I have had type 1 diabetes for 10 years. My younger
sister has had type 1 diabetes for 23 years, so I was very familiar with this
disease when I was diagnosed with it.
As a child, watching my parents struggle to take care of
my little sister was difficult. I worried about her health and safety
constantly, and I was very protective of her. At the same time, I would think
to myself, "Thank goodness it's not me." I would steal Halloween
candy from my sister, using the excuse that I was "helping" her, because
I knew she didn't need it.
My mother and father were excellent at taking care of
her, even though caring and constantly worrying about my sister was very hard
on them. My sister had never been hospitalized for ketoacidosis as a child--a
testament of my parents' hard work. I used to believe having to take shots and
pricking your finger must be the most horrible thing in the world. So, when I
was diagnosed with diabetes at age 19 years, all I could think about was how
awful living with diabetes was going to be.
Surprisingly, I discovered I could do it. Obviously, it
took some time, but I made the decision to do the things I needed to do to stay
healthy. I was going to do it for me and for my sister. I started exercising
and thinking more carefully about my food choices. Before too long, I had
gained a lot of confidence in my abilities to manage this disease.
The key to diabetes management is getting educated about
diabetes and realizing that this disease is controllable. It doesn't have to be
the end of your life. Unfortunately, all too often people neglect to learn
about the disease and how to truly manage it effectively. The long-term
complications we are all terrified of are preventable if the person with
diabetes makes the choice to take care of him/herself.
Diabetes has not stopped me from doing anything that I
have wanted to do, and I won't let it. Of course, I wish I didn't have
diabetes, and I definitely have days when I am burned out and sick of it. But,
I am motivated to be here for my husband and son and to be an example of how
someone can live a healthy and fulfilling life with diabetes.
Karen R, 29
Anderson, SC
133851