1. How old were you when you were diagnosed? And/or how old is your diabetes now?
I was 15. Almost 4 years now.
2. What was your first reaction to your diagnosis?
At first I was just happy to be feeling better, then had a complete mindset change (I was really depressed at the time) that I needed to do more with my life, since I had just almost died.
3. Have you ever been to diabetes camp/events? Have you made any friends that way?
Nope. Nope nope. Unless you count the Walk, but I haven’t really made any friends there, I bring my own.
4. Do you know any other diabetics? (both online and IRL)
Yea, at least 8 IRL. I’ve been starting to get to know more online.
5. Pump, shots, or something else? Why? What meter/pump do you use?
Pumps. I recommend it. One Touch Ping/One Touch meter.
6. Do you advertise it or try to hide it? Any reason why?
Neither I guess. If people find out, cool, but it’s not the first, or tenth, thing that I tell them about myself.
7. What’s your favorite diabetic book/movie?
No idea. Most diabetic books are designed to scare the ■■■■ out of you, I think.
8. Did you have to make any major lifestyle changes when you were diagnosed?
Um, DUH. It’s a complete lifestyle change.
9. Have you ever traveled far away with it? What was that like?
New Mexico (backpacking), Bahamas, Kansas, New York, Pittsburgh, Puerto Rico, AZ. When I was in Puerto Rico I was going low CONSTANTLY.
10. What was your scariest diabetes moment?
Probably when I was in Puerto Rico on a training trip with my college swim team. We walked in to practice one afternoon and I checked my blood sugar before I got in the pool and I was in the 50’s. I ate and waited for it to come up, got back in the pool and about 15 min later I was in the 50’s again. It happened 2 more times that practice. One of my coaches (who is also T1) finally just told me to sit out the rest and take care of myself…. Either that or the night after I found out about Dead-in-bed syndrome, I woke up at 2:30am with a 44.
11. What’s your record for highs/lows?
The highest (besides Dx) was 589. Lowest, 24 or LO.
12. How’s your relationship with your endocrinologist?
I LOVE HER. She was a swimmer too so it’s pretty awesome. She has the BEST personality and I’m going to be sad when I have to leave her to go to an “adult” hospital. (I’m still going to Children’s haha)
13. What’s your favorite diabetes joke?
What did one meter say to the other? HI-LO
14. Have you ever gotten in trouble for doing something diabetes-related that someone didn’t think was allowed? (Bolusing in class, blood sugar test in a meeting, eating at work, etc)
Right after I was diagnosed, I had to keep all my stuff (even my meter) in the nurses office. My APUSH teacher started to hate me because I had to go to the nurse all the time.
15. What’s your favorite oh-gosh-my-diabetes-hate-me-for-eating-this food?
Mexican, chinese, cake.
16. Do you own/use any diabetic cookbooks?
My mom got a ton after I was diagnosed.
17. Has being diabetic gotten you any privileges? (scholarships, special treatment, etc)
No. I was going to apply for a diabetic scholarship for college, but the application was like 2039482934 pages long and needed I had to get stuff signed by my endo but it’s super hard to get an appointment and what not.
18. What advice would you give a newly-diagnosed diabetic?
It’ll be all right, and I’m here to talk to. Don’t take things so seriously. Don’t let it take over your life. It’ll become a part of you, but don’t let it define you. It’s a part of me now and I don’t think I would give it up if I could, terrible hardships and inconveniences and pain and embarrassment and all. It shaped me. And keep an eye on your mental health. It fucks us all. I have more disorders/conditions than I can count and that’s not uncommon with diabetics because of the bodily reactions that come along with it and the stress and responsibilities, but it can be a blessing at times.
19. What’s your best diabetes moment?
How excited/interested some people are to learn about it. And some of the crazy donations I have gotten for the JDRF walks. <3
20. Give a diabetic shoutout!
Chris!
You swim… you have a swim coach who’s also T1… and you have an endo who is also a swimmer. I don’t know if that happened just by chance, but that’s awesome!! I think exercise is the hardest part of figuring out diabetes (you can’t exactly “count” carbs burned like you can count carbs eaten or units of insulin), and it’s great to have people around you who can relate. When I used to play ice hockey (which was before I took the leap and started a pump), nobody could tell me how I could make pumping work (“no, doc, I can’t call a time-out to strip off my layers and layers of padding to check my infusion site!”) or what meter wouldn’t give a Low-Temp alarm inside the rink. I’d love to get back into playing again, but now that I’ve got a family, it’s not that easy. And I still need to figure out what to do with the pump, though I’ve gotten good advice from friends here on Tu.
This is a marvelous survey. I think we all should take it. I think I will Yoink it for myself, if it is alright with you.
I particularly love the best diabetic moment. Mine was when I was asked what was in the box at a church supper. Turns out tha tone of the people at the table had been dxd that day,and understandably, was reeling from the news. Between him, his wife and others at the table who knew the situation, I managed to test my blood, load a pen with a needle and show how to give a shot. Had I not just taken one, I would have been able to show them as well, but I was able to show a “pinch and a poke” to demonstrate how easy it is. I wish I would have had a pump to show. Maybe soon for that.
I also like your statement that says diabetes is part of you, but it doesn’t define you. I tell that to a depressed diabetic friend all the time, and believe it with my whole heart.
Diabetes has made me a better person. It is definately life changing. Acceptance is a wonderful thing; in life, in faith and in love.
Be well.
Brian Wittman
Thanks for sharing these details, Rebecca! Love hearing some of your perspective as a swimming, as I swam in high school and had some of those specific issues (in the days before pumping). Great finding you here and will look forward to reading more down the road!
hi Rebecca~
Please allow me to share a little about my diabetic self. This is a wonderful survey.
Your profile says you are from Burnsville. i’ll bet that is Burnsville, Minnesota. Fr4om one Minnesotan to another, it is nice to meet you.
Be well.
Brian Wittman
- How old were you when you were diagnosed? And/or how old is your diabetes now?
I don’t know. I was diagnosed in the late 60’s or the early 90’s. I really wanted to forget the day. I guess I did a pretty good job.
- What was your first reaction to your diagnosis?
I looked at it as an educational opportunity. I was pretty good at getting facts and better at believing that they didn’t apply to me.
- Have you ever been to diabetes camp/events? Have you made any friends that way?
No.
- Do you know any other diabetics? (both online and IRL)
Yes. Diabetes runs rampant in my mother’s side of the family. I also have a couple of friends who are diabetic; one of which is very close. She had a lot to do with my learning to cope and live with diabetes.
- Pump, shots, or something else? Why? What meter/pump do you use?
I am currently on MDI with 500mg of Metformin twice each day. I am hoping for a pump soon. My insurance company does not agree that a pump is a good thing.
- Do you advertise it or try to hide it? Any reason why?
I do not wear my diabetes on my sleeve. I do talk freely about it to anyone who is interested.
- What’s your favorite diabetic book/movie?
I have two diabetes books. Piumping Insulin by John Walsh and the Calorie King book. I read the pump book occasionally. I use the Calorie King book all the time to help me count carbs.
- Did you have to make any major lifestyle changes when you were diagnosed?
Not at first. When I had my wake-up call, I changed, life changed, in a big way.
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Have you ever traveled far away with it? What was that like?
A diabetic takes diabetes wherever they go. Yes, I have traveled on a bus to Tennessee, and by car all over the upper Midwest. I have a little black case that contains a meter, insulin, syringes and the like. I get a lot of questions about it and it opens conversations. I have never had a problem. -
What was your scariest diabetes moment?
I was mowing a lawn at a home that I take care of that is located a good distance away from my home. I was alone and went low…48 to be exact. I had no sugar or anything to eat to bring things back up. I was lucky to have a meter with me. I drove to a convenience store to get something to eat and bring me back into reality. I have no idea why or how I did it.
11. What’s your record for highs/lows?
My worst low was 43. My highest has been over 600.
- How’s your relationship with your endocrinologist?
Okay, I guess. He has made some positive changes and is genuinely interested in good control for me. He always wants me to work a little harder. I try, but it never seems to be enough.
- What’s your favorite diabetes joke?
I don’t have a diabetes joke; not even one that isn’t fit to tell.
- Have you ever gotten in trouble for doing something diabetes-related that someone didn’t think was allowed? (Bolusing in class, blood sugar test in a meeting, eating at work, etc)
Not that I can remember. I am rather private about testing and injecting.
- What’s your favorite oh-gosh-my-diabetes-hate-me-for-eating-this food?
Italian food.
- Do you own/use any diabetic cookbooks?
No. I don’t see the need for it. I don’t cook.
- Has being diabetic gotten you any privileges? (scholarships, special treatment, etc)
No.
- What advice would you give a newly-diagnosed diabetic?
diabetes is good for getting the best of one’s head. Don’t let it take over life and don’t ignore it, either. Diabetes is a very unique part of you, however, it does not define us. We cal all llive and love better by living a healthy diabetic lifestyle. Embrace it and something might happen; you just might enjoy having the dis
Like Brian, I’ve been inspired too! You can see my responses here.
Well I'm really late, but thanks for all the replies everyone! I guess I didn't know I had any!
Hi Rebecca. So do you typically eat the same foods for your meals so it's easier to count the carbs and know how your body reacts?
Hello! Generally it varies how many carbs I eat for a meal but I tend to eat a lot more protein and veggies than carbs.