March TYPE 1 Diabetes Madness

This month has been miserable in t1 terms. I had 4 insets in 3 days, pump had issues, shots, bruises, even my finger pricks hurts, not to mention DKA, many bad sites, broken pump clip, and a few too many lows and highs which included ketones. It was a bit too much for me to handle all in one month. I have been ready for March to be over sadly since it started. And that does not even include all the physical issues unrelated to t1 like a wonderful stomach virus and loss of appetite which I never thought I would have an issue with. I never thought my world would be like it is today.
As much as I felt like my world was slowing going dark and I was all alone with this disease that would not give me a break I was reminded by my t1 family all around the world that I would never be alone not only because of them but because of God. He would put that specific person in my way that day of just loving me, listening to me, encouraging me to keep moving forward that I am not alone and I will never have to deal with this disease alone.
This month has been melt down city trying to be so strong and go to classes and after being in DKA having everyone one ask how you are doing and not wanting to lie, but at the same time being too exhausted to explain that DKA is when you feel like your body is being torn apart bit by bit and yes today I do feel better but nowhere near normal and it takes some time for it to heal. I do not lie so I say yes I feel better not great but better than I did.
Yeah this month was pretty awful however I was so blessed at the same time. Good thing I did not die from DKA or go into a coma. I was able to get it back under control eventually. I knew what was going on. I have Professors who support me and understand that sometimes I do not have control and have realized that they are truly willing to work with me when I am fighting my t1. I have friends who will put me a site in my arm when I am not capable of doing it. I have friends who know what a good bg is and know when something is not right to tell me to check my bg when my attitude is off. They are there for me when I just need someone to sit with make me smile or ask if I need anything and continue checking up on me and making sure my bg is good and that I am good.
I have t1 people who are truly amazing and are just there and all you say is a number and they know exactly what is going on and what to do. They remind me that I am not alone and it is not just me and they are praying for me and love me. They go in my world of darkness with flashlights and find me. They help me up and remind me that I am strong and can do anything thing. And they turn on the light which brings my world back to life and hope. My t1 people are amazing they help me with my supplies and always have perfect timing every time. I now do not have to worry about going low on supplies for a few months now because I have such amazing people and they are more than just people they are my family they are my t1 family.
Sure it was a difficult month however without my relationship with God, my t1 family, my family, and my friends is that I would not be where I am today. Every day they put up with me, they love me, they support me, and they are always there for me. I would be nothing without any of them. March did have some positives because there is always light in the darkest of places. It reminded me truly how blessed I am and if it was not for this terrible disease I would never have met any of these truly amazing people. I have had t1 for almost 8 years, 4 of those years I felt alone, now I feel truly loved and never alone. I will never be alone again though this disease. I pray that I will or possibly have changed someone through type 1 diabetes in some way. I love you all and I am so thankful that I have each and every one of you in my life in some way. This is the song that would alway puts a smile on my face and just makes me happy and feel so blessed please listen to it. It is Francesca Battistellia- This is the Stuff
Lots of Love,
Sarah Ray

Looking at what was

This was the first paper I wrote after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes the assignment was to write about what you did over your summer vacation and this was mine. What I did over summer vacation was that I was diagnosed with the onset of type 1 diabetes. Reading over it I have realized how I see things so differently now and at the same time I still see things the same. I still remember the events of that day. Did you know that my tennis coach thought I was high on drugs!!!! I was straight A student! The thing I remember the most is that I was so afraid because I did not know what was wrong with me and that when they told me I was type 1 diabetic and finally understood it all. I finally knew what was wrong with me. I was not afraid of dying because I was able to label the pain and confusion that I had been struggling with for so long.
The Memory That Changed My Life Forever
At the end of the 7th grade I was always tired, my stomach hurt, my feet hurt. I lost my appetite, was always thirsty, and I was walking into walls. Back then I thought that becoming a teenager was going to be tough however I had no idea what was coming my way. I did not have any energy.
My mom and I have always gone to the craft fair at the Lake of the Pines on the 4th of July, every year since I was born. Two years ago for the 4th of July I couldn’t get any farther than the sofa. I really wanted to go. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t get up?? With tons of effort I did however make it to the fireworks. People thought I was sleeping during the fireworks but, I wasn’t. We decided to go to the doctor first thing on Monday morning July 7th. Even though we had gone to the doctor the week before and he thought it was a virus. Everybody said I had Mononucleosis?
Monday we were able to get a doctors appointment in the morning. Dr. Smith tested me for Strep throat, was it? So not! Then after another test he came in and said, “Your ketones are way high. The doctor said go straight to Auburn Faith Hospital.” He started making phone calls.
When we got there they shoved an IV in my arm. After an ambulance showed up and took me away. All I really wanted to do is sleep, I was so close to going into a coma. It seemed like we drove for hours but later I found out it was only five minutes. They were so nice to me, as they put me in the helicopter, I remember them saying, “she won’t remember this.” Well, I do! I was half asleep on the flight to UCD Medical Center. I was taken straight to PICU; I do however remember the horrible taste in my mouth and the nasty smell from the oxygen. I stayed there for two nights and two days without food or water, plus they put another IV in my neck when they did this they got tape stuck in my hair. I had a MRI when I first arrived at the hospital they did this so we would know for sure that my brain hadn’t swelled up or anything and one more before I went home five days later. I had at least five EKGs. The bed was so uncomfortable, I kept slipping out the bottom. On the third day I was moved into a room with a roommate. I had two different girls that I shared the room with me at different times. The first was a 7 year old she was getting an ear. She totally inspired me. The second girl was a 15 years old had brain surgery again I was totally inspired. After that I thought that diabetes wasn’t that bad. After all I didn’t have to be cut open.
The food at the hospital was really bad that they had given to me but, the food that my Mom got from the cafeteria was really good. I ended up eating her food and she ate mine.
The last two days we learned tons of stuff about Diabetes like why I am a diabetic, and how there was nothing that I or my Mother did to cause me to have diabetes. I learned how to count carbohydrates, what to eat and when. All of the ways on how to do glucose testing and giving me my shots. I learned about Type 1 and 2, diabetes. Type 1 is mostly in children, it is when the body does not produce the hormone that tells the pancreas to make insulin. It is a balance of insulin and carbohydrates. This is treated only with insulin and can not be fixed with diet or medication. Type 2 is in adults and is a misuse of insulin and can be treated with medication and with the proper diet and exercise. However they also need insulin sometimes. I learned how to mix and draw insulin and give the shots. My Mom and I both had to learn how to give me shots before they would let me leave. I am now a pro at giving shots and stuff. At the end I have learned never to abuse the privilege of eating foods correctly or taking advantage of the good things in life. I am not sick, I do not have an illness. I am a healthy girl who has type 1 diabetes.
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Yes my world changed. Some days I wish it never would have and others I wonder if I would be who I am now today, however I do believe there should be a time limit on type 1 diabetes like 10 years. The best thing would be a cure, however over some time I thought 10 years was better than a lifetime of type 1diabetes. My world changed in the summer of 2003.