Living with Type One Diabetes: My Journey So Far

Hello there! I've been living with type one diabetes since March 2nd, 1998. I was 4 years old at the time of my diagnosis. This is a horrible disease and I hate it as much as anyone here, but I'm fortunate in a way because both my parents are in the medical field and therefore they didn't completely go in blind at the time of my diagnosis. My mother is a nurse and my father is a pharmacist. When I started going to college away from home in 2011, I fell into a seriously dangerous pattern of self neglect due to the burnout that is all too common with type one diabetes management: I was not testing my blood sugar levels consistently (sometimes going days or even weeks without doing it), eating what I wanted without counting my carbohydrates so I could dose my insulin properly, and just generally being apathetic towards the possible consequences of not taking care of myself properly. I have suffered some of these consequences already, the most serious ones being a stay in the ICU when I slipped into diabetic ketoacidosis and nearly died, and developing retinopathy in my eyes, which has required a few major surgeries. Recently I've come to the realization that if I don't get control of my diabetes and my overall health now at age 28 (almost 29), I'll likely end up doing even more serious, irreversible damage to my body and dying at a young age. I've recently obtained the Freestyle Libre 2 so I can better monitor my blood sugar levels and correct highs and lows early on. And I'll be starting the process of getting a pump this summer, specifically the Tandem t:slim X2. I've heard nothing but great things about it and can't wait for that next step in my journey.