My "D" day (diabetes diagnosis day) is a day that I will never forget. It was May 1, 2001. I was in 7th grade. We would watch Channel One News everyday in Homeroom. They had a special one day on Diabetes and its symptoms. I don't remember the exact words but it went something like this...
Channel 1: "Diabetes symptoms include"
(and on the screen appeared a list)
Channel 1: Excessive thirst
Me: um...check.
Channel 1: Frequent urination
Me: hmmm.... I have used all of my hall passes and I did get up four times last night to go to the bathroom... check.
Channel 1: unexplained weight loss
Me: Last Sunday I could't get my skirt that had fit me perfectly to stay up... Check.
and etc.
Anyways I quickly started to realize that I might have diabetes. I went home and talked to my mom and she had been wondering the same thing. We had been on a family vacation camping in Death Valley shortly before and lets just say we had to stop at basically every bathroom/port-a-potty there was! We made an appointment for me to see my Doctor.
When we were in the Doctors office my mom told him that we had done some research and we believed that I had diabetes. My doctor looked at us skeptically and told us that he didn't believe that was what was wrong with me. My mom told him that she wanted him to test my blood. So they sent me down the hall to get some blood drawn. I was terrified.... I hated needles and honestly hadn't had much experience with them. After they drew the blood I was starting to walk back to the exam room and I started to feel dizzy. A kind nurse saw how pale I was and offered me a bag of M&Ms. Little did I know that would be the last thing I would eat before my life became dependent on carb counting, injections, and finger pokes.
We waited quietly in the exam room waiting for the Doctor to come back. I remember feeling oddly at peace at this time. When he finally came back I only had to take one look at his face and I knew. I was diabetic his face said it all. My life would forever change from that day forward. My mom started to cry and I just had this feeling come over me. It was like I already knew and was expecting to get this diagnosis.
I was extremely lucky. My fasting blood sugar was only in the 300's, so I didn't have to stay in the hospital.
The nurse immediately gave me a shot of insulin and they sent me to meet with the Diabetes Educator at the hospital. My Diabetes Educator was amazing. She sat me down with my mom and started going over everything I needed to know. She also assured me that there was nothing that I couldn't do now that I had Diabetes. Well I think she did tell me that I couldn't be a fighter jet pilot but that didn't bother me too much.
Later that same day while we were with the Diabetes Educator she said "well its about dinner time". Then she handed me a needle and a bottle of Insulin. I gave myself a shot for the first time. I had to get over my fear of needles rather quickly!
Now almost 12 years later diabetes is obviously a major part of my life. I have had many experiences that have caused me to start this blog. I will do a post on that later.
Thanks for stopping by!
