Share your story and help with a project!

Type 1 and LADA Teens and Young Adults
1

Hi,

My name is Sara Hollingshead and I am currently working on an Honors project at William Smith College and am looking for some help. I’ve had Type 1 Diabetes since I was eight years old (1998) and know how it can isolate an adolescent in what some consider one’s favorite years-high school and college. Thus, I have embarked on a year long Honors project that will allow me to create a collection of short stories about living as a young adult with diabetes; if you ever read The Dinosaur Tamer when you were first diagnosed/younger, I’m hoping to create something along the lines of that, but for an older audience-13-22 years old.

The purpose of this collection is to remind adolescents that they are not the only one counting carbs or taking insulin, which is why I am turning to anyone who would like to help.

I ask you to share a story or two about living with diabetes. The story can be about anything you’ve done or been through, in relation to diabetes, preferably though a high school or college/growing-up experience. The stories will ultimately show how people with diabetes still live. For example, my own story recounts a really bad low experience during a Spring Break rowing training trip.

If you’re interested in sharing a story, a few things you might want to know—

-I don’t need the story today or tomorrow; I am working on the project until March, so you can take some time to reflect and think about your experiences, but just let me know you’re interested in helping out.
-You don’t have to write the story either; I’ll be doing all of the writing, editing, revising, etc., so if it’s easier for you to tell me your story over the phone or Skype, I’m happy to oblige.
-Your story/experience does not need to be ‘happy-go-lucky’ it just needs to show an experience in your life with diabetes
-I’m hoping each story to be considered a ‘short story’ or at least a few pages, so you can combine a few experiences to show your growth/development of life with diabetes, or you can just elaborate on one specific experience.
-Although I am not sure how at the moment, I will be recognizing each person (you!) that the story is about (probably with a small biography paragraph and the beginning of end of the story). And if you want to change the names of people involved/your name, that is fine as well!

I’m really excited about my project and working with people living with diabetes to remind adolescents that they are not alone and that life goes on, despite diabetes.

If you want to help or have any questions or concerns, I can be reached here, on TuDiabetes, or email sara.hollingshead@hws.edu

Thank you in advance for your support!

2

Sounds cool :slight_smile: I’ll let you know if I think of anything.

Oh, and what is The Dinosaur Tamer? I’ve never heard of it…

3

Thanks!
The Dinosaur Tamer is a book of short stories about being diagnosed/adjusting to life with diabetes. It's geared towards a younger audience-8-12, and focuses on the adjustment period.
Here's a little more about it from ADA
http://www.shopdiabetes.org/139-Dinosaur-Tamer-and-Other-Stories.aspx

4

YOU ARE FREAKING AWESOME!!! THANKYOU afor bringing attention to this! I would love to share my story with you I have a ton! I can think of a few though! Both positive and negative! I am 16 years old I have a lot of medical conditions other than diabetes but the hardest is definitely Type One Diabetes! I was diagnosed September 26th, 1997 I was 2 years old. I would love to talk to you! I know that my little sister would love to talk to you as well!

Please contact me at

beatingtype1@gmail.com
my skype name is d103cc
~Gabriella

5

Hi this sounds great. Not sure if this fits the criteria but you are more then welcome to check out my blog and take bits and pieces from there. My blog is about my thoughts on diabetes and how I am dealing with it. I have only just started writing it so theres not many posts yet :)

My Blog - http://emily-mystory.blogspot.com/

6

I'll join in. Probably write about how i've gone from sitting at home not wanting to do anything and having issues giving myself injections to having given myself shots while traveling Greyhound to and from Florida sitting away from the people i was traveling with and being surrounded by people i don't know. Hopefully i can mention all the places i've been and the people i've meet. From going to an anime con and having someone sitting near me say "yay insulin" to the mom of a type one at Disney World stopping to say hi to me on her way to the bathroom. And the people at my local walmart who can reconise me as my mom (who works there) daughter because of how i spent my first days out of the hospital going to work with my mom because i was worried about being able to give myself shots. So many things to chose from...and i've only been diabetic for a little over a year.

7

Hi Emily,

I've been following your blog and you have some great things going on. Could I possibly email you (or you can email me--sara.hollingshead@hws.edu) so we can work to develop one or two of your stories for the project? Thanks!

8

Hi,

This sounds great. It'll be a great way to show the transition to managing and living with diabetes. If you can email me, sara.hollingshead@hws.edu, I'd be more than happy to help you with developing your ideas and creating a strong story for the project! Thanks!