I am 26 years old and have had type 1 diabetes for 6 years. I was diagnosed after I lost 35 pounds (from 140 to 105) and couldn’t even make it up my apartment stairs without being so exhausted that I had to take a nap when I got to the top. I had lost all my energy, my weight, and I was eating more than I had ever eaten before! When my parents finally convinced me to see the doctor, they ran several tests before figuring out that I had an under active thyroid and type 1 diabetes.
I was 20 years old, living with a roommate, going to college full time, and working 35 hours a week when my whole world was flipped upside down. I remember sitting in my room on my bed freaking out that I could never have anything sweet again. My boyfriend of the past 3 years was there with me, and all I could think was that there was no way he’d want to stay with a type 1 diabetic. This was a life long disease and we were young. He could be with a healthy person and not have to deal with the medical bills, the possible complications, and the daily struggles that come along with diabetes. I was wrong, he is still with me. We are approaching our 10 year dating anniversary and have been married for over 3 years. He has stood by me through everything and continues to help in any and every way he can. He is my rock.
My doctor was not helpful at all when she found out I had diabetes. She told me it was a life threatening disease and she couldn’t help me, and referred me to a specialist. I was scared to death. The specialist was in Salem at The Firehouse. They taught me how to take my insulin, count my carbs, and adjust for lows and highs. I was there daily for a week. Being scared to death of needles, taking shots was very hard for me. Luckily they were the smallest needles in the world, 31 or 33 gauge. I’ll never forget taking my first shot on my own. I had dinner with my boyfriend at his work while he was on his break. I brought subway in, figured out how many carbs was in it and how much insulin I would need for it, drew the insulin into the syringe, and went into the bathroom to inject it. I sat in the bathroom with the syringe for a long time, trying to build up the strength to poke myself. I finally grabbed some skin and gave myself the shot. Surprisingly, I barely felt it at all! “Oh good” I thought, “I can do this”.
About a year before our wedding date, I thought I should try out one of these insulin pumps I’d heard so much good stuff about. I was taking between 5 – 6 shots a day, and I did have some issues with highs and lows…..lows being over corrected and becoming highs. And who wants to take a shot for just one or 2 units to bring you blood sugar back down to normal range? Not me! I took enough shots! The pump was supposed to help get rid of the up and down spikes and help keep your sugars at a more even control. I figured I should have the best control I could have once we were married and started having sex, just in case we had an unplanned pregnancy.
So I ordered the MiniMed Paradigm 715 insulin pump. Back to The Firehouse for training! I got the hang of the pump quickly. I had a hard time adjusting to having something connected to me all the time, but the health benefits made it worth it.
I recently upgraded from the 715 to the 722 because the 722 is compatible with the new Continuous Blood Glucose Monitor that I am working on getting. Currently insurance is not covering it and the monthly supplies are to expensive for me to afford. My doctor is writing a letter for me to appeal my insurances decision, but I haven’t heard a response on that yet.
So, thats how I got to where I am!
It is interesting how similar our stories are. I am 28 and have had diabetes since I was 20. I was working at a summer camp away from family and friends when I developed diabetes-I lost 20 pounds and basically just ran out of energy before they took me to the ER. Everyone thought I had an eating disorder because I ate so much and went to the bathroom a lot. When they told me I had type 1, it was terrifying because I am so needle phobic (still am!) but I was also glad it wasn’t something more life threatening like cancer, etc. I figured there were enough diabetics in the world that I would be ok somehow.
So now, today….I am married with no kids. I have a mini med 715 and am in the process of trying to get a CBGM. I just changed insurance so I am crossing my fingers that it will be covered. Diabetes has never really got in the way of my life too much until more recently. I feel like no matter how much I follow the rules, I just have so many bumps along the road. I have enjoyed reading parts of your blog because sometimes diabetes can be so hard! Hang in there-I am just positive the cure is within reach.
Hi Jen!
It’s great to meet you. We do have a lot in common! I always thought my diabetes was a pain…just because I had to take shots, and then when I got the pump I thought it was a pain to have to change the infusion set. But my numbers were always pretty good when I worked for it. Just in the past 6 months or so I’ve noticed problems with having to adjust my basal rates constantly and things. Before that, I never had to change my basal rates. So I guess I had it lucky and didn’t even know it! I never had these crazy numbers for no reason! I’d have highs, but it was always my own fault. Which I prefer to this! Now that I’m working extra hard to get my numbers in the “perfect” range (which to me is 70 – 150) it seems to be giving me more trouble than ever!
Good luck with getting the CBGM approved by insurance! They denied my appeal and I haven’t heard back from my doc about if she re-appealed it.
Even better than the CBGM would be a cure! How exciting! I can’t even imagine how it would be to live a normal life!
I’m glad you enjoy reading my blog! It helps me a lot to get my thoughts out there and get feedback from others who understand and are going through the same things!!
Good luck!!
Well, I’m a little different, being a type 2 diabetic, but the time line is semi-similar. For me the diagnosis came around my 18th birthday.
I have diabetes in both sides of my family, so I was pretty much destined to see this at some point. I grew up overweight, eating whenever and whatever I desired because I could. I had a paper route as a kid and later PT jobs allowed for “extra” helpings at school lunches.
My struggle has always been that I don’t feel sick, but I am aware of the long term problems I could face. I topped out around 315 pounds my senior year of HS. I have since been down as low as 240 and am working on getting back that way again, sitting on about 275 right now.
The past couple of weeks have been very good as I am making a concentrated and serious effort to bring my sugar under control and I have been to the gym 6 days out of the past 11. My wife is also overweight, but her chemistry has always been fine. We are working together (with her going to WW) to improve our health as we are about to become parents of a one-year-old baby girl from China.
For me, I’d say my biggest disappointment being a diabetic is that it is an automatic disqualification from serving in the United States Military. My grandfather derved in WW II and Korea and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. My father served in Vietnam and reached the rank of Major before retiring after Desert Storm. Of his three sons, I am the only one that likely would have volunteered to serve.
One other thing. My best friend at the gym is the eliptical, and I am here because of Twitter.
My personal blog is http://www.valtool.blogspot.com
Our adoption blog is http://www.thechristopherfamily.blogspot.com
and my wifes blog is http://www.amychristopher.blogspot.com
Good job to both you and your wife for trying to lose weight and be healthy! It’s never easy, but it’s worth it and it feels so good to have accomplished something that important!
Hi Jen,
What Insurance Company do you use?, I use Oxford, i got them to cover All my Continuous Blood Glucose Monitor`s Supply’s Plus Transmitter… twice (first one and replacement when I Lost first… though i didn`t tell them i lost it) Feel free to e-mail me for some Tips when Dealing with Insurance Companys…
All the Best,
Patrick…
Thanks! I will shoot you an email for advice on insurance companies!! I have Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and it is not going well!