I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes about 6 months ago, on May 9, 2011. The first dose of insulin was administered on the 11th, and I met for the first time with the dietician, nurse technician, and endocrinologist on the 13th of May. This all occurred about one week after writing the last final exam of my second (of third) year at Humber College, for Sustainable Energy and Building Technology. I am 26 years old.

The initial diagnosis was quite the shock. I had been feeling unwell for at least a few months, and I am now embarrassed to admit that until my parents noticed how much weight I had lost, I had no idea that anything was wrong. I blamed the lethargy and weakness on a lack of sleep, or a lot of school work and stress; and the constant thirst was a natural sign that I wasn’t drinking enough water for my level of activity. In hindsight, I was on the verge of diabetic ketoacidosis all the while studying, preparing, and writing six final exams and projects. I maintained my 90% average.

After being diagnosed, I was very sad. The constant, uncontrollable crying persisted for only a few days, and about three or four days after D-day, I was happy again. In fact, I was very happy. I don’t know what it was, but I was already proud of my diabetes by then. Whoever I told about the -betes immediately wished their apologies and best for my newfound disease, but I would smile, thank them, and tell them it is a blessing in disguise. I am now much healthier than ever before.

I exercise, practice yoga regularly, and am embracing a rewarding (and pre-diabetes) vegan diet. In fact, there have been quite a few meals that I managed a zero insulin dose. This was done by introducing more raw foods into my diet and by maintaining healthy physical activity. Veganism has truly been THE diabetes diet for me, and I am happy to spread the message of food as medicine.

In addition, carb counting and insulin dosing became somewhat of a hobby for my partner, Katelin, and I. We’ve made it a game. In fact, SHE is the real champion. With her help, diabetes has been extremely manageable, and within a month of diagnosis we were travelling Europe together, and even went on a 10-day canoe trip through Algonquin: with no (serious) problems.

My A1C went from 20% upon diagnosis to a remarkable 5.7% only 3 months later. Dr. Silver is my champion; Margaret and Lucia are my champions; my parents, Tsvi and Lee Ann are my champions; and Katelin is my champion. Lastly, I can’t overlook that I am my own champion for taking this supposed setback in stride, with a smile on my face, and pride in my heart.

I have faith that anyone presented with this seemingly lifestyle-ending disease can manage, maintain, and even flourish, assuming the will and support are present. That first day or two after diagnosis were dark days, in which everything seemed hopeless. Now, life is good. Life is great. And to be honest, I have Type 1 Diabetes to thank for it.

This November 12, 2011 marks my 1 year anniversary of being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I was supposed to go out to celebrate my birthday which is November 13 but couldn’t. I spent that night, a year ago, in the ER as doctors and nurses tried to safely lower my blood sugar, which was at 31 that night, as well as explain to me what diabetes was and how my life will change. I remember the emotions and the feelings of shock, sadness and fear. Being numb is how I felt the whole night and into the next day. I felt like I was standing in a pool with the water flowing over my head, couldn’t breathe and couldn’t get to the surface. They told me it was a disease, my mind thinks of a disease as being sick and I did not feel sick. That denial was the ugliest and one of the most important stages of life I have ever had.

A year now past and I’m still Angelica. I cannot believe the amount of information I have learned which allows me to live a healthier lifestyle that isn’t as restricted as I once thought. It was difficult learning all of this, mostly on my own, since I live away from my parents, was 20 years old at the time, living with my younger brother, and having to deal with a major lifestyle change. I still get overwhelmed, angry, sad and fearful but I feel like I am moving in the right direction towards one day accepting my diabetes. I still see my nurse, dietitian, social worker and endo but I feel so much more confident about my diabetes.

That confidence was confirmed one day when I went to a walk-in because of a dance related injury. I had done some blood work as well as x-rays and ultrasounds of my leg. When looking at my blood work, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other things, the doctor told me I was a text-book example of a healthy person and I started laughing. I asked if she knew I was a type 1 diabetic. She looked up from her clipboard with a puzzled look on her face and shook her head. She told me she was very impressed and couldn’t believe despite having this disease I was healthier than people who are free of disease.

I continue to educate myself about the disease as well as the research and innovation that is coming about. While learning, I found out World Diabetes Day is the day after my birthday and November is Diabetes Month and I was diagnosed on the 12th. It is amazing that I was born and now live in the city, Toronto, which was the birthplace of insulin. Crazy how some things just fall into place like that.

My goals when it comes to my diabetes change all the time, but the over arching goal is to keep myself healthy so I can continue enjoying life and to merge my diabetes into my life and allow life and diabetes to co-exist and not trump each other. That to me seems like a healthy, balanced lifestyle

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 5 in Malaysia, a year before we left for Vancouver. It was such a shock to all of our friends and family since this disease is generally unheard of. In Malaysia, the only people who suffer from diabetes are mainly old and overweight. Unfortunately, I was the unlucky exception. Living with diabetes hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park, but yet everyday I’m still here, alive and well. It’s always hard to achieve balance with my blood sugars, especially if I’m doing an activity that’s out of my daily routine. Nevertheless, I don’t allow my condition to hinder me from doing what I want to do.

Jonathon is my son. In March of 2009 he was diagnosed with Type 1. He was only four yares old. He took it better than we did. I think he understood that the insulin he was getting was going to make him feel better. Jonathon has never been scared of anything diabetes related. On Dec. 23rd 2010 Jonathon recieved the Insulin pump. He said it was the best Christmas present he could ever get. Jonathon is always willing to talk to anyone about his diabetes. When kids in his class ask him about testing his sugar or about his pump he tells all about it. My favorite response has to be when he tells people about his pump. he says ” Your body gives you insulin inside your body. Mine comes from right here” pointing to his pump. On monday Nov. 14 Jonathon and I will be going from class to class at his school to educate the children about Type 1 & 2 Diabetes. He is my hero, never complains about all the testing and needles. He just does it because that what has to be done to feel better. In the 2 yrs since his diagnosis I have learned so much about Diabetes. But the most important thing I have learned is that Jonathon is still a healthy, vibrant, awesome kid.

At the age of 7, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in December 1960. I have been successfully living with this disease for over 50 years and have seem many wonderful changes and great advancements in the care of and the research being done. I give thanks to the many researchers who make living with this disease less of a burder and more simply a way of maintaining a healthy life style. As a volunteer for the Canadian Diabetes Assoc. and an Area Captain for TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), I have made it my goal to educate and help people to live a healthy life style.

Hi
This is me, Romina. I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic in 2008. I use Insulin 4 times a day. I don’t have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. I exercise 5 days a week about 1 hour.

I am a mother to two little girls–Jazmine is 8 and Jenna is 5. Jenna was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of two. As a parent, you never imagine a life threatening illness could suddenly strike your beautiful, healthy child. When my baby was diagnosed I went through all the grieving stages. I grieved the loss of a healthy child without any complications–without any reliance on treatments or pharmaceuticals. Without insulin, my daughter would not live. That is an incredibly sobering, gut-wrenching realization to have to come to terms with.

But my Jenna is a survivor. She is incredibly strong and resilient. Jenna loves school and enjoys playing with her friends. She has taught me a thing or two about living. Her bravery and determination inspire me. I am committed to advocating for her and everyone living with diabetes to promote education and awareness and ultimately support the search for better treatments and a cure.

We have a greater appreciation for the simple things. We live life to its fullest. Diabetes has become just another part of our lives. It isn’t easy, but we have an enormous community of people touched by diabetes as our support network. Support is crucial.

Braiden was 5 yrs old when diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The road between then and now wasn’t always easy, but he hasn’t let diabetes get in the way of his goals and dreams. Today Braiden is 11 years old and an amazing athlete! He’s constantly on the go with soccer and has excelled at everything he’s put his mind too. The finger pokes, the needles, the different lifestyle then his friends, it never gets him down. Braiden is the strongest person I know. That is why he’s my Warrior. I am so very proud to be his Aunt.

At the age of 8 my parents knew there was something wrong when I started to lose weight and sleep all the time. My parents believed I had the flu and they hoped with Christmas around the corner, that I would snap out of it. Instead I continued to get worse and after sleeping through Christmas and New Years, ignoring all my new toys and losing almost half my body weight my parents knew the problem was far worse than the flu.

I was taken to see our family doctor the very first day his practice opened in the New Year. I was examined, weighed, given blood work and sent home to await the results. When my father laid me on our couch that day and kissed me goodbye before leaving for a business trip he never imagined that less than 8 hours later our lives would change forever.

On January 2, 1990 I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

It is with mixed emotions that I reflect on the last 20 years of my life and what it has been like living with this chronic disease. In the past 20 years I have had over 29,000 injections, tested my glucose over 36,000 times, and used 9 different types of insulin and 10 different glucose meters. I have had to use Glucagon (instant glucose, injected to raise blood glucose in patients who have lost consciousness due to hypoglycemia) 5 times and have had over 40 hospital visits.

As scary as all that sounds with the support of the Canadian Diabetes Association I have lived the last 20 years without complications.

Because of the research efforts of the Canadian Diabetes Association I have had access to the best medications, devices and supplies and I have hope that a cure will be found in my lifetime. Because of the Canadian Diabetes Association my family was able to send me to Camp Huronda (residential summer camp for children living with type 1 diabetes) for 9 years something we would not have been able to afford on our own. Because of the Canadian Diabetes Association I have met over 500 other young people living with diabetes and have been able to share our stories, struggles and triumphs. Because of the Canadian Diabetes Association I have a voice to aid in the fight against diabetes.

Daymon Blackport was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 8 (June 30/05). He is our family’s DIABETIC CHAMPION. Not only is he an A/A+ student in school, he also plays competitive soccer at the highest Provincial level in our Province for his age group and has successfully competed at both the WOSSA (golf & cross country) and OFSSA level in cross country. Lastly, Daymon has on several occasions has taken upon himself to teach others about Type 1 Diabetes. He has spoken several times at the University of Western Ontario Schulich School of Medicine to the year 2 Endocrinology students and to his classes at the schools he has attended. Daymon lives his life to the fullest and does not let having diabetes stop him from his successes or his dreams. WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!! Love Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa & Great-Grandma