to keep my blood sugar in range. I don’t want to have to rely on my parents to be healthy but it’s nice to have someone to fall back on when you mess up. I’m also worried about driving because whenever I bike when I’m low it does not end well.
I’m a diabetic and…
I’m a diabetic and I play tuba, I love hiking and I love banana bread and milk tea!
What advice would you give newly diagnosed diabetics?
My advice to newly diagnosed diabetics would be: It’s fine to be freaking out right now. It’ll get better.