November is Diabetes Awareness Month. About 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Since then, my life has never been the same. Because of this, I want to share my story and help raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding this disease.
Diabetes: What Is It?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, when you eat, especially carbohydrates, your body breaks down that food into glucose and sends it into your blood. Insulin, which is made in the pancreas, then helps move the glucose from your blood into your cells, where it is then used for energy or stored for later use. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make insulin at all, can’t use the insulin it does make, or both. Diabetes presents differently in everyone, and there are different types.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D), the most common form, is when your body does not use insulin properly, which is called insulin resistance. Over time, your pancreas can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels. Type 2 is most common in middle-aged and older adults; however, it is possible in younger people. Treatment differs but can include an eating plan, physical activity, and oral or injectable medications. Prediabetes is the stage typically seen before Type 2, when your glucose levels are higher than normal but not quite at the line for Type 2.
Gestational diabetes is another form, which occurs during pregnancy. The exact cause isn’t entirely known; however, it is known that the placenta’s hormones can sometimes block insulin, leading to insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy; regardless, it can last and occasionally shift into Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) differs a bit from other forms as it is an autoimmune disease. This is caused when your immune system mistakenly treats the beta cells in your pancreas as foreign invaders and destroys them. Without these cells, your body can’t make insulin, or makes so little that you need to take insulin to survive. When your body can’t make insulin, glucose builds up in your bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Therefore, Type 1 diabetics need to inject synthetic insulin to survive. Type 1 Diabetes is typically diagnosed as a child, however you can be diagnosed at any age.
These aren’t the only types; however, they are the most common.
The Day My Pancreas Died
January 4th, 2024.
A few days prior, I had gone in for my yearly physical and had blood drawn per usual. Then, before I knew it, I was being admitted into the hospital.
I had been experiencing symptoms for months, and I didn’t even realize it. Extreme thirst, frequent urination, excessive weight loss- but I ignored them all. I was drinking more water and losing weight, so that couldn’t possibly have been a bad thing. What I didn’t know was my body was basically slowly dying.
After what felt like a lifetime, I got some answers. I was a Type 1 diabetic. They told me I had an A1C level of 14% (6.5% or higher usually indicates diabetes), and at the time my blood glucose level was over 300, which resulted in me being in diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). My symptoms shifted pretty fast once I was on insulin; I had gone from chugging water to taking sips every few hours. They briefly explained what diabetes was and what I needed to do to survive.
I don’t remember much other than feeling very lost and scared. It felt like my life was over. Everything was changing. I had never been someone who was really scared of needles, but injecting myself every day for the rest of my life scares even the bravest.
(24-hour view of my blood glucose from my CGM app)
There’s a lot they don’t tell you when you’re diagnosed; for example, the simple act of existing can mess up your blood sugar. Everything, and I mean everything, can affect your blood glucose levels. It’s not just food: waking up, exercising, alcohol, insulin, temperature, menstrual cycles, and more. It’s an exhausting, invisible fight.
I want to say it gets easier; it does, but living with this disease has been one of the hardest battles of my life. It takes so much from me and gives nothing in return. People with diabetes are said to make 180 or more decisions in a day. Everything I do affects my blood sugar, which then affects my health and my life. I am fighting to keep myself alive every day, and no one would even know unless I told them. It’s a big thing when someone is chronically ill not to make it their whole personality because they’re more than their disease, and that’s true. I am more than my disease, but it’s part of who I am because I can never escape it. It is my life. It takes over every part of my being. Every decision I make, everything I do and eat, is controlled by this disease. My time, my money, my energy, and what feels like my whole being go to this disease. Despite my struggles, frustration, and fatigue, I am still alive. I am doing all the work of an organ, and I’m doing the best I can.
I do what I can to raise awareness and share mine and so many others’ stories. I fight my own shame and embarrassment every day because I want others to know they aren’t alone and we shouldn’t be ashamed.
Awareness
There is so much misinformation and stigma surrounding diabetes. While people with Type 2 diabetes shouldn’t be shamed either, it’s also frustrating when people are unaware of the difference.
Yes, I can eat that.
No, this wasn’t because I had too much sugar as a kid.
No, eating cinnamon isn’t going to cure me.
I need sugar, I need carbs.
I take insulin because my body cannot produce it itself. I have an Omnipod (insulin pump) which injects insulin into my body through an IV-like tube using an app on my phone. Thankfully, this app handles most of the math for me, but in order to dose insulin properly, diabetics need to calculate based on the carbs they’re eating. This means I have to count my carbs for my meal, every time, all day, every day. I use a CGM (continuous glucose monitor), more specifically a Dexcom G6, which, through a cannula in my skin, provides me with my blood glucose level at any given moment, rather than having to prick my finger and check with a glucose meter. Because we inject insulin ourselves, sometimes our body doesn’t actually need all of it (this can be affected by miscalculation of carbs, exercise, and more), which can then lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
When I am hypoglycemic, I need sugar; otherwise, I could go into a coma or have a seizure. If I’m hyperglycemic, meaning my blood sugar is high, then I need insulin. This distinction is extremely important and could result in life-or-death circumstances.
(24-hour view of my blood glucose from my CGM app during an active hypoglycemia episode)
As someone who wasn’t even aware of the different types of diabetes, I think it is so important to know the signs and get tested.
According to the American Diabetes Association, symptoms to look out for include: increased thirst and dry mouth, frequent urination, feeling very hungry, fatigue, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, and cuts/bruises that are slow to heal. While symptoms may not always be present, it’s good to be aware. Especially if you believe you may have T1D, as symptoms can develop rapidly and very quickly lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA occurs when ketones, which develop when your body doesn’t have enough insulin to use glucose for energy, make your blood too acidic.
I ignored so many signs because I was embarrassed and too scared, and that put my life at risk. If you are able to, it is so important to talk to your doctor about being screened for diabetes. Even if you think there’s no chance, if you have no family history, if you’re older in age, please get tested.
Diabetes can occur at any time, any age, in anyone. Getting screened could save your life.
Famous People with T1D
A lot more people have T1D than you might realize, and they’re all doing amazing things.
Nick Jonas
I’m sure many people remember hearing about his diagnosis and the dramatized magazines and ads. What many might not know is that he is a Dexcom Warrior and co-founder of Beyond Type 1.
Lauren Cox
She was diagnosed at age 7 and moved on to become the first player with T1D in the WNBA.
Lila Moss
Daughter of supermodel Kate Moss, Lila Moss is making a name for herself in the fashion industry. In 2021, Moss proudly donned her Omnipod insulin pump during a Fendi/Versace fashion show. Later in 2022, Moss appeared at the Met Gala with her Libre CGM (continuous glucose monitor) on display.
Jose Ignacio Fernández Iglesias
Better known as Nacho, the Spanish soccer star is credited with being the first person with T1D to score in a World Cup.
Victor Garber
The Canadian singer and actor was diagnosed at age 12 and is an advocate for Breakthrough T1D Canada.
Sonia Sotomayor
A Supreme Court Justice of the United States, Sotomayor was diagnosed with T1D at the age of seven. She is the first individual with T1D to serve on the high court.
Gary Hall Jr
The US swimmer was 21 when he was diagnosed with T1D. He’s won 10 Olympic gold medals over three Olympics. He was the first athlete to compete in the Olympic Games with T1D.
Jean Smart
Emmy Award winner Smart was diagnosed at 13. She’s been an avid advocate for people with T1D and has appeared before the U.S. Congress to ask for continued government support for T1D research.
Charlotte Drury
The first American woman to win a gold medal in trampoline at a World Cup. A month before the first Olympic trial of 2021, she was diagnosed with T1D.
James Talarico
Recently elected to the Texas U.S. Senate, Talarico was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 28. He is now the first U.S. Senator with T1D.
And these aren’t all! More than half a million people are diagnosed with T1D every year. So many people, all fighting to stay alive while going about their lives, and we have no idea.
Creators
Here are some amazing organizations and creators who can help you learn more about T1D.
An amazing organization that works to help advance research towards curing diabetes, while raising awareness and supporting diabetes throughout.
Another incredible organization that is raising awareness and spreading resources for diabetics. They also promote and hold screenings for diabetes, which is super important!
One of my favorites; their family consists of 7 diabetics! Their videos show the highs and lows (literally) of T1D, making it fun while educating people and showcasing the ugly parts too.
Her TikTok videos focus a bit more on the struggles of diabetes, but also portray how this disease doesn’t define her, and she is still capable of so much. She’s also worked with Breakthrough T1D!
Her content doesn’t focus entirely on T1D, but she shares her experiences, tips, and struggles. I love her videos because she is so down to earth and shares a lot more of the regular day-to-day, which just so happens to include diabetes.
I absolutely love this creator. She is so fun and so real. She posts all the real, ugly, frustrating sides of diabetes while still being such a bright and fun person. She also shares what the process for changing medical devices like CGMs and insulin pumps is like.
To many without diabetes, this all may seem boring or irrelevant. Before I was diagnosed, I was blissfully unaware, but now my life has changed, and I realized how uneducated I was on something that affects so many. Whether you have diabetes/know someone who does, knowledge is important and could even be life-saving.
Educate yourself, get tested, and support those around you. Happy Diabetes Awareness Month!