Being a teenager is hard enough, but throw in being diagnosed with diabetes and you have a special challenge.
Here’s one teen’s personal story from The Type 1 Diabetes Self-Care Manual by Jamie Wood, MD and Anne Peters, MD.
Confidence and Courage
After graduating college, just over two years from being diagnosed, I started working as an investment banking analyst at a major global financial institution. I wanted to prove to myself that I could manage diabetes and succeed in one of the most stressful job environments there is for a college graduate, working long hours, having to meet tough deadlines, and often having to manage ridiculous expectations from bosses.
Perhaps without diabetes, I would have never had the drive and courage to pursue a career like this. And for that I have T1D to thank.
Knowing that I am successfully managing this disease has given me confidence and courage, has increased my-self-esteem, and has also often served as an ego check to remind me that I am human when I feel unstoppable.
—Jose Harari Uziel, 24, lives in Mexico City and works in investment banking
For many with diabetes, there's at least one 20th-century discovery we couldn't live without: insulin.
In the United States, millions of seniors ages 60 and older face a diverse set of challenges on a regular basis when trying to secure and prepare nutritious food, which may include food insecurity. Seniors who are food insecure may experience barriers to accessing food, reduced quality and variety in their diet, and disrupted food intake, all of which can cause and exacerbate mental and physical health issues.
I probably hear that at least five to six times per week in my line of work.
The thought of developing type 2 diabetes is very scary for my patients. It’s very understandable to be afraid of developing something that can affect your health in so many ways.
One of my patients stands out in particular. Ms. Clark (not her real name) told me that her sister was recently diagnosed with diabetes, her aunt died as a result of complications from diabetes and her mother was struggling with needles and injections in addition to failing eyesight due to diabetes.
My daughter Cassidy was 16 months old and still in diapers when we started to suspect that something wasn’t quite right. My husband and I didn’t know what to do or think, but we knew something was wrong.
Cassidy was an early talker, and each morning we found her standing up in her crib telling us “Cassidy thirsty.” She kept drinking and drinking—and she was very hungry, too. She kept wetting through her diapers, clothes and bed sheets.
Deeply concerned, we took her into the pediatrician three weeks in a row. Our regular doctor happened to be on medical leave during this time, so we saw other doctors who weren’t as familiar with her history. At one appointment, she was diagnosed with an ear infection. At others, we came home without any diagnosis. No one asked specifically about her symptoms of increased urine and thirst, and while we thought we were communicating effectively, perhaps we weren’t. As first-time parents with no experience in the medical field, we were quick to chalk it up to our own inexperience.
Emily Nebben from Victoria, Minnesota, is the mother of Carter, age 16. Carter was diagnosed when he was 15 years old. This is Emily's story:
Parents Talking Type One
The summer of 2011 will forever be etched in our family’s memory. We began noticing changes in our 15-year-old son, Carter, in April. He seemed distracted, tired, agitated at times and was having strange health symptoms. His grades began to decline, but he couldn’t seem to explain why.
Jennifer Holdgreve from Centreville, Maryland, is the mother of Allison, age 8. Allison was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was six years old. This is her story:
Parents Talking Type 1
Allison was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on May 1, 2011. We remember it like it was yesterday, but at the same time, it now feels like diabetes has always been a part of our lives.
After announcing the expansion of Diabetes Stops Here and asking you which topics you’d like covered, we received a specific request for more information about prediabetes. A staggering 79 million Americans deal with this condition, and while it can lead to crippling health consequences, it can be avoided.
Here are five things you should know about prediabetes:
Just like many kids her age, Bella was eager to attend a summer camp run by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. When her mother, Nina Paladino, initially contacted the camp facility to see if there were any questions about Bella’s diabetes management, she was assured that everything would be handled. To be certain, Nina sent a follow-up email to the facility, explaining what accommodations were necessary to properly care for Bella. Because she wears an insulin pump, Bella does not regularly require injections prior to meals.
You may have heard of ketoacidosis (DKA). But do you really understand what ketones are and why they happen?
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