My diabetes was discovered in 1962, when not that much
was really known about the disease except that insulin was the only way to
manage it. I was told at 9 years old
that I had to give myself multiple shots a day, and that if I ever ate a candy
bar, I would die. At 18 years, they told
me that I could never have any children, and that I would probably go blind,
lose my legs, and die by the age of 30.
It has been an absolutely awesome surprise that I ended
up having 4 children, have not gone blind, and have not lost my limbs. I have
had kidney stones due to calcification of my kidneys, but here I am at 54 years
old, still going strong!
I honestly believe that my positive attitude came from my
mother. She always told me that I was
special and had a lot to prove to the world.
I work extremely hard to keep any excess weight off and try to exercise
as much as possible. I control my
diabetes very well with blood glucose (sugar) checks and altering my insulin to
adapt to my lifestyle.
Pamela S, 54
Franklinton, NC
133700