Over the past few years I have been connecting with many T1Ds, listening and searching for those with a powerful story willing to share on film. Stories of challenge, happiness, defeat, peace, fear, love, heartache, joy, shame, etc. All the juicy ups and downs and awesome plateaus of equilibrium we go through with nothing to be held back!
I spent a few years working in production before making my way to Dexcom and now Tandem. For me bringing these stories together is a culmination of career and my life's experience as a T1D.
If you have any interest please connect! Whether you have questions, are hesitant, or are quite eager, please let me know. And camera shy people are quite welcome too. Off camera stories help weave this project immensely.
Hi, Jason. I am the mother of a 10 year old T1D boy dx 9/2011. What would you like to know? I’ve never felt our story is that interesting probably because to our family it’s not a story, it’s our life.
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for sharing. Ideally the stories are bound with an inherent journey or apparent overcoming of sorts. Of course all T1Ds have something to overcome, so gathering unique stories is the focus.
I was 11 when diagnosed and am 30 now--my story wasn't apparent to me until just a few years ago. Sounds like your all's story is just unfolding. Enjoy it. Enjoy all of it!
Interesting! Well...as a T1 for 39 years I have lots of funky moments. I would be willing to share. :) Being a young kid, teenager, young adult and now old-er adult there has been lots of moments. What would you like?
Hey J. Mack!
My name is Jennifer, and I’ve been a proud T1D for 27 years. Diagnosed at 10 years old. Im a nurse, mom, and CDE in training. I’m a HUGE advocate for normalcy in living with diabetes, and providing support and education. I joined Tu because of the huge response on my Facebook page called “Let’s Dia Beat This.” I currently have almost 4,000 followers, that rave about this community. Connecting with others is just so important in this journey. So far it’s been great!
I’d be happy to help in any way possible! I think media is such a fantastic way to spread awareness for our beloved cause! Let me know!
Jason. I am just teasing Kathy. She would make an excellent subject. I represent her concerning her film career and would be happy to discuss payment for her services.
I wonder if I would qualify in your search. I was originally diagnosed as T2 but, as the years went by, my pancreas stopped producing and they now classify me as a T1. I have been on insulin and the pump for quite a few years. Don't know if this quaifies. You are welcome to peruse my site and see for yourself. I have done discusions and tons of blogs through the years. From foot ulcers & blisters to a below-the-knee amputation and many other "dramas" in my existence.
I borrowed a snippet of my story from another post, I tell lots of people of my struggle with Livabetes whenever I can. But this is just a "I don't want to type very long so here is the super short version"
When I was diagnosed at 11 years old, i felt my life was over. I had watched my cousin go in and out of hospitals for most of our lives (he was diagnosed at the age of 2 and I was 8 months older than him). I did not want to be like him and be so sick that I spent most of my time living in a hospital. I wanted to show people that I was strong and I would concur this illness as if it was the common flu. After years of putting on the happy face mask over the depressed and scared face I had, The denial kicked in. I thought for sure I was going to die at a young age. After the first year my A1C;s started climbing. They were constantly in the 12.5-12.9 range. I was sick of taking my meds, I was testing my sugar 2 times a month if that. I decided that I was going to live what was left of my life as I wanted and no docctor or therapist was going to tell me otherwise. I ended up doing drugs, I was a full blown alcoholic by the age of 13. Drinking any type of alcohol I could get my hands on. I was found by people passed out all over the city and would tell them, I need insulin, you may think i am drunk but my sugar is high. When the paramedics showed up they would test my sugar and sure enough, it was too high for thier meter. So they would help me inject my meds, and then they would let me go after the lvls came down enough for the meter to register. This was my life, looking back now I can tell you I had a death wish. I ended up watching several friends overdose on many different drugs, and for some reason, my life was not ended with them. This drove me into an even deeper depressed state.
It was not until a very scary hypoglycemic episode that something snapped in my brain. I woke up at around 9 am one Saturday morning. I could tell my sugar was extremely low. The last thing I remember was walking up the stairs to the kitchen. Throughout that day I vaguely remember the dreams, and paralyzed state. It was something in these dreams (mainly my grandmother who was dead and these beautiful girls whom i believe are my daughters now telling me I needed to change my lifestyle)I was "rudely" awakened at 11:30 pm that night to a Police officer sitting on my chest, one sitting at my belt line, a fire fighter on each leg and one on each foot. 2 paramedics were holding down my left arm and my younger brother and our neighbor holding down my right arm. It was at that moment that I decided to make a change. I HAVE LIVABETES! IT IS PART OF ME FOR NOW AND I MUST LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES IT GIVES ME. I also decided that I was going to call this disease Livabetes, because the word Die is just so negative. I am not sure why I had to have this severe hypo to get the epiphany that changed my life. But I am very grateful it did.
hum, type 2's, who typically have metabolic issues especially when diagnosed (weight - obesity, high BP, cholesterol, etc...and don't manage those issues) don't turn into type 1's just because they're taking insulin. type 1 is an autoimmune disease. Many times, if a type 2 can manage the other issues, they can get off insulin.
I had a close friend whom was a type 2. But due to her poor control she became what they classified (the doctors) as type 1. But after a look into her future decided she wanted to live better. After a year she was re-diagnosed as a type 2. And then 2 years after that was Diabetes free. She now no longer needs insulin or pills. She continues to check her sugar 4 times a day and eats right and exercises and has no long term effects.
huh, sounds like bad doctors. type 2's can be wrongly diagnosed, especially when adults, by doctor's who don't know adults can get type 1. however, type 1's don't turn into type 2's and type 2's don't turn into type 1's. there's confirmed tests done to confirm a true autoimmune type 1 disease, not just some doctor saying a type 2 is a type 1 because he/she goes on insulin. they're two totally different things; one an autoimmune disease and the other a metabolic syndrome. A type 1 could lose weight and do all the things a type 2 could do (if needed and applicable) but will never get OFF insulin. We type 1's can eat right and exercise until the cows come home (most of us do) but we'll never get off insulin.
