Voices of Diabetes

Being around people who support and encourage you is definitely a plus in helping with diabetes.

I remember the first signs suggesting I was a diabetic. I went temporarily blind for about one hour or so.

In just having the disease and dealing with it, I think you find strength deep within you--a determination to keep going.

It is a tough road, and every day has its challenges. However, this is one I am determined to work with--and not against.

I've been diabetic for almost 38 years and have always gone out of my way to take good care of myself.

If you look online, you can find meals with their food values figured out for you.

My father was a diabetic who managed his disease with oral medications. With 3 nurses in the family, you would think it was going to be easy. It was a daily trial.

Financially, I do not qualify for assistance, but I cannot afford the insulin.

I made it a point not to feel sorry for myself and was determined to manage my diabetes...Basically, it was up to me to take care of this -- no one else could do it.

I feel better when I take care of myself, but sometimes... I want to take this extra appendage that is my pump and throw it out the window!

I use a pump, and it has been a godsend...For me, insulin pumps have made living with diabetes manageable.

I am lucky to have been raised eating healthy and learning to care for my disease...We all have something to share with each other and are lucky to be alive.

I thought I escaped my family's inheritance of diabetes. But I have been a diabetic for about 2 weeks now, and I'm trying my best to cope with it.

If I could tell you anything about my story in one sentence, it would be to find your daily support team or person, as without them, you could find yourself in real denial and trouble.

I have type 2 diabetes. My problem is high blood sugar (glucose) in the morning. The rest of the day my blood sugar is in normal range. I would like to know what others have done to control high morning blood sugar.

The one consistent aspect of this disease is the "horror stories" about diabetes. Based on these stories, I should be blind and limbless and on kidney dialysis by now.

This is in response to the story submitted by John B (age 77 years). You should contact the VA (US Department of Veterans Affairs) or DAV (Disabled American Veterans) to help you with a claim for Agent Orange exposure. They are compensating veterans for having diabetes. My brother is getting 60% for his.

My daughter, 17 years old now, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 6 years...She is not a happy teenager, and I need her to be one.

Diabetes can get you down, but with a positive attitude and loving and caring support, I have been able to keep the "why me syndrome" to a minimum.

I feel so very blessed that I have a disease I can get a handle on.