Being the Controller of My Own Disease
A twist of a cap and a push of a button delivers another four units of short acting insulin into my stomach through the end of a needle. Four to five times a day, 365 days a year, I continue this routine. Every meal is carefully curated to my needs. No donuts for breakfast or ice cream to top of dinner. Meat, vegetables and some nuts are the only thing my stomach has seen in almost three years.
Type one diabetes grabbed me by the neck when I was 14 and has since refused to let go. Type one is an inherited disease, not an outcome of poor health like its type two counterpart. Being diagnosed with a life threatening disease as a young teen changed every aspect of my being. After three days of hospitalization, western medicine throws you in an ocean of your own disease, expecting you not to drown. Instead of sinking to the ocean floor, I chose to stray away from the masses and take my health into my own hands. My mothers support pushed to me use diet, exercise and manipulation of insulin to control my diabetes to the best of my ability. Unfortunately, not all are like me. That is where my passion is formed.
As I continue my personal journey with diabetes, I fear that that some may not feel as accomplished as I often do. Sure, sometimes I make mistakes with my health, but generally, i’ve been great at maintaining my diabetes.
That feeling is one that is near and dear to me. The fact that other diabetics may receive negative feedback and no praise for their efforts saddens me. I am passionate about helping other diabetics understand that there are many ways they can live healthier and happier.
I have read articles and blogs on individuals, especially young kids, who feel restricted in life because of their disease. I know this feeling all too well, but what I have learned is that a diabetic can do anything they please, but they must learn how to manipulate their disease with it. This often comes with trial, error and great challenge, but being successful with your goal and accomplishing things with your disease that you never thought possible is an indescribable feeling. My type one diabetes has gone from a constant annoyance and struggle, to an everyday accomplishment. Every day, week, month and year is a new opportunity to do better than the last. Continuing on this path, I hope to bring others along with me to learn and explore new things in health and life.