I got diagnosed in the middle of the pandemic in my mid twenties while also working as a Covid nurse. And to tell you the truth Andrea, your TH-cam page and Michelle Lords page got me thru one of the hardest years I’ve had in my life thus far. And it was thru this page that I found confidence knowing I can handle this and that I’ll be okay in the end. So thank you for sharing your story! And know that you’ve helped someone along the way!
Tonia...I don't even know what to say. It's a Friday afternoon here as I read this and you have just made my heart leap. Firstly, thank you for all your service always, and especially during this worldwide health crisis. No doubt you have been and continue to be under a tremendous amount of pressure. I am so in awe of your strength and you should be too. Even having the thought of taking to the internet to search for help is an incredible step to take when you're overwhelmed...you should be so absolutely and utterly proud of your self - my goodness you are awesome!!! Thank you for being here - it's such an honor, and sincerely thank you for all that you've done and continue to do!!! 🙏🏻😘🥰
@@toniamathew868 thank you for sharing your story. I'm determined to reverse Type 1. ( One year ago was the diagnosis )Donna MacDonald on Alignable, Type 1 has not taken insulin for 17 years.
I was diagnosed when I was 16 years old. I remember being so scared. I knew my life was going to change. I didn't have anyone, I only had myself and my doctor. Been diabetic for 22 years.
I am so sorry you were alone, gosh that must have made things so so difficult, I can only imagine. 22 years...clearly you're an incredible warrior...amazing ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I think your dad is super smart and very logical. I would have done the same thing I don't think it was weird at all that he gave you some of his insulin, man it must be cool to have family members that know exactly what it's like
Thank you! I completely agree - but I did wonder if other people might find it strange! It is very cool and wonderful to have the empathy of my fellow family members - it's a unique bond that can't quite be replicated. We all share that here too! 🥰
Very informative, I’m also going to use this opportunity to recommend Dr IGUDIA on TH-cam who cured my type 2 Diabetes with his natural herbs medication
Thank you for sharing your story, Andrea. Mine is a bit different..... Was trying to lose weight. Intermittent fasting, lots of exercise. Weigh was coming off nicely. Started to notice that I was thirsty, more than normal and more frequent use of the bathroom. Got down to my goal weight but kept loosing. So I started eating more, mostly bad, food. Kept loosing weight. Retired after 30 years with the company, had a physical and found out I was a T1D. Within a week I was on insulin, met my endo and a coach. It's only been 15 months but I'm told that I'm adapting well. I've gained some weight back, in a good way, (mostly muscle and am told that I 'look good'.) My wife is amazing at cooking low carb meals. So, so grateful to her for that! I've found that a half hour walk after any meal makes a huge difference.
I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Type 1 diabetes at 64!! I was shocked as I had been diagnosed with Type 2 two years earlier but this was a wrong diagnosis. I am grateful to have had so many year’s diabetes free but am struggling to learn how to cope. So glad that I have found this channel and I will be watching a lot to learn more. If anyone has had similar experiences I’d love to hear about it.
Yes, at age 60 unlike you.. I have No gratefulness… My experience was not good. I lost a lot in three months and I’m not trying to whine it just overwhelmed me… Lost my business lost my health and then my marriage. Type 1 then DX type 1.5 Now @64 retesting. I have a few good days and super tired and dizzy on others, I know I have responsibility, I did keto for 2 years until my divorce was finalized then I lost my give a s”$t .. I became sad in the grief…. I really feel falsely alive now. Hoping to come here, and maybe have a bit of an attitude change by being with other people who understand and feel the hurt and the hope
I got diagnosed when I was 28 years old, with td1, DKA and blood sugar at 740, three months after giving birth. I lost all my baby weight, frequent urination, muscle spasms, due to the frequent urination, nausea/vomiting, and blurry vision. I attributed everything to post-partum and the loss of sleep with my baby.My diaversary is new years day. I have almost 2 years of this horrid chronic disease, but it has made me stronger.
I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 16 and that was 10 years ago. It was a very hard time for me because I was just off to college when I got diagnosed. It was very challenging because I've just moved out from my parents and was living in a different city for college. Both my parents have type 2 diabetes which means our medications were completely different. That year, everything was new to me-- new city, new school, new home, new life living with diabetes. This year, in the midst of the pandemic, was a complete nightmare for me. Last January I was in the hospital for more than a week because of DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). I have to say that that was because of my carelessness but rest assured, I'm better at managing my diabetes ever since that happened. I'm so happy to have discovered your youtube channel because it feels like a community that's helping me through with managing my diabetes. Was also checking out some of the gadgets you were using in the other videos and wanted to try them too but it was so disappointing to discover that some aren't available in my country (PH). Anyway, it's such a breath of fresh air to watch your videos. If anything, it's very inspiring and motivating to live life normally. Thank you!
I got diagnosed 3 days back & I feel every emotion in this video. Thank you so much for making this channel. I feel like family after binge watching your videos ❤️
It can be intensely overwhelming to receive type1 diabetes diagnosis at such a young age but when you share your raw, true and authentic story with the world, you allow opportunity for real and authentic connection with the person on the other side of the screen. This gives others strength and courage to live and take the next step in their lives, what a beautiful story ❤️
Thank you thank you thank you 💙💙💙 It honestly was quite hard to film, but at every step I knew my purpose and wanted to keep going and I'm so glad I did. It's comments like yours that just mean the world to me, THANK YOU SO MUCH 💙🥰
I was diagnosed in 1975, when I was twelve & in my first month of Jr. Hi, remember the shooting into oranges, & also being treated horribly by my peers because they thought I was contagious. There was only urine testing - & is it no wonder so many TY1s developed eating disorders? I learned quickly that insulin manipulation could lead to weight loss., which I still struggle with to this day. Thanks so much for telling us your story, Andrea -, I know it will be very much appreciated!
Wow, ditto with my story. I was 12, just started jr high, losing weight and drinking a lot of fluids. Everyone thought jr. high was so much more active for me. Definitely remember the oranges and the test tube urine test.
I'm so thankful I was able to live my teen years without type 1, I can't imagine it with all the other stresses! I was diagnosed last year at 30 years. Thank you for sharing your story 😊 💖
It's so tough whenever you're diagnosed, but I also thing being diagnosed further into your adult years is almost more difficult becuase you've known so much of your life without the condition. Gah, it's so tough. I'm so sorry you were diagnosed as well. Thank you for your kindness my fellow diabuddy ❤️
I had a rough childhood and adolescence and I had social anxiety and my mom was not educated and stressed out with kids. I did not develop type 1 diabetes until I was 26 years old and a nurse who is able to take her of herself. The same hospital were I work treated me, I just went to ER. I remember I was thirsty like never before and not looking well. the last meal without insulin was 2 slices of bread and an egg and a cup of tea with sugar my sister made for me after I got up for my night shift the night I was diagnosed . Thanks God for his mercy.
Hi, I just found your Yt chanel and I am so grateful for that. I was diagnosed in January this year with type 1, I am 37 years old and I nearly died with 672 blood glucose level. Thank God I am ok now, it was a hard period being in the hospital for 8 days, not being able to receive any visits because of Covid. I do not have an insulin pump, I use pens, they are more suitable for my lifestyle. So nice to meet you through your chanel
In the middle of getting a diagnosis and it's been so frustrating because no one in my family believes that this is actually happening and that something is actually wrong with me. I'm 30, so I'm in my own care, and it's good to know from reading and watching these stories that things will get easier and better with time.
Watching this today on my 3rd Diaversary! My diagnosis story is very different to yours, as I was 24 years old at the time, and was backpacking by myself in New Zealand (from the UK) when I went into severe DKA and was told I had T1D. The details might be different but I still relate to so much of what you say, especially the part about there being your life before that moment and your life after. I remember on my 3rd day in intensive care as I became more lucid and the reality of the diagnosis started to sink in for the first time, I had this metaphor in my head that that moment, right then was like the sand in the centre of the hour glass. There was my life before that moment and there would be a changed life after but it all pivoted around that moment in that hospital bed. It was very surreal. We might not all have experiences that are identical, but all of us have experiences that are relatable and putting them out there spreads the message that you are not alone.
Oh wow - your experience sounds very intense and overwhelming. Thank you so much for sharing this with me and all of us here. The sand in the glass I such a powerful image, and I can completely see why your head went there. You put it so perfectly, experiences may not be identical but they are relatable - I felt less alone just reading yours this morning, so truly, thank you!
I can tell that was not easy to talk about but it’s so helpful to the community to hear this story and hopefully encourage others to share theirs and to feel less alone! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I cried my eyes out because I relate so much, but it also feels good to have people out there who know how you feel. My story: In late 2019, I started to notice some weight loss plus the other textbook high blood sugar symptoms. I googled them and of course, diabetes was coming up. So I freaked out and made an appointment with a T1D specialist at my college's health center (and she even had T1 herself). I've had a needle phobia all my life, so I was terrified that they were going to draw blood. I'm the only diabetic in my family, so I had no idea that checking blood sugar was as simple as a finger stick. When I had the appointment, the T1D specialist basically laughed me out of her office. She told me I hadn't lost enough weight to be concerned (I had lost about 10 pounds at this point). She didn't check my blood sugar and said I could get a blood test if I wanted to. I was terrified of needles, so of course I didn't want to! So thinking I was stupid for even worrying, I went about my life until May 2020 (I was 22 years old), when I just couldn't ignore the symptoms anymore (plus I'd lost another 15 pounds). I went to my primary care, where they did a fasting blood draw, and I had an intense panic attack. I felt like I was going to pass out, so the nurses gave me juice (not knowing I was diabetic yet). It made me feel worse, so finally someone did a finger stick and my blood sugar was almost 400. I also had large ketones, so they immediately sent me to the ER and I was hospitalized for 4 days for DKA. Unfortunately, because of COVID, the nurses and doctors were spread very thin and basically didn't educate me on anything. I used the Type 1 support group on Facebook and channels like yours to learn about the disease. They also thought I was still in the honeymoon phase, so I only got basal insulin when coming out of the hospital. I definitely wasn't in the honeymoon phase anymore, so I basically had to eat a keto diet for a month to keep myself at semi-normal levels before I finally got prescribed fast-acting insulin at my first endo appointment. I didn't start to feel normal until a few months after diagnosis. Luckily, my incredible boyfriend was there to support me through all of it. He did all my injections for me until I was ready to do them on my own. :)
Thank you sharing such a heart wrenching story. I can only imagine how hard it was for you. My diagnosis story is very simple. I was prediabetic for 9 years before I slipped over the line into diabetes. After a misdiagnosis ( I am not a type 2 despite my age of 69), I started taking insulin. It will be one year on Saturday October 2nd since I had a huge change in my very comfortable life. Both my sister and my mother are adult onset type 1 like me but I still was surprised. Everyone expected me to handle it well and know what to do. Nope. I was really freaked out and it’s taken me all this time to accept my new way of life. I just got to the point where I didn’t want to be a victim and I wanted to live a great life. You know how much I appreciate what you do here. So many times you’ve had the answers and the understanding that I needed. Grateful as always.
Loved your honesty in your story. I was diagnosed a year ago after originally being told my symptoms were drepression. I had to fight hard to be heard but was actually relieved to get the correct diagnosis and to start feeling better ☺️
I'm so sorry you had to fight so hard, especially when feeling so awful and being accused of just having a mental health condition - that is REALLY hard, perhaps one of the hardest ways to come about diagnosis I feel. Good for you for advocating for yourself and getting the help you truly needed - that is not easy and to be applauded and admired!!
Every diagnostic story is really emotional and life changing andrea..i got mine at the age of 16 ..i can relate to ur story so much..i was a national level football player back then and i loved sports so much..but type 1 diabetes changed everything for me..much love for u for being so real ..and more power to u ..u make me stronger in many ways
Oh what kind words, thank you thank you 🙏🏻 I’m sorry your diagnosis was so disruptive in your life. I can definitely relate to your experience of diagnosis too, especially the tricky tricky timing in those teens. I hope you’re well and continuing to live your very very best life! I’m so grateful to have you here! ☺️🙏🏻
Thank you Andrea. You had me tearing up which I rarely do. I generally take the soldier on approach to dealing with the diabetes. I so appreciate your willingness to share your experience. I was about 55 when I was diagnosed. Doctors assumed type 2 because I was older but would say things like your type 2 acts like type 1. I fortunately found a low carb approach which helped. I was not overweight had no insulin resistance and did not make insulin. So the diagnosis became type 1. The hard part is the isolation, going through lows or highs without worrying other people and not knowing others in the same situation. I remember when one of the “diabetes police” publicly yelled at me “don’t eat that, it has sugar in it”. When I started to eat one strawberry at an event where all the food served was dessert and I couldn’t eat any of it. That one strawberry was fine, but no way was I going to educate someone about it in that situation.
Oh wow Jan! I'm so glad you got properly diagnosed, but I'm sure that was not an easy time of uncertainty! I've actually heard a lot of people being treated as type two for years and years, only to realize that they're actually take one, and I think people have found that very difficult (which is more than understandable!!!). I certainly understand the isolation of it all and the soldiering on approach, I am very very very much the same! Wow, I'm impressed that you were able to bite your tongue at that comment at the party regarding the strawberry, I don't think I would've been strong enough to not engage, but then again to engage takes so much energy so I'm sure you made the right decision, but gosh so much we have to deal with eh!!! 💙
Thank you so much for your sharing…your tears are my tears… I totally understand everything you felt when you were diagnosed… only one person with type 1 diabetes can understand you… your tears are our tears too…. You are beautiful Andrea….
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I know it couldn't have been easy. Like you, I was 15 when I was diagnosed. I was dancing a lot that summer and had all the same symptoms as you (minus the weight loss). I too attributed it to how much I was dancing (roughly 5 hours 5 days a week). I probably started having the symptoms in July of 2012 but wasn't diagnosed officially until September 7th. My symptoms were gradual and one at a time. I went in for a blood test on a Friday before school, got my results that day after school and was in the hospital for 3 days (Friday evening - Sunday morning). I went right back to school and dance. I was familiar with diabetes/the ins and outs of it because my best friend is also diabetic and I had been around all that diabetes entails for 5 years prior to my diagnosis. It was hard in the beginning, not so much the needles and all, but telling people. I only think 5 people at my school knew. I didn't become open about it until 2018 - 6 years after my diagnosis. I'm relatively pretty open about it now but it's definitely hard sometimes. Like you, I'm also an actor and I definitely can find it challenging trying to manage it all. I appreciate you willing to be so raw and open with us. Sending you love and hugs.
I’m so sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis - and a very rocky one at that it sounds like 💙 thank you for being here and for your kindness- we have a welcoming and warm community here and you are valued!!
My story is too long, but I would like to say that you are such a wonderful person and I am grateful for everything you share with your channel. Thank you Andrea
This is probably the best video on TH-cam to describe diabetes and share personal experiences to strengthen up people to fight diabetes. As we all know, diabetes is a terrible disease However, if this person is determined to fight the disease bravely like you, then everything is possible. A young man said: “The willpower is am muscle the more you use it stronger you get it”
Thank you for sharing - I was diagnosed four months ago (May 2021) age 31. In the few months leading up to my diagnosis, I'd been feeling super run down and tired, but my mum had been in hospital for several months and had just gotten home and was needing a lot of help around the house, so I was caring for her while working full time and just put it down to that. I was also going to the bathroom a LOT (like, 16-20 times a day, plus 2-3 times at night) and seemed to get recurring UTIs and cystitis. It all came to a head when I went to the doctor because I thought I had the world's worst UTI that wasn't going away with the usual over-the-counter remedies - she tested my urine and found no infection, but a lot of glucose. She tested my blood sugar at the surgery where it was 27 and I was sent to the hospital that same day. As my mum is also type 1 (diagnosed age 47) I kind of knew what I was in for but it was still a huge shock and has taken a lot of adjustment. Thankfully my friends, family and colleagues have all been super supportive and patient with me! Thank you so much for all your videos - I've found them such a huge help and comfort during an overwhelming time
Andrea, recently because my memory was a little vague on certain aspects about my diagnosis and how my family responded, I retrieved my medical records. It was so therapeutic for me to read what the nurses wrote during my stay in the hospital and how I reacted, and the entire diagnosis, and the work involved in getting my blood sugar regulated. Things that I had forgotten about, but needed to read and see again. These Records were over 38 yrs old, and for personal (family related) therapeutic reasons, I needed to relive it. Thanks for sharing your story.
Not easy to share thanks for sharing its still so raw even after all these years. I still struggle abit when i hear an ambulance siren. All those memories stored away come flooding back to u don’t they x
I hear you completely and utterly. Diagnosis is such a huge time of our lives where everything changes in seemingly an instant. The memories do indeed come flooding back, I completely understand this and relate to you 💙💙💙xxx
Thank you for sharing. So many relatable emotions, I found myself tearing up. I was diagnosed August 28th, 2020. Pre-diagnosis symptoms were weight loss, frequent urination, huge appetite, low energy. I had my wisdom teeth removed in July 2020 and got an infection. Things really took off from there. But here I am a year later and it still stings that my life will never be just like before I was diagnosed but I’m grateful for the support and resources I have that have made it so much easier. Including you. I found your TH-cam days after my diagnosis and it has been such a blessing. Thank you.
Hi Andrea, It amazing how you shared your diagnosis story. I couldn't even watch the full video coz it made me very emotional with the memories of my diagnosis, makes me feel heavy. It's awesome you shared such a very personal thing with all your viewers. I've not shared my experience even with my closest of friends. Your lucky you had your dad who was also diabetic, for me I had no reference for what I went through and my parents were clueless how to handle it. Was horrible. But it's not easy change in life to become diabetic. Thank you for showing I am not alone.
Thank you 💙 Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that your diagnosis was so rocky and heavy. And I completely understand if this video brought up some very intense feelings. Honestly, I was surprised how hard it was to record this myself. I really wasn't expecting that intensity! I do feel very lucky to have had my Dad's wisdom, experience and confident attitude to look to. This is such a gift and I'm so sorry your experience was very hard. I'm so glad you know it and I'll say it again, you are not alone my friend! Thank you so much for watching and being vulnerable with me here 💙
Thanks for sharing your story! I was 23 and married so it was a very different experience but similar in some ways. I constantly tell my story to people and I'm not shy about it but it's quite a long story to type.
I think it's amazing that you tell people - what a gift to give the community and others to share such an intimate part of your life! How awesome!! And don't worry - I understand these stories aren't exactly typing friendly! Sending you joy my awesome friend!!!
Thank you for sharing Andrea! I was diagnosed when I was 8, and when I was 10, I remember giving shots to oranges too! T1 and body image, food, control is a huge can of worms. I was anorexic between ages 16 and 21. So yes, there is a sense of delicacy when handling young girls and type 1. I put on weight at age 12, so was food restricted and my endocrinologist had me come in to weigh weekly. From there, I became so obsessed with the scale....the more the scale went down, the more she was pleased. I digress.....but thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing.I love your channel, my son was diagnosed a year ago at a 16 months, and I love your content and watching you succeed in life, thank you for normalizing it. Loved you in Homeland!
Oh thank you Jenna (hey great and familiar name Homeland-wise ;)) I'm so so so sorry to hear of your son's early diagnosis - I don't know you but I know if you're taking care of a little one with T1D you are and ANGEL and a SUPERHERO!!! Thank you so much for your kindness and for being here - your son is super lucky to have such an incredible Mama!!! Love to the both of you!!!! 🥰🥰🥰
Hi, thank you for sharing your story. 🤍 I was diagnosed last year at the age of 20. The diagnosis was actually a coincidence because I just went to the doctor for a regular blood check up (thank god!). My symptoms were very mild back then so I didn't consider them as something bad (going to the toilet more often & a foggy mind). The diagnosis was a very big surprise, I was the first one in the family to get it. So I didn't know what to expect. Then I immediately went to youtube and found you. I'm SOO grateful for you and the content you make, it helped me a lot. Thanks for everything! 🤍 -love, Lydia
OH Lydia! Thank you so much for being here and for all your kindness and for sharing your story! That's quite wonderful that they caught it in a routine check up - I think that really shows you that your doctor is a wonderful thorough doc and I think this should be so so very celebrated! But no doubt being diagnosed at this time in the pandemic was incredibly tough! Good for you for taking to the internet and thank you for finding me, I hope you feel a little less overwhelmed and know that you are not alone ever my beautiful friend! With so so much love and joy to you!!!
I was diagnosed type One Diabetes when I was 10 😢 i had it for 11 years and I say Andrea really a tough diabetic person here ❤ I am very glad that I found this channel
What a beautiful thing to say, thank you thank you thank you 💙 It’s beyond my pleasure to share my story and share in this pain with you together. May God bless you and bless you to work through this complicated grief, but also the love of this beautiful life we’ve been granted!!! 🥰☺️
thanks you THANKS- From Argentina. I was diagnosed whwn i was thirteen .... one year later my dad dies.... i cannot explain haw "helps" listen to you... i have 47 years old now, suppouse i am adult! I already received medical, psychiatrist! and yet only a couple of years ago I began to "realize" that having type 1 diabetes is also "being diabetic" type 1
Thanks for sharing. I was diagnosed at 59. I was exhausted, thirsty all the time, up all night going to the bathroom, and I lost 20 pounds in a month. My blood sugar some days was so high it wouldn’t meter wouldn’t register it. You’re lucky to have had family that had it and understood. I had no reference point since no one in my family had it. The needles didn’t bother me. I worked at an animal shelter at the time and vaccinated animals daily.
May I ask… after you started taking insulin, were you still urinating a lot? Also, did you experience dry mouth and dry eyes? Thx in advance for considering replying. 😊
@@Mykitchenchanne1 hi! It took about 2 months to see my blood sugar budge out of the 300’s. The insulin had to be adjusted a few times. So yes, I was still urinating a lot and very dry and thirsty.
I watch a lot of TH-camrs with type 1, and even though I don’t know many other T1Ds (other than my dad, my cousin-in-law(?), and myself), your videos always help me feel less alone. Thank you for this 😊
Also, thank you for creating this space in the comments for diagnosis stories. I've thought about my diagnosis about 10 years ago quite a lot, but it's something I feel like I need to think about and meditate on again soon, especially considering I just recently switched to the Tandem t:slimX2, which has been a roller coaster of emotions. I'll be back in the comments section soon to share my diagnosis story : )
Thanks for sharing your story, the most important thing that these sad events made us, we with T1D are much stronger than the others 😎💪 My story is: 2 days after my first birthday, I slept in the hospital and diagnosed as a T1D ! Just like that 😅 I don’t remember anything just dealing with this truth and live with it.
You're so right! We are strong indeed! Oh you were diagnosed when you were so young! I'm sure that was a hugely stressful time for you and your family! And 2 days after your first birthday - wow! You are amazing! Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for sharing your story! I was recently diagnosed in January after being rushed to the ER in DKA, at the age of 44. I had no idea what was wrong with me and almost didn’t go because of the pandemic and being afraid to be in a hospital during this time. Thank God I did! My BG was In the 780s and I was in a diabetic coma by the time I got there. I should not have survived that night. After 2 days in the ICU, they diagnosed me with type 1. I knew a little about diabetes because I am a Health teacher. BUT, I quickly realized that my life had just taken a 180. In the last 8 months, I have gotten my A1c down to 5.7 and have learned to take this one day at a time. So, when I say thank you for your videos, I really mean it! I have learned so much from watching you. ❤️
@Engelbert Humperdinck I started MDI and I’m now on t:slim with control IQ along with Dexcom. I joined a support/3 month boot camp for T1D women back in April, where I learned a lot about mindset, insulin dosing, exercise, etc. I’ve watched a ton of videos online, including Andrea’s. I took a medical leave from work and am currently back. I also moved in with my parents, post hospitalization, because I was terrified to be alone. I’m glad I did that for myself. It was very helpful to be off from work and focused on my health 100% of the time. I am now home and back at work. Some days can be tough, but I now have a great support system to rely on when I need it.
@Engelbert Humperdinck I signed up with Lauren Bongiorno’s DCB group. It was such a wonderful group! I have read Think Like A Pancreas and a few other books. I’ll grab this one too. Thanks for the recommendation!
I was just diagnosed a little over a year ago and I am 35. I had gestational diabetes twice so I expected type 2 but after further testing I found out it was type 1. I felt shocked, sad, all the emotions. I went hard core low/no carb. It took me awhile to trust using my insulin and I’m still learning. I guess I’ll be trying to figure this all out forever.
Kimberley, I'm so sorry to hear this, especially after being misdiagnosed (sadly, I've heard of this happening more often than not and that must just be so maddening!!) So many props to you for going into low/no carb - that is certainly a HUGE challenge - wow!!! It sounds like you're doing amazingly well and have a great attitude - you certainly will figure things out and you will be GREAT and live a WONDERFUL life- I promise you! Sending you love and strength and thank you so so much for sharing your experience and being here 😘
omg my doc turned me on to your page and I absolutely love you! I was in tears watching this one.. I have also had type one diabetes for about 23 years. I was diagnosed when I was 7 and remember the whole experience so vividly.. So thank you for sharing all that you do.
Thanks for sharing :) I need to try and shorten my story, as it's a long one!! I'm English but have family in the US on my mum's side, when I was 23 (I think!) I decided I'd had enough of the UK and went over the pond to spend some time in Chicago. Before I left, I felt "funny", had developed an unquentiable thirst and lost a lot of weight. I didn't want to ruin my upcoming trip so I decided everything was OK (lol) and off I went. I started settling in Chicago and my family had noticed I was looking rather unwell (I weighed about 6 1/2 stone!), my cousin who at that time was training to be a nurse arranged for me to see a GP in her practice. The GP checked me out, ran some tests including testing for Diabetes. When they had the results back, he said my blood sugar was so high, it was off the charts, unreadable and I had to go to hospital immediately as I was in Diabetic Ketoacidosis. By the time I got to hospital, I was slipping in and out of consciousness and my body had started to give up, at one point my heart stopped beating. The last thing I remember was staring up at the ceiling in the hospital reception. I woke up in intensive care, with tubing coming out of seemingly every part of my body and lots of worried faces looking down at me. They explained what had happened and that I was lucky to be alive, if my US family had waited even a few hours before taking me to hospital, I would have died. Moral of my story, I really should have just gone to the doctors in the first place and if you goto the US, make sure you have medical insurance as my bill was in excess of $25,000!!! :)
I'd firstly like to thank you for your videos. Over the past year and especially over lockdown, they have provided me with both comfort and a source of some inspiration in how you realistically depict and approach your own Diabetes. It's so interesting to hear your diagnosis story and the slightly unorthodox approach your family initially took. I have no immediate or even wider family members with Type 1, which has always been a double-edged sword and even the source of some contention in my life. Diagnosed as a young adult, my diabetes has ultimately always been my own responsibility, not that those close to me haven't educated themselves on Type 1. There have been many pitfalls and persisting issues, but starting with such a clean slate has probably been the best thing for my own management and relationship with my condition. On the subject of body image in those with Type 1, I too received some inadvertently rough handling during my initial hospital stay. But given that my past history with disordered eating wasn't initially known, and perhaps less expected too in my being male, I can't blame the nurse for cheerfully telling me I'd soon be putting on some weight and inadvertently installing the absurd fear that insulin would lead to uncontrollable weight gain, when at 5'9 and 120lb, ill as I felt, I was sadly and ridiculously the most content I'd ever been at that time in my looks and body. I won't bore you with my past struggle with Diabulimia, but can at least say I now put my diabetes management before anything else more often than not. As soon as I began working with my Diabetes and not against it, things improved to a point I don't think I'll ever fall back from. Thanks once again for sharing your story and providing such positivity and insight.
Thank you for being so brave and sharing!♥️ Can relate to a lot of what you’ve said and it’s also interesting to hear the small differences in hospital treatment: I spent lest than 48 hours at the hospital when I was diagnosed at 10, they gave me a cool bag with some books and a teddy to practice injections on then sent me on my way my little brother was diagnosed the year before and he was only 5, we actually almost lost him becaues the gp we were taking him to (thinking he was just sick) put him on antibiotics…. for months then disappeared. He ended up in hospital for two weeks on a very nasty medication (can’t remember what it was) he said it felt like ice in veins 😢 I remember when I was brought into the emergency room after using my brothers BSL machine, I was crying becaues I was scared but he was kinda smiling at me and he said “I’m happy someone has it with me so I’m not alone” …I stopped crying after that 😅
Oh wow Peter! What an interesting experience both you and your brother experienced - so you both are another sibling duo! I wonder if you provide a lot of support to one another to this day? It must have been quite overwhelming for your parents too, just like mine! I'm so glad you guys didn't lose your brother, and that you both felt like you had such support despite the difficulty of it all too!! 🥰🥰🥰
I was diagnosed at age 16, blood glucose over 1000. Went into the hospital for 3 days and learned how to count carbs, do my insulin and do life! Crazy time!
I can see that it wasn't easy for you but I'd like to thank you for sharing your story Andrea. I've been a type 2 since 2014 but have just had my pancreas removed 10 days ago due to severe pancreatitis for over 8 years so it feels like I've just been diagnosed again. All that frustration, anger, depression, etc. I had the first time has all come back and it's been much more difficult to accept the changes the second time around, all while trying to recover from a major operation on top of it. It was all under control but unfortunately, since the operation, my sugars are all over the place and very difficult to control at this stage so I can't wait for everything to settle so I can get back to living life again. Lockdown certainly doesn't help with getting information or support unfortunately but your videos have certainly bridged that gap for me so I really appreciate all the hard work you've put into your channel. Thank you very much!
Hi Andrea, Thankyou so much for sharing, especially when it was so hard for you to do, it was emotional for me to watch . It also brought back the trauma of my own diagnosis. I had not long turned 40 , and as I worked as a chemist in a laboratory, was advised to have a hepatitis B vaccination for my work, others had it to, but when blood tests came back, to check immunity, mine was off the scale, they just laughed. Didn't mean much at the time, carried on as usual , scuba dived every second weekend, started getting terrible leg cramps on the second dive, tired more often and irritable at times (So sharron says) About 6 months after vaccination my friends wife who also scuba dived with me, commented after the dive, "your losing weight Rex" Sharron hadn't noticed, being with me all the time. Also Was going to the toilet a lot more as well. Sharron got me to go to the doctor, blood test result 30.8 mmol/L , the doctor didn't say I had diabetes, wanted another test, this time fasting test, 2 days later came back with the same result. Now I remember sitting in his surgery and him saying the words, you have diabetes, as with you, I knew this was a big deal, life changing. The doctor booked me in to see a specialist in 2 weeks, and I was to continue to go to work in the mean time , I asked him what was I to do in the mean time, "just don't have any sugar" Decided to have no carbs, felt very unwell and saw another doctor on the weekend, tested for ketone, which I had, told me to have carbs again until I saw the specialist. I think they thought I was type 2 being older, even when I saw the specialist he said we will start with 16 units once a day , only be a drop in the ocean , but was too much so lots of bad hypos still going to work, until work told me to have a week off , which was good of them. Eventually worked it out and even scuba dived again, with my boys, when the specialist told me never to dive again. So we do learn to live with it done we. Thankyou for letting me share my story with you. ❤❤
Thank you for your openness about this! I was diagnosed last year (at 25) with an A1C of 13.1. Felt like I was dying but couldn’t figure out exactly why, finally worked up the courage to take myself into the ER. A year later now and my last three A1C’s have been 4.9-5.1, using only long-acting insulin at about 8-12 units daily. Low carb diet has been a miracle for me. I know it’s not a solution for everyone, but if anyone here has considered it, give it a shot!
@@dwightl5863 thanks I do work hard at it. I’m sure it could be credited in large part to my honeymoon phase too. Trying to extend that as long as possible and stay insulin sensitive!
You have a great father, also I understand the weight issues. You have a good family, and friends support, and you will come out better, because you now have a greater understanding of your sugar, and hopefully you’ll control it. I still love sugar today, and try not to have sugar daily. Well take care, Enjoy. P.S., I am type 2 diabetic, and trust me when I was told I had diabetes, the tested me 3 times. I hate getting up daily, and looking at my cgm, and knowing this label of diabetes is over me.
Thank you for sharing your story. Mine s so similar,yet so different since I was diagnosed in my thirties. I remember the anxiety. I hope have close family members that understood what was happening helped you along . Stay upbeat!
Oh Terri - I'm sure being diagnosed in your 30's was quite the shock! I completely understand that! Sometimes I wonder if it's harder to be diagnosed in adulthood because you're more set in your routines and life in general. I hope you're doing all right now and I thank you so much for your kind and positive comments, I wish you the same! Stay happy, stay upbeat, and joyful!!!
I’m so glad I found your video. I find out tomorrow if I have diabetes. I’ve been having the classic symptoms and I was so scared at first. I have a huge finger pricking phobia and to hear you say it wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be makes me feel so much better. You helped make me feel less afraid and alone. Thank you so much for sharing it makes me feel so much better. I’m still very scared about what tomorrow might bring, but hearing you talk makes me feel so much more courageous.
I got diagnosed when i was 9, i have an older brother whos also diabetic so we knew the signs of it and i was getting alot of them like frequently using the bathroom and frequently thirsty, and one time i came home from school and i just didnt look good at all, i was shaky, tired, just drained. My mom told my brother "lets poke your sisters finger" and i was at above 700. I got rushed to the ER and they did some blood tests and then they told me the unfortunate news. Im doing better now, i know how to control it, and im happy.
Thank you so much for making this beautiful video!! The way you describe trying to be strong for your family brought me to tears. I was 21 when I was diagnosed, and I took a lot of it on myself because I didn’t want to burden my family or make them worry. The way you worded that though was exactly how I felt, and the way I’m sure a lot of us feel when diagnosed! Thank you again! 💛
Thank you so much Alyssa 💙 I totally TOTALLY understand wanting to be strong and not burden others. Oh my goodness - that is me too! Thank you for sharing and please know that this is a very safe place for us all to share the burdens! Like I always say - we are not alone! Big big love to you my diabuddy! 💙💙💙
I was diagnosed October 9th 2020 at 67 years old. I didn't get much information at the time. Basically it was here are the syringes, here is your insulin. Take this much, inject it like this. You have a phone appointment with Dr ... on such and such date and time. Do you want to speak with a diet counselor? I was overwhelmed and confused and didn't know what I was really supposed to do. It sucked big time.
Oh my goodness, Karla, I am so sorry to hear this!!!! At any age I believe a diagnosis is difficult, but particularly when you’re an adult and already set in so many ways and patterns and not given the same care and attention as children are given. This is awful, and not right. I sincerely hope you’re getting the help you need and feel supported by those around you - you certainly have my support my friend!! I’m glad you’re here and want you to know that you are not alone!!! ♥️
I was 9 years old at the time in 1973. I was losing a lot of weight and my mom told me to eat more, but I was eating. My third grade teacher asked me if I was feeling okay as she said I just didn't look well, but I told her I was feeling fine (as I was feeling fine). Then one day at school, I just bottomed out. My parents were called to pick me up and they drove me straight to the hospital. I actually lapsed into a coma for a day while at the hospital but luckily rebounded and was sent home a week later. I too was given oranges to practice on but I actually didn't start injecting myself for a couple of years. I know I cried many times during the first few weeks at home when my parents gave me my injections. When I was about 12 years old, I realized I would only be able to sleep over at a friend's house if I gave myself an injection so that was my inspiration to start injecting myself.
Anita, thank you so so so much for taking the time and having such courage to share your story here. Wow, you certainly went through a LOT at such a young age. And I find it so interesting (and probably extremely helpful and relatable to others) that the sleepover concept is what inspired you to inject yourself. I also just want to applaud your 12 year old self for learning to do that! ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE AND BRAVE you are were at such a young age!! I hope many parents of T1D children see your comment and take inspiration from it! 💙🥰😍
Thank you for sharing. I am newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It’s been about 2 months. My diagnosis story is not dramatic at all. I’m 47 years old and I had been feeling kind of weird. I did also have gestational diabetes with my children. I decided I was going to go get a glucose meter at Walmart and check my blood sugar. My first reading I got was 252, and so I continued to check quite often. I let my doctor know. She was able to diagnose me just from keeping record of sugar levels. My Aic was 8.0. I was put on Metformin it made my sugar level drop really fast. I’m not on anything right now. I’m waiting 10 to 14 days to see if the medication will be ok’d by the insurance. I’ve never had any kind of issue ever with this kind of thing. It’s really frustrating. Needless to say I feel less concerned about my diagnosis…..
I appreciate you sharing your story, and I understand the many emotions that come along with that. I certainly resonate with so much of what you saying. So many of my experiences are the same as yours. Thank you for being a source not only of information about diabetes but a source of encouragement and inspiration for those of us living with diabetes.
Oh my goodness, thank you thank you thank you for your kind words, and for being here and watching!! This video was actually a lot hard to film than I originally anticipated, so in the end I'm glad I made it and that it's resonating with people - thank you Steve!!! 💙🙏🏻🤗
Hi Andrea loved your diagnosis story. I would also like to update you on how I am doing now. I have now been on the Medtronic 770G pump for around nine weeks. The difference it has made is amazing. I ❤ the freedom and control Auto mode has given me. A1C has dropped from 8.4% to 7.3%. Hypos are almost a thing of the past but always just around the corner. I am now staying in target range on a regular basis with out the super highs and super lows I was having before. Well done on your channel. You have helped and encouraged me in my journey so far.
Thanks Andrea. I was just 7 years old when diagnosed (almost 50 years ago). I don't remember that much of the exact details, but I know at some point I went hiding inside a closet one morning when it was time to receive my daily insulin shot: I was struggling with the fact that it was not something that a temporarily annoyance. Needles at that time were a lot thicker than in these days.
I ended up in the hospital in 1970 which often happens, after Thanksgiving. Only on oral medication for the two years before that. But as you said there was no carb counting. It was food exchanges and that was a nightmare in its own right. Foods now have nutrition labels which they didn't have back then which help a lot for me.
Oh yes! I think my Dad was taught the whole food exchanges thing! Thank goodness for labels! INDEED! I didn't know they were that recent of an offering! I don't know what we would do without them!! Oh and I hope your Thanksgiving wasn't too disrupted that year - it's one of my fav holidays - but with type 1 it can be a little....tricky!! 🥴💙
I found out 2 weeks ago that I have type 1 Diabetes . I was shocked and overwhelmed. I’m 44 and it came out of nowhere. Lucky I got myself checked out by going to the doctors due to lots of weight loss. They said it could have been much worse if I left it longer.
Thank you for sharing your story! I love that your parents let you still do your singing competition before the hospital. One of the best gifts my parents, and really my whole immediate family, gave me was that they didn't treat me any differently. I was still me, just with a bit more planning and medical involvement. I feel like your family saw you the same way from what you've described. My siblings used to watch me check my bg and count it down with me, or watch me give my shots. But other than that, they didn't see me as different or complicated. I was still me. 26 1/2 years later, diagnosed when I was 12, and the only thing that's changed is I have more tech and my sister who is a nurse follows my dex 😊
I am envious that you have siblings with diabetes, no one in my family talks about diabetes. I have asked my siblings to get their HbA1C's checked every year, but that is all. Who else can we talk about it with, but other diabetics? Thanks for sharing!
I hear you! I do feel incredibly lucky that I have a brother who I can share my struggles with. We type 1's really are the only ones that can truly know and empathize with others as to what it's like to live with this condition. You have a friend in me! And all of us here, at the very least!! 🥰
Thank you for sharing this, I'm actually surprised you haven't already! But understand how something so close can be hard to share. You've inspired me to share mine on my channel, will try to do that soon. My diagnosis was during the pandemic, I am fortunate that I've been able to work with my medical team. They're great!
Yay, Finally!!! Wow a 4pm posting I thought today was going to be skipped again I know you told me but you forgot to say in this video that the day was 4/9/01
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s so emotional and when you speak of your dad I can feel the love ❤️ I’m a fairly newly diagnosed type 1. 35 year old with 2 kids a 5 year old and 9 month old. It’s really hard to get use to this diagnosis but I’m sure there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Got to be here for my daughters 💕
I was diagnosed when I was 22 and I am 27 now. My grandma was in town visiting and I had a check up around the time she was visiting. I did not have as much luck as you because nobody in my family knew of anyone who was diabetic or what diabetes really was. We found out it had skipped some generations after my diagnosis. After leaving my annual check-up, I got a call from the hospital that I needed to go to the ER quickly. Not urgent care. They were not allowed to tell me why. My grandma drove me to the ER. I remember so many people swarming me and freaking out. I was crying not knowing what was happening. I was fine the whole time, but my blood sugar was around 800. The nurses missing my veins when giving me an IV, blood coming out of my arm, my grandma was crying. I was in the hospital all night. I had to attend diabetes appointments for the next several weeks. I had to take time off work and move back in with my parents. I remember the majority of my family members were understanding, but some wouldn't eat around me because they felt bad, and my step dad told my mom to tell me to take my insulin in the bathroom and not at the dinner table (They are divorced now..) My mom didn't have the heart to tell me about it until years later. I had it very rough when I was diagnosed, and hearing your story brought tears to my eyes because remembering the days is very hard for me emotionally. Thank you for sharing this story. It helps me remember that I am not alone.
Thank you for sharing that intimate part of your story Andrea. It most definitely is scary when young teens get diagnosed with T1D. I was diagnosed when I was 13yo I was in middle school. Spent 2 weeks in the hospital my blood sugar was 500. I spent time there to learn how to treat it and it was so scary to learn that this is my life from now on. 💉
When I got diagnosed, I had such bad DKA that I was put on fluids and didn't get to eat or drink anything for two days I think. My ketones were over ten times the accepted value and I had lost almost 10kg of weight (I was already nearly underweight before that). I couldn't even go up the stairs without getting out of breath... Luckily I got diagnosed in the UK and the healthcare was awsome! Now I'm much better. Thanks for sharing your story! This really helps people like me. :)
The more diagnosis stories i hear the more grateful i am that my diagnosis was purely coincidental without me having developed any of the typical symptoms besides being tired often. Of course it was a big shock still, but at least i wasn't hospitalized and needed to change my entire lifestyle from one day to the next, like so many other people with t1d
Hi Andrea, I have had a surprising turn of events happen. I had a doctor's appointment some time ago, I was talking about the signs and symptoms of what I was experiencing and said, "From what my GP said, he said that I have type 2 diabetes." This was about two years ago, I was put on a standard essential medicine called Gliglizide, which basically stopped the sugar coming into the bloodstream, unfortunately, it made me lose weight and eventually have my first hypo. fun! To cut a long story short, I have been battling my weight this whole time and changed medication to the medication that I was on, which was the original metaformin. But, the surgeon/doctor who I saw, which was at the kidney and urology department, which had a diabetic department as well, the doctor/surgeon said, "Hey, what you are saying doesn't match up, you need to have a GAT, a General Antibody Test. This will show in your antibodies what type of antibodies you have., whether if it is Type 1, 2 or something else entirely." Cut to 13th July so this Thursday, I saw another doctor/surgeon, he said "Well we have your results and you have a gentle "Type 1" diagnosis, but it seems to be fine, as long as you are doing what you are doing, you will be good. You will have checkups every six months and you will be notified when you will have insulin and about other things, when we feel, that it is suitable. I am now on a medication called 'Januvir' and I have changed the way I eat as well, not to lose weight but to gain weight and I am slowly putting on weight and hope it carries on. That's it, great video btw.
I was diagnosed when I was 8... Beginning of Summer break. Fell ill with the flu or something. Then began the long journey through the diagnosis. I remember constantly being thirsty, and urinating. A Lot. waking up in the middle of the night hungry, thirsty, and near bursting bladder. Low energy I don't remember so much. Parents watched in concern and then finally called and scheduled a family physician appt. First thing they did after hearing symptoms was pull out the glucose meter and stick my finger. I do remember being exhausted while at the dr office and the ER. BS was 400+ I think. They calmly told my parents to get me to the hospital immediately. I remember being in the E.R. waiting room holding my child-hood Turtur (tortoise pattern blanket. Still have it to this day.) and holding my shorts by the waistband because they were falling off my hips. Funny thing, at the end of the school year those same shorts were nearly bursting from my chubby thighs. All told I spent a week in the hospital. I was really enjoying the chicken parmesan that was on my menu of choices. I remember being told I couldn't leave until I demonstrated that I could administer an injection of insulin. (which is why I ended up in there a week and not just a few days) the frustration and emotional turmoil of facing that goliath still cause a tightening of the throat even 28 years later. I remember being given a needle and an orange to practice on... I remember angrily throwing the needle like a dart at the orange. I remember my sister having fun with it and extracting orange juice with the needle. I remember getting care boxes from family friends. Those brought a smile to my face. I remember getting to play on the brand new Sega Genesis game console that the fire dept had provided to the childrens wing of the hospital. Sonic the hedgehog was one speedy dude. I remember my dad suggesting that we hang me on the I.V. stand and hide myself there while he wheeled it outside so I could go free. That brought a laugh to my soul. Then finally being able to stick the needle in. I think I had such an adverse mental reaction to it that I have since developed a mental block against sticking myself with needles. Then going home.... and thinking that everyone would be nice and coddle me... nope. life continued. Matt, go do your chores. Thanks for telling your story dear. It helps all of us to know that we aren't alone as we face this demon day in and day out.
I recognize some of the stories here. And I believe it is important that we are more open on it to. The more we spontanious share our stories, the more understanding there is from poeple around us. It is very difficult to treat you're self very well when you try to hide you're decease. I was 21 when my DT1 was discovered. I was also very thursty, losing weight and drinking a lot off fluids. So I had to go to toillet a lot too. First time I went to the doctor she said that it was stress. I not understood why. I got medecines to calm, while I was always calm. My parents where putting fluids away because they were thinking that this cause a part of the problems. And it was not alcohol that I was drinking because there was so good as no alcohol in house. That make it alone much more worse. Two weeks later the situation was a lot more worse and then the doctor did a test of my blood and called me the next day that I had to go to hospital because of extreme high value. My weight was then reduced to just 48 kg and was very dehydrated. I had to wait first in the waiting room off the emergency room of the hospital and not much later was a doctor telling the person after the desk that he not found the diabetes patient in the intensive care. She told him that I was in the waiting room and he was very suppriced that with a value of more then 725 mg/dl was just sitting in the waiting room. I had to stay in hospital for a week where they give a lot of education on diabetes and try to find the right doses for me. Because that the blood sugar dropped seriously as result off the insuline my view was for weeks complete trouble and I could not seen any dia they showed during that education. Because I was strugling already a couple of weeks, my feeling was more about releave. I was happy to know what was wrong and that their was a sollution for it. That I still could do what I want to do, but just had to take insuline, see what to eat and some other aspects. I not saw that as a big trouble at that time. At home, it was also easier to deal with it because of the food. But at other places there was it more difficult I discovered later because everywhere they provide food with a lot sugar and not understood that some poeple have troubles with that. Treatment was at that time also not yet advanced as currently with the insuline pumps and counting carbs was not much done then too. I see now that poeple found that counting carbs as a big dificulty, but comparable with then it give you much more freedom in what you eat then at that time. And I trust that in future there will come sollutions that also counting is less necesary to do. I decided from beginning to just tell always when was relevant that I had diabetes and what this means for food. Poeple mostly appreciated that and where also mostly happy to understood why you did some things in that way. I never hide that. When I was still in hospital I got from an aunt that was a nurse, a year membership of the diabetes liga! The best gift I could receive at that time. The information they provided and education they organized was very helpfull. I started to be a point where other diabetes patients could order material at lower prices via the liga. The liga was always an organisation from as well patients as professionals and every part was lead by as well a patient as a specialist what helps a lot in negotiating with government to reach things for the patients. There is the way how patients experience and there was the scientific knowledge about what was requested, how that should turn out. A very good organisation for diabetes patients. I became also on national level active in the organisation and work together with my diabetes specialist in some commissions. Knowing him also in that way was also very helpfull in my treatment choices. The one time that I really felt in more dificult situation with my diabetes, was recently with the corona lockdown where diabetes patient was mentioned as a much higher risk. When they not know already much how to protect and they started already schoos were the virus was also very much spreading, they told that kids of risks patients better went not to school, and while I offer the school all sollutions that the kids could follow the less giving in the class could follow over internet from home the director of the school would not do that. I really feel then that my kids were discriminated because I was a diabetes patient. Lucky the teachers were not following the director and still offered the opportunity to follow with the tools I had offered them.
I often feel like it’s a blessing that I was so young when I was diagnosed because I don’t remember all that much of it. Or much of my life before diabetes. The one thing I do remember is being so scared to prick my finger after I got home from the hospital. The nurse who checked mine the first time had the depth setting way too high and it hurt so badly! I thought it would always be like that. But as you said, I soon learned it was not that bad lol.
Thank you so much Mike!! And I think yours is a FABULOUS suggestion!!! It's such such such an important topic! I just recorded a video about (sort of) the mental health comparing strategies for those that are newly diagnosed, but I'm going to try to do more mental health content all around as it's a real passion of mine! Thank you so much for reminding me to make more!!!
10am ET unless you want people to wait all day to click on your videos I know it’s 3pm for you when you post but it’s morning for the US That wink was for me, wasn’t it? 😄
I was diagnosed at the age of 21. It came as a huge shock, right before Canada Day. I was going to the lab to get something else checked, and it was in that time that it was discovered that my sugars were off. In Canada, we have a test that they can do at the laboratory where they test your sugar, you then drink really concentrated pop (or soda) and then you wait for two hours and then you get your sugars tested again. Mine came back 17 mmol/l (306 mg/dl) and I froze. I didn't know how to tell my parents, because I thought it was my fault, and we were not very well educated about diabetes, so I didn't know how to. My Dr eventually had to tell them. First, I went through all the stages of denial, and I was misdiagnosed in the beginning as type 2. So it was oral meds and checking sugars. Then as the first months progressed my numbers slowly started climbing into the high teens/low twenties (300-405 ish) so then that's when I had blood drawn and sent down to Salt Lake and it was confirmed that I had late onset Type 1. So I had been doing injections for two years, and I had had it with feeling like a human pin cushion, so then I was approved for a pump, and I've been on pump therapy ever since - that was 11 years ago of diagnosis.
My son is type1, diagnosed 2 yrs ago. We have no family history so it was a shock. I also test my other kids at least once a month bc idk if they might develop it too. The drs said it would be rare, but in life experience and knowing other type1's tells me it isn't so rare. So we check the other kids once a month.
I was 18 when I first got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes that was in 2019 ... For me before experiencing diabetes symptoms I was sick with something else..I fell sick i got home and had an intense headache and stomach pain just thought it was normal and so just took painkillers then after I entered my menstrual cycle a bit earlier than usual and that’s when my journey to my diagnosis started. I was bleeding for several weeks at the time i lost weight and was in so much pain i was no longer able to go to school my body was just numb and in pain ..I remember being tested for a lot of things including for diabetes and at that time I didn’t have it then i was referred to a gynecologist and that doctor said im okay it was just a cyst and I will be fine I shouldn’t over exaggerate the pain of which I wasn’t at all i was struggling didn’t have much of an appetite and was just really tired and always in pain I had to go see another gynecologist as I hadn’t stopped bleeding and i am anaemic .That Doctor admitted me and confirmed that it wasn’t normal for me to be bleeding that much but still then i wasn’t told what was causing it or what it was i was just given blood and also pills which did not help but made things a lot worse until the gynecologist suggested that I should do a DNC to clean my womb and try to stop the bleeding that way So that was done and the next day I stopped bleeding and was discharged but when i got home the day after I started bleeding again and also now I was always thirsty and was just going to the bathroom nonstop For me I wasnt drinking water to help me with my thirst I just wanted cold juice which I kept on drinking non stop like I wasn’t able to even sleep at night as I would always be drinking and going to the bathroom Then after a week decided to go back to the gynecologist to tell him I started bleeding again and that i was always thirsty and going to the toilet every minute then he just brushed me off and said i will be fine I should wait a little while then everything will stop But it didn’t this was on a Tuesday on the 18th of June 2019 In my family no one has diabetes so no one understood what was going on Like even just going with my mom we now had to carry a bucket in the car since I was just always pressed Then on Saturday 22nd of June i was in so much pain I couldn’t breathe I had chest pain and i was failing to catch any air I was at home with my little brother it came to the point where i told him to call my dad because i was in pain and felt like i was dying because was losing breath Then my dad took me to the hospital when we go there i lay on the bed had to wait for a doctor to come see me in that time my dad bought be juice to drink because i was super thirsty out of air and in pain I don’t remember what happened when the doctor came but just that i was told I should stop drinking the juice and that i had diabetes and at that moment it was serious i was drowsy so don’t remember much but my parents told me that my sugar was at 48.4mmol/l at that time and they took me to the ICU Was in a very critical state was being given air and well the doctor that came to see me said if I hadn’t come that day it was possible that I could have died I don’t remember my time at the ICU But i was in there for weeks then came out of ICU went to normal rooms and was in the hospital for about 2 months or so I live in Zimbabwe well Doctors here don’t have much experience and don’t know much so really wasn’t taught much but just told not to eat somethings and that I should exercise only that But im grateful for the channels like yours because I don’t get to learn much here in my country but seeing this helps a lot Thank you
Oh my gosh, that sounds very frightening to go through, so do you have access to insulin? I live in the US so even though I don't have health insurance I can purchase Novolin without a prescription for a reasonable price but it wasn't always like that and for a few years of my life I had to go without insulin and I found ways to lessen the damage done to my body by eating no carbs and running like I was being chased
@@MeatMachine212 i do have insulin now and then but it’s super expensive this side And for me without insulin my sugars are really really high even when I exercise Like after i got diagnosed i spent a few weeks with insulin then couldn’t afford it so went without until I got to the point of being admitted again Like when I exercise instead of my sugars lowering they go way up But it’s different when i do get to inject myself with a little bit of insulin ,when I exercise my sugars do lower a bit My diabetes is weird like for me when I spend time without eating i do get lows but i get highs ,extreme highs For me though I’ve noticed food doesn’t affect me that much it’s more of emotions and the adrenaline Like when im too happy sugars go up like to 30.something mmol/l does the same when I exercise without injecting myself even when i go without eating for a while they just go up that high But Well doctors don’t help much this side really they just continue saying just exercise and never eat certain things again Like for us here we are not even taught how to count carbs Just given an estimate of units you’re suppose to inject
@@samanthandlovu7671 dang, I am sorry the situation this has put you in, actually my blood sugar will go up even if I don't eat sometimes, I wish I knew a way to help, maybe soon there will be insulin available at a reasonable price
Yay, Thank you for sharing your story!! This story is soo relatable with me. I still remember the very first time I got my very first shot of insulin. I said the same words to my mum. Ohh, it was not that bad. And at that movement I saw tears in her eyes ...... After listening to your story I just remembered the whole incident as it's already 12 years now. Uhh can't explain what it really was. But that movement has made me more strong everyday. Thank you soo much Andria for sharing your story with us. It really motivates us to be more strong and helps us to keep our sugar levels under control. May god bless you Andria. I really connected with you in this story and right now I have goosepumps all over my hand. Stay blessed, happy and healthy Lots of love from India 😊❤️
Thank you for sharing your story! I was diagnosed at age 22. My glucose was in the high 900’s along with severe pancreatitis and I came very close to dying/spent 2 weeks in hospital. I suspect I may have type 3c but tests are inconclusive. In the end it doesn’t really matter because either way my pancreas does not produce any insulin and it’s the exact same symptoms as type 1 and treated the exact same way. My a1c is down to 5.6% after 14 years of being in the 8-9% range. What has helped me the most is cutting carbs waaay down and dialing basal in and kind of letting it do most of the work for me and mostly Bolusing for protein/fats. The whole less carbs =less insulin = less room for error really applies to me and my improvement plus once I start eating carbs I can’t stop so I’m better off without them 😀.
Your story sounds very much like mine. Cutting carbs has been my best decision ever! My A1c has has been 5.6 for 3 years. Why didn't my doctor teach me this? His plan was eat 150 carbs/day and inject lots and lots of insulin, then ride the glucose rollercoaster 🎢.
I completely hear you - when I made this video I was shocked at how emotional it made me. It's a lot we have to hold onto and have to deal with immediately at diagnosis and I wonder if maybe we don't fully grieve at the time of diagnosis. All I can say is that, I'm right there with you my friend, and I feel for you and can empathize 💙💙💙
My mom noticed me drinking a whole bunch of water then the next day she took me to the hospital and I was diagnosed with t1d I was 14 I'm 31 now. Fort Worth Texas
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 7 years old my mom is also a type 1 diabetic she was diagnosed at 13 and my older sister is diabetic she was diagnosed at 16 and my younger sister is also she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 19 I’m just praying when I have children that they don’t have it because it seems like it’s getting past own to every generation of kids in my family
I had been in an auto accident which nearly killed me due to the numerous injuries I had sustained. As the following year went by I had been telling my doctors that I felt we had “missed something at the time of the accident because I am not feeling well. I know my body and there is something that is not being taken care”. So on my one year anniversary I ended up in the ER due to having jaundiced so bad that even my eyes were a bright yellow. My blood sugars were high, and the next thing I knew they were bringing a stretcher and told me to hop on. I was told later that night that I had developed Diabetes, and it was likely to be Type 1. I did not realize an auto accident could cause it, as there was no Diabetic gene in our family tree that I knew of. So my diabetes was hard to control as they did not realize my stomach had been damaged in the auto accident so I had also developed Gastroparesis, which means your stomach digests food extremely slowly. This is rare though as I had all reasons to have developed this monstrous complication, besides the diabetes. So anyway, if ever any of you or your loved ones are not “feeling quite right” ask for the simplest of starting places - a blood test, and a urinalysis. I did not have either of these done while on some pretty heavy pain medications. But I truly am a rare duck in the diabetes world as all of the trauma has accelerated my Type !, as I am now a Brittle Type 1 Diabetic dealing with complications due to several DKA episodes and the difficulties of living with the Gastroparesis as it makes eating much of anything rather difficult. I was 43 when diagnosed and just this year having turned 60 the stress of my boyfriend passing away led to a series of events which had me hospitalized for nearly 5 1//2 months. So when living with diabetes and trauma do yourself a favor stay with a friend or family member while you are dealing with grief. As we age with diabetes our symptoms of when our sugars are “off” may sometimes disappear. This is what was happening to me and the scariest of them all was that I was home alone and hallucinating. Please know to call 911 immediately, at the first sign of clarity. It is another symptom of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) that could be due to a fever, high blood sugars or an infection. Either way, being alone is not safe as you can pass out without warning. Had a friend not stopped by to check on me I would have been dead by morning on the floor of my entryway. All I know is that I had no clue I was even sick. I only share this as something to be aware of but NOT scared of. Education is key with this forever morphing imbalance in our body which can lead to so many different things it is simply best to know when to take action as it could mean the cost of a limb or your life or your mobility. So stay strong, listen to all of Andrea’s videos should you have the time as she is a delight and one who is also so very bright when it comes to knowing how best to live your best life with diabetes. It is a game changer, and for all who are involved, so we get to learn to live with this “new you” and all of the confusion that goes with it. Not many friends will understand if you are at a younger age when diagnosed, but the best news is that the technology is moving along fairly quickly so be patient as your generation has ample opportunity to find a cure for all types of Diabetes’.!! Andrea, your bright shiny soul is still shining through!! I want you to know that while in the hospital, I would think of you and your parents and how lucky you were to get such a great upbringing with an understanding of diabetes. Not that it takes away from the time and heartache it still takes to process and get used to. You are a survivor and a great mentor for those in need!! Keep on shining!! 🌞
I got diagnosed in the middle of the pandemic in my mid twenties while also working as a Covid nurse. And to tell you the truth Andrea, your TH-cam page and Michelle Lords page got me thru one of the hardest years I’ve had in my life thus far. And it was thru this page that I found confidence knowing I can handle this and that I’ll be okay in the end. So thank you for sharing your story! And know that you’ve helped someone along the way!
Tonia...I don't even know what to say. It's a Friday afternoon here as I read this and you have just made my heart leap. Firstly, thank you for all your service always, and especially during this worldwide health crisis. No doubt you have been and continue to be under a tremendous amount of pressure. I am so in awe of your strength and you should be too. Even having the thought of taking to the internet to search for help is an incredible step to take when you're overwhelmed...you should be so absolutely and utterly proud of your self - my goodness you are awesome!!! Thank you for being here - it's such an honor, and sincerely thank you for all that you've done and continue to do!!! 🙏🏻😘🥰
@@toniamathew868 thank you for sharing your story. I'm determined to reverse Type 1. ( One year ago was the diagnosis )Donna MacDonald on Alignable, Type 1 has not taken insulin for 17 years.
I was diagnosed when I was 16 years old. I remember being so scared. I knew my life was going to change. I didn't have anyone, I only had myself and my doctor. Been diabetic for 22 years.
I am so sorry you were alone, gosh that must have made things so so difficult, I can only imagine. 22 years...clearly you're an incredible warrior...amazing ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
It is something like the Contergan scandal. There is no way that young people get diabetes and this is normal.
I think your dad is super smart and very logical. I would have done the same thing I don't think it was weird at all that he gave you some of his insulin, man it must be cool to have family members that know exactly what it's like
Thank you! I completely agree - but I did wonder if other people might find it strange! It is very cool and wonderful to have the empathy of my fellow family members - it's a unique bond that can't quite be replicated. We all share that here too! 🥰
@@ShesDiabetic I add
Very informative, I’m also going to use this opportunity to recommend Dr IGUDIA on TH-cam who cured my type 2 Diabetes with his natural herbs medication
Thank you for sharing your story, Andrea. Mine is a bit different..... Was trying to lose weight. Intermittent fasting, lots of exercise. Weigh was coming off nicely. Started to notice that I was thirsty, more than normal and more frequent use of the bathroom. Got down to my goal weight but kept loosing. So I started eating more, mostly bad, food. Kept loosing weight. Retired after 30 years with the company, had a physical and found out I was a T1D. Within a week I was on insulin, met my endo and a coach. It's only been 15 months but I'm told that I'm adapting well. I've gained some weight back, in a good way, (mostly muscle and am told that I 'look good'.) My wife is amazing at cooking low carb meals. So, so grateful to her for that! I've found that a half hour walk after any meal makes a huge difference.
I was diagnosed with T1D in August 2020 at 45 years old. I'm truly thankful that I had a childhood free of diabetes!
I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Type 1 diabetes at 64!! I was shocked as I had been diagnosed with Type 2 two years earlier but this was a wrong diagnosis. I am grateful to have had so many year’s diabetes free but am struggling to learn how to cope. So glad that I have found this channel and I will be watching a lot to learn more. If anyone has had similar experiences I’d love to hear about it.
Yes, at age 60 unlike you.. I have No gratefulness… My experience was not good. I lost a lot in three months and I’m not trying to whine it just overwhelmed me… Lost my business lost my health and then my marriage.
Type 1 then DX type 1.5
Now @64 retesting.
I have a few good days and super tired and dizzy on others, I know I have responsibility, I did keto for 2 years until my divorce was finalized then I lost my give a s”$t .. I became sad in the grief….
I really feel falsely alive now.
Hoping to come here, and maybe have a bit of an attitude change by being with other people who understand and feel the hurt and the hope
I got diagnosed when I was 28 years old, with td1, DKA and blood sugar at 740, three months after giving birth. I lost all my baby weight, frequent urination, muscle spasms, due to the frequent urination, nausea/vomiting, and blurry vision. I attributed everything to post-partum and the loss of sleep with my baby.My diaversary is new years day. I have almost 2 years of this horrid chronic disease, but it has made me stronger.
I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 16 and that was 10 years ago. It was a very hard time for me because I was just off to college when I got diagnosed. It was very challenging because I've just moved out from my parents and was living in a different city for college. Both my parents have type 2 diabetes which means our medications were completely different. That year, everything was new to me-- new city, new school, new home, new life living with diabetes. This year, in the midst of the pandemic, was a complete nightmare for me. Last January I was in the hospital for more than a week because of DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). I have to say that that was because of my carelessness but rest assured, I'm better at managing my diabetes ever since that happened. I'm so happy to have discovered your youtube channel because it feels like a community that's helping me through with managing my diabetes. Was also checking out some of the gadgets you were using in the other videos and wanted to try them too but it was so disappointing to discover that some aren't available in my country (PH). Anyway, it's such a breath of fresh air to watch your videos. If anything, it's very inspiring and motivating to live life normally. Thank you!
I got diagnosed 3 days back & I feel every emotion in this video. Thank you so much for making this channel. I feel like family after binge watching your videos ❤️
It can be intensely overwhelming to receive type1 diabetes diagnosis at such a young age but when you share your raw, true and authentic story with the world, you allow opportunity for real and authentic connection with the person on the other side of the screen. This gives others strength and courage to live and take the next step in their lives, what a beautiful story ❤️
Thank you thank you thank you 💙💙💙 It honestly was quite hard to film, but at every step I knew my purpose and wanted to keep going and I'm so glad I did. It's comments like yours that just mean the world to me, THANK YOU SO MUCH 💙🥰
I was diagnosed in 1975, when I was twelve & in my first month of Jr. Hi, remember the shooting into oranges, & also being treated horribly by my peers because they thought I was contagious. There was only urine testing - & is it no wonder so many TY1s developed eating disorders? I learned quickly that insulin manipulation could lead to weight loss.,
which I still struggle with to this day. Thanks so much for telling us your story, Andrea -,
I know it will be very much appreciated!
Wow, ditto with my story. I was 12, just started jr high, losing weight and drinking a lot of fluids. Everyone thought jr. high was so much more active for me. Definitely remember the oranges and the test tube urine test.
@@jeffr8209 I know! And 12 is such a tough age anyway, diabetes only compounded it for me. You too?
I'm so thankful I was able to live my teen years without type 1, I can't imagine it with all the other stresses! I was diagnosed last year at 30 years. Thank you for sharing your story 😊 💖
Sorry to hear you were diagnosed so young I was 28 which is still young …. Proud of you for telling your story
It's so tough whenever you're diagnosed, but I also thing being diagnosed further into your adult years is almost more difficult becuase you've known so much of your life without the condition. Gah, it's so tough. I'm so sorry you were diagnosed as well. Thank you for your kindness my fellow diabuddy ❤️
I had a rough childhood and adolescence and I had social anxiety and my mom was not educated and stressed out with kids. I did not develop type 1 diabetes until I was 26 years old and a nurse who is able to take her of herself. The same hospital were I work treated me, I just went to ER. I remember I was thirsty like never before and not looking well. the last meal without insulin was 2 slices of bread and an egg and a cup of tea with sugar my sister made for me after I got up for my night shift the night I was diagnosed . Thanks God for his mercy.
Hi, I just found your Yt chanel and I am so grateful for that. I was diagnosed in January this year with type 1, I am 37 years old and I nearly died with 672 blood glucose level. Thank God I am ok now, it was a hard period being in the hospital for 8 days, not being able to receive any visits because of Covid. I do not have an insulin pump, I use pens, they are more suitable for my lifestyle. So nice to meet you through your chanel
In the middle of getting a diagnosis and it's been so frustrating because no one in my family believes that this is actually happening and that something is actually wrong with me. I'm 30, so I'm in my own care, and it's good to know from reading and watching these stories that things will get easier and better with time.
Watching this today on my 3rd Diaversary!
My diagnosis story is very different to yours, as I was 24 years old at the time, and was backpacking by myself in New Zealand (from the UK) when I went into severe DKA and was told I had T1D. The details might be different but I still relate to so much of what you say, especially the part about there being your life before that moment and your life after. I remember on my 3rd day in intensive care as I became more lucid and the reality of the diagnosis started to sink in for the first time, I had this metaphor in my head that that moment, right then was like the sand in the centre of the hour glass. There was my life before that moment and there would be a changed life after but it all pivoted around that moment in that hospital bed. It was very surreal.
We might not all have experiences that are identical, but all of us have experiences that are relatable and putting them out there spreads the message that you are not alone.
Oh wow - your experience sounds very intense and overwhelming. Thank you so much for sharing this with me and all of us here. The sand in the glass I such a powerful image, and I can completely see why your head went there. You put it so perfectly, experiences may not be identical but they are relatable - I felt less alone just reading yours this morning, so truly, thank you!
I can tell that was not easy to talk about but it’s so helpful to the community to hear this story and hopefully encourage others to share theirs and to feel less alone! ❤️❤️❤️
I hope so too!!! Thank you thank you!!! 🙏🏻🥰😘😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I cried my eyes out because I relate so much, but it also feels good to have people out there who know how you feel.
My story: In late 2019, I started to notice some weight loss plus the other textbook high blood sugar symptoms. I googled them and of course, diabetes was coming up. So I freaked out and made an appointment with a T1D specialist at my college's health center (and she even had T1 herself). I've had a needle phobia all my life, so I was terrified that they were going to draw blood. I'm the only diabetic in my family, so I had no idea that checking blood sugar was as simple as a finger stick. When I had the appointment, the T1D specialist basically laughed me out of her office. She told me I hadn't lost enough weight to be concerned (I had lost about 10 pounds at this point). She didn't check my blood sugar and said I could get a blood test if I wanted to. I was terrified of needles, so of course I didn't want to!
So thinking I was stupid for even worrying, I went about my life until May 2020 (I was 22 years old), when I just couldn't ignore the symptoms anymore (plus I'd lost another 15 pounds). I went to my primary care, where they did a fasting blood draw, and I had an intense panic attack. I felt like I was going to pass out, so the nurses gave me juice (not knowing I was diabetic yet). It made me feel worse, so finally someone did a finger stick and my blood sugar was almost 400. I also had large ketones, so they immediately sent me to the ER and I was hospitalized for 4 days for DKA.
Unfortunately, because of COVID, the nurses and doctors were spread very thin and basically didn't educate me on anything. I used the Type 1 support group on Facebook and channels like yours to learn about the disease. They also thought I was still in the honeymoon phase, so I only got basal insulin when coming out of the hospital. I definitely wasn't in the honeymoon phase anymore, so I basically had to eat a keto diet for a month to keep myself at semi-normal levels before I finally got prescribed fast-acting insulin at my first endo appointment.
I didn't start to feel normal until a few months after diagnosis. Luckily, my incredible boyfriend was there to support me through all of it. He did all my injections for me until I was ready to do them on my own. :)
Thank you sharing such a heart wrenching story. I can only imagine how hard it was for you. My diagnosis story is very simple. I was prediabetic for 9 years before I slipped over the line into diabetes. After a misdiagnosis ( I am not a type 2 despite my age of 69), I started taking insulin. It will be one year on Saturday October 2nd since I had a huge change in my very comfortable life. Both my sister and my mother are adult onset type 1 like me but I still was surprised. Everyone expected me to handle it well and know what to do. Nope. I was really freaked out and it’s taken me all this time to accept my new way of life. I just got to the point where I didn’t want to be a victim and I wanted to live a great life. You know how much I appreciate what you do here. So many times you’ve had the answers and the understanding that I needed. Grateful as always.
Im adult onset as well. I was diagnosed at 59, no family history of it but there’s a history of autoimmune diseases.
Similar story for me.
Loved your honesty in your story. I was diagnosed a year ago after originally being told my symptoms were drepression. I had to fight hard to be heard but was actually relieved to get the correct diagnosis and to start feeling better ☺️
I'm so sorry you had to fight so hard, especially when feeling so awful and being accused of just having a mental health condition - that is REALLY hard, perhaps one of the hardest ways to come about diagnosis I feel. Good for you for advocating for yourself and getting the help you truly needed - that is not easy and to be applauded and admired!!
Every diagnostic story is really emotional and life changing andrea..i got mine at the age of 16 ..i can relate to ur story so much..i was a national level football player back then and i loved sports so much..but type 1 diabetes changed everything for me..much love for u for being so real ..and more power to u ..u make me stronger in many ways
Oh what kind words, thank you thank you 🙏🏻 I’m sorry your diagnosis was so disruptive in your life. I can definitely relate to your experience of diagnosis too, especially the tricky tricky timing in those teens. I hope you’re well and continuing to live your very very best life! I’m so grateful to have you here! ☺️🙏🏻
Thank you Andrea. You had me tearing up which I rarely do. I generally take the soldier on approach to dealing with the diabetes. I so appreciate your willingness to share your experience.
I was about 55 when I was diagnosed. Doctors assumed type 2 because I was older but would say things like your type 2 acts like type 1. I fortunately found a low carb approach which helped. I was not overweight had no insulin resistance and did not make insulin. So the diagnosis became type 1. The hard part is the isolation, going through lows or highs without worrying other people and not knowing others in the same situation. I remember when one of the “diabetes police” publicly yelled at me “don’t eat that, it has sugar in it”. When I started to eat one strawberry at an event where all the food served was dessert and I couldn’t eat any of it. That one strawberry was fine, but no way was I going to educate someone about it in that situation.
Oh wow Jan! I'm so glad you got properly diagnosed, but I'm sure that was not an easy time of uncertainty! I've actually heard a lot of people being treated as type two for years and years, only to realize that they're actually take one, and I think people have found that very difficult (which is more than understandable!!!). I certainly understand the isolation of it all and the soldiering on approach, I am very very very much the same! Wow, I'm impressed that you were able to bite your tongue at that comment at the party regarding the strawberry, I don't think I would've been strong enough to not engage, but then again to engage takes so much energy so I'm sure you made the right decision, but gosh so much we have to deal with eh!!! 💙
Thank you so much for your sharing…your tears are my tears… I totally understand everything you felt when you were diagnosed… only one person with type 1 diabetes can understand you… your tears are our tears too…. You are beautiful Andrea….
Thank you so much ❤️
@@ShesDiabetic 🤗❤️🫂
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I know it couldn't have been easy. Like you, I was 15 when I was diagnosed. I was dancing a lot that summer and had all the same symptoms as you (minus the weight loss). I too attributed it to how much I was dancing (roughly 5 hours 5 days a week). I probably started having the symptoms in July of 2012 but wasn't diagnosed officially until September 7th. My symptoms were gradual and one at a time. I went in for a blood test on a Friday before school, got my results that day after school and was in the hospital for 3 days (Friday evening - Sunday morning). I went right back to school and dance. I was familiar with diabetes/the ins and outs of it because my best friend is also diabetic and I had been around all that diabetes entails for 5 years prior to my diagnosis. It was hard in the beginning, not so much the needles and all, but telling people. I only think 5 people at my school knew. I didn't become open about it until 2018 - 6 years after my diagnosis. I'm relatively pretty open about it now but it's definitely hard sometimes.
Like you, I'm also an actor and I definitely can find it challenging trying to manage it all.
I appreciate you willing to be so raw and open with us. Sending you love and hugs.
I am a type one diabetic and I was diagnosed on the 4th of January 2021 and fell into DKA and you are an inspiration for me thanks
I’m so sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis - and a very rocky one at that it sounds like 💙 thank you for being here and for your kindness- we have a welcoming and warm community here and you are valued!!
@@ShesDiabetic thank you
My story is too long, but I would like to say that you are such a wonderful person and I am grateful for everything you share with your channel. Thank you Andrea
This is probably the best video on TH-cam to describe diabetes and share personal experiences to strengthen up people to fight diabetes. As we all know, diabetes is a terrible disease However, if this person is determined to fight the disease bravely like you, then everything is possible.
A young man said: “The willpower is am muscle the more you use it stronger you get it”
Oh thank you so so so much!!! And I love that quote - thank you for sharing that!! 💙
Thank you for sharing - I was diagnosed four months ago (May 2021) age 31. In the few months leading up to my diagnosis, I'd been feeling super run down and tired, but my mum had been in hospital for several months and had just gotten home and was needing a lot of help around the house, so I was caring for her while working full time and just put it down to that. I was also going to the bathroom a LOT (like, 16-20 times a day, plus 2-3 times at night) and seemed to get recurring UTIs and cystitis. It all came to a head when I went to the doctor because I thought I had the world's worst UTI that wasn't going away with the usual over-the-counter remedies - she tested my urine and found no infection, but a lot of glucose. She tested my blood sugar at the surgery where it was 27 and I was sent to the hospital that same day. As my mum is also type 1 (diagnosed age 47) I kind of knew what I was in for but it was still a huge shock and has taken a lot of adjustment. Thankfully my friends, family and colleagues have all been super supportive and patient with me! Thank you so much for all your videos - I've found them such a huge help and comfort during an overwhelming time
This got me 😭 Not only the devastation for you but for your parents. I think about mine now and how difficult it must have been. ❤
Andrea, recently because my memory was a little vague on certain aspects about my diagnosis and how my family responded, I retrieved my medical records. It was so therapeutic for me to read what the nurses wrote during my stay in the hospital and how I reacted, and the entire diagnosis, and the work involved in getting my blood sugar regulated. Things that I had forgotten about, but needed to read and see again. These Records were over 38 yrs old, and for personal (family related) therapeutic reasons, I needed to relive it. Thanks for sharing your story.
Not easy to share thanks for sharing its still so raw even after all these years. I still struggle abit when i hear an ambulance siren. All those memories stored away come flooding back to u don’t they x
I hear you completely and utterly. Diagnosis is such a huge time of our lives where everything changes in seemingly an instant. The memories do indeed come flooding back, I completely understand this and relate to you 💙💙💙xxx
Thank you for sharing. So many relatable emotions, I found myself tearing up.
I was diagnosed August 28th, 2020. Pre-diagnosis symptoms were weight loss, frequent urination, huge appetite, low energy. I had my wisdom teeth removed in July 2020 and got an infection. Things really took off from there. But here I am a year later and it still stings that my life will never be just like before I was diagnosed but I’m grateful for the support and resources I have that have made it so much easier. Including you. I found your TH-cam days after my diagnosis and it has been such a blessing. Thank you.
Hi Andrea,
It amazing how you shared your diagnosis story. I couldn't even watch the full video coz it made me very emotional with the memories of my diagnosis, makes me feel heavy. It's awesome you shared such a very personal thing with all your viewers. I've not shared my experience even with my closest of friends.
Your lucky you had your dad who was also diabetic, for me I had no reference for what I went through and my parents were clueless how to handle it. Was horrible. But it's not easy change in life to become diabetic. Thank you for showing I am not alone.
Thank you 💙 Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that your diagnosis was so rocky and heavy. And I completely understand if this video brought up some very intense feelings. Honestly, I was surprised how hard it was to record this myself. I really wasn't expecting that intensity! I do feel very lucky to have had my Dad's wisdom, experience and confident attitude to look to. This is such a gift and I'm so sorry your experience was very hard. I'm so glad you know it and I'll say it again, you are not alone my friend! Thank you so much for watching and being vulnerable with me here 💙
Thanks for sharing your story! I was 23 and married so it was a very different experience but similar in some ways. I constantly tell my story to people and I'm not shy about it but it's quite a long story to type.
I think it's amazing that you tell people - what a gift to give the community and others to share such an intimate part of your life! How awesome!! And don't worry - I understand these stories aren't exactly typing friendly! Sending you joy my awesome friend!!!
Thank you for sharing Andrea! I was diagnosed when I was 8, and when I was 10, I remember giving shots to oranges too! T1 and body image, food, control is a huge can of worms. I was anorexic between ages 16 and 21. So yes, there is a sense of delicacy when handling young girls and type 1. I put on weight at age 12, so was food restricted and my endocrinologist had me come in to weigh weekly. From there, I became so obsessed with the scale....the more the scale went down, the more she was pleased. I digress.....but thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing.I love your channel, my son was diagnosed a year ago at a 16 months, and I love your content and watching you succeed in life, thank you for normalizing it. Loved you in Homeland!
Oh thank you Jenna (hey great and familiar name Homeland-wise ;)) I'm so so so sorry to hear of your son's early diagnosis - I don't know you but I know if you're taking care of a little one with T1D you are and ANGEL and a SUPERHERO!!! Thank you so much for your kindness and for being here - your son is super lucky to have such an incredible Mama!!! Love to the both of you!!!! 🥰🥰🥰
A wonderful narrative, thankyou for sharing this story. What a very brave 15yo you were.
Thank you so much! ☺️
Hi, thank you for sharing your story. 🤍
I was diagnosed last year at the age of 20. The diagnosis was actually a coincidence because I just went to the doctor for a regular blood check up (thank god!). My symptoms were very mild back then so I didn't consider them as something bad (going to the toilet more often & a foggy mind).
The diagnosis was a very big surprise, I was the first one in the family to get it. So I didn't know what to expect. Then I immediately went to youtube and found you. I'm SOO grateful for you and the content you make, it helped me a lot. Thanks for everything! 🤍
-love, Lydia
OH Lydia! Thank you so much for being here and for all your kindness and for sharing your story! That's quite wonderful that they caught it in a routine check up - I think that really shows you that your doctor is a wonderful thorough doc and I think this should be so so very celebrated! But no doubt being diagnosed at this time in the pandemic was incredibly tough! Good for you for taking to the internet and thank you for finding me, I hope you feel a little less overwhelmed and know that you are not alone ever my beautiful friend! With so so much love and joy to you!!!
Well Done for being so brave and strong to share your story Andrea 💕 You are truly AMAZING 💕
Thank you thank you thank you - for your kind words and for watching!!!! 💙💙💙
I was diagnosed type One Diabetes when I was 10 😢 i had it for 11 years and I say Andrea really a tough diabetic person here ❤ I am very glad that I found this channel
Girl I feel u I was diagnose with diabetes when I was 22 I know the struggle, I love ur TH-cam page keep up the good work
Thank you for giving us all a piece of your heart, Andrea. Through your videos I am learning about the pain of the love of my life. May God bless you.
What a beautiful thing to say, thank you thank you thank you 💙 It’s beyond my pleasure to share my story and share in this pain with you together. May God bless you and bless you to work through this complicated grief, but also the love of this beautiful life we’ve been granted!!! 🥰☺️
You're welcome, Andrea.
She taught me inadvertently that life is beautiful and worth winning!
thanks you THANKS- From Argentina. I was diagnosed whwn i was thirteen .... one year later my dad dies.... i cannot explain haw "helps" listen to you... i have 47 years old now, suppouse i am adult! I already received medical, psychiatrist! and yet only a couple of years ago I began to "realize" that having type 1 diabetes is also "being diabetic" type 1
I feel you it’s not easy to talk about your medical condition you are a very strong worria
Thanks for sharing. I was diagnosed at 59. I was exhausted, thirsty all the time, up all night going to the bathroom, and I lost 20 pounds in a month. My blood sugar some days was so high it wouldn’t meter wouldn’t register it. You’re lucky to have had family that had it and understood. I had no reference point since no one in my family had it. The needles didn’t bother me. I worked at an animal shelter at the time and vaccinated animals daily.
May I ask… after you started taking insulin, were you still urinating a lot? Also, did you experience dry mouth and dry eyes? Thx in advance for considering replying. 😊
@@Mykitchenchanne1 hi! It took about 2 months to see my blood sugar budge out of the 300’s. The insulin had to be adjusted a few times. So yes, I was still urinating a lot and very dry and thirsty.
I watch a lot of TH-camrs with type 1, and even though I don’t know many other T1Ds (other than my dad, my cousin-in-law(?), and myself), your videos always help me feel less alone. Thank you for this 😊
Also, thank you for creating this space in the comments for diagnosis stories. I've thought about my diagnosis about 10 years ago quite a lot, but it's something I feel like I need to think about and meditate on again soon, especially considering I just recently switched to the Tandem t:slimX2, which has been a roller coaster of emotions. I'll be back in the comments section soon to share my diagnosis story : )
Thanks for sharing your story, the most important thing that these sad events made us, we with T1D are much stronger than the others 😎💪
My story is: 2 days after my first birthday, I slept in the hospital and diagnosed as a T1D ! Just like that 😅 I don’t remember anything just dealing with this truth and live with it.
You're so right! We are strong indeed! Oh you were diagnosed when you were so young! I'm sure that was a hugely stressful time for you and your family! And 2 days after your first birthday - wow! You are amazing! Thank you for sharing!!
@@ShesDiabetic Yeah we are the strongest ever !!!!
Thanks for your kind words 🌸
Thank you for sharing your story! I was recently diagnosed in January after being rushed to the ER in DKA, at the age of 44. I had no idea what was wrong with me and almost didn’t go because of the pandemic and being afraid to be in a hospital during this time. Thank God I did! My BG was In the 780s and I was in a diabetic coma by the time I got there. I should not have survived that night. After 2 days in the ICU, they diagnosed me with type 1. I knew a little about diabetes because I am a Health teacher. BUT, I quickly realized that my life had just taken a 180. In the last 8 months, I have gotten my A1c down to 5.7 and have learned to take this one day at a time. So, when I say thank you for your videos, I really mean it! I have learned so much from watching you. ❤️
@Engelbert Humperdinck I started MDI and I’m now on t:slim with control IQ along with Dexcom. I joined a support/3 month boot camp for T1D women back in April, where I learned a lot about mindset, insulin dosing, exercise, etc. I’ve watched a ton of videos online, including Andrea’s. I took a medical leave from work and am currently back. I also moved in with my parents, post hospitalization, because I was terrified to be alone. I’m glad I did that for myself. It was very helpful to be off from work and focused on my health 100% of the time. I am now home and back at work. Some days can be tough, but I now have a great support system to rely on when I need it.
@Engelbert Humperdinck I signed up with Lauren Bongiorno’s DCB group. It was such a wonderful group! I have read Think Like A Pancreas and a few other books. I’ll grab this one too. Thanks for the recommendation!
@Engelbert Humperdinck my last A1c was 5.7.
@Engelbert Humperdinck no bad lows. Lauren and her entire coaching team are all type 1.
I was just diagnosed a little over a year ago and I am 35. I had gestational diabetes twice so I expected type 2 but after further testing I found out it was type 1. I felt shocked, sad, all the emotions. I went hard core low/no carb. It took me awhile to trust using my insulin and I’m still learning. I guess I’ll be trying to figure this all out forever.
Kimberley, I'm so sorry to hear this, especially after being misdiagnosed (sadly, I've heard of this happening more often than not and that must just be so maddening!!) So many props to you for going into low/no carb - that is certainly a HUGE challenge - wow!!! It sounds like you're doing amazingly well and have a great attitude - you certainly will figure things out and you will be GREAT and live a WONDERFUL life- I promise you! Sending you love and strength and thank you so so much for sharing your experience and being here 😘
omg my doc turned me on to your page and I absolutely love you! I was in tears watching this one.. I have also had type one diabetes for about 23 years. I was diagnosed when I was 7 and remember the whole experience so vividly.. So thank you for sharing all that you do.
Thanks for sharing :) I need to try and shorten my story, as it's a long one!! I'm English but have family in the US on my mum's side, when I was 23 (I think!) I decided I'd had enough of the UK and went over the pond to spend some time in Chicago. Before I left, I felt "funny", had developed an unquentiable thirst and lost a lot of weight. I didn't want to ruin my upcoming trip so I decided everything was OK (lol) and off I went. I started settling in Chicago and my family had noticed I was looking rather unwell (I weighed about 6 1/2 stone!), my cousin who at that time was training to be a nurse arranged for me to see a GP in her practice.
The GP checked me out, ran some tests including testing for Diabetes. When they had the results back, he said my blood sugar was so high, it was off the charts, unreadable and I had to go to hospital immediately as I was in Diabetic Ketoacidosis. By the time I got to hospital, I was slipping in and out of consciousness and my body had started to give up, at one point my heart stopped beating. The last thing I remember was staring up at the ceiling in the hospital reception.
I woke up in intensive care, with tubing coming out of seemingly every part of my body and lots of worried faces looking down at me. They explained what had happened and that I was lucky to be alive, if my US family had waited even a few hours before taking me to hospital, I would have died.
Moral of my story, I really should have just gone to the doctors in the first place and if you goto the US, make sure you have medical insurance as my bill was in excess of $25,000!!! :)
I'd firstly like to thank you for your videos. Over the past year and especially over lockdown, they have provided me with both comfort and a source of some inspiration in how you realistically depict and approach your own Diabetes.
It's so interesting to hear your diagnosis story and the slightly unorthodox approach your family initially took. I have no immediate or even wider family members with Type 1, which has always been a double-edged sword and even the source of some contention in my life.
Diagnosed as a young adult, my diabetes has ultimately always been my own responsibility, not that those close to me haven't educated themselves on Type 1. There have been many pitfalls and persisting issues, but starting with such a clean slate has probably been the best thing for my own management and relationship with my condition.
On the subject of body image in those with Type 1, I too received some inadvertently rough handling during my initial hospital stay. But given that my past history with disordered eating wasn't initially known, and perhaps less expected too in my being male, I can't blame the nurse for cheerfully telling me I'd soon be putting on some weight and inadvertently installing the absurd fear that insulin would lead to uncontrollable weight gain, when at 5'9 and 120lb, ill as I felt, I was sadly and ridiculously the most content I'd ever been at that time in my looks and body.
I won't bore you with my past struggle with Diabulimia, but can at least say I now put my diabetes management before anything else more often than not. As soon as I began working with my Diabetes and not against it, things improved to a point I don't think I'll ever fall back from.
Thanks once again for sharing your story and providing such positivity and insight.
Thank you for being so brave and sharing!♥️
Can relate to a lot of what you’ve said and it’s also interesting to hear the small differences in hospital treatment: I spent lest than 48 hours at the hospital when I was diagnosed at 10, they gave me a cool bag with some books and a teddy to practice injections on then sent me on my way
my little brother was diagnosed the year before and he was only 5, we actually almost lost him becaues the gp we were taking him to (thinking he was just sick) put him on antibiotics…. for months then disappeared.
He ended up in hospital for two weeks on a very nasty medication (can’t remember what it was) he said it felt like ice in veins 😢
I remember when I was brought into the emergency room after using my brothers BSL machine, I was crying becaues I was scared but he was kinda smiling at me and he said “I’m happy someone has it with me so I’m not alone” …I stopped crying after that 😅
Oh wow Peter! What an interesting experience both you and your brother experienced - so you both are another sibling duo! I wonder if you provide a lot of support to one another to this day? It must have been quite overwhelming for your parents too, just like mine! I'm so glad you guys didn't lose your brother, and that you both felt like you had such support despite the difficulty of it all too!! 🥰🥰🥰
@@ShesDiabetic we sure do 😋 especially with navigating through the adult hospital, it can be a little confusing sometimes
I was diagnosed at age 16, blood glucose over 1000. Went into the hospital for 3 days and learned how to count carbs, do my insulin and do life! Crazy time!
Wow...that was a LOT for you to handle...very similar to my story in a way actually!!
I can see that it wasn't easy for you but I'd like to thank you for sharing your story Andrea.
I've been a type 2 since 2014 but have just had my pancreas removed 10 days ago due to severe pancreatitis for over 8 years so it feels like I've just been diagnosed again. All that frustration, anger, depression, etc. I had the first time has all come back and it's been much more difficult to accept the changes the second time around, all while trying to recover from a major operation on top of it. It was all under control but unfortunately, since the operation, my sugars are all over the place and very difficult to control at this stage so I can't wait for everything to settle so I can get back to living life again.
Lockdown certainly doesn't help with getting information or support unfortunately but your videos have certainly bridged that gap for me so I really appreciate all the hard work you've put into your channel. Thank you very much!
Hi Andrea,
Thankyou so much for sharing, especially when it was so hard for you to do, it was emotional for me to watch .
It also brought back the trauma of my own diagnosis.
I had not long turned 40 , and as I worked as a chemist in a laboratory, was advised to have a hepatitis B vaccination for my work, others had it to, but when blood tests came back, to check immunity, mine was off the scale, they just laughed. Didn't mean much at the time, carried on as usual , scuba dived every second weekend, started getting terrible leg cramps on the second dive, tired more often and irritable at times (So sharron says)
About 6 months after vaccination my friends wife who also scuba dived with me, commented after the dive, "your losing weight Rex" Sharron hadn't noticed, being with me all the time. Also Was going to the toilet a lot more as well.
Sharron got me to go to the doctor, blood test result 30.8 mmol/L , the doctor didn't say I had diabetes, wanted another test, this time fasting test, 2 days later came back with the same result.
Now I remember sitting in his surgery and him saying the words, you have diabetes, as with you, I knew this was a big deal, life changing.
The doctor booked me in to see a specialist in 2 weeks, and I was to continue to go to work in the mean time , I asked him what was I to do in the mean time, "just don't have any sugar"
Decided to have no carbs, felt very unwell and saw another doctor on the weekend, tested for ketone, which I had, told me to have carbs again until I saw the specialist.
I think they thought I was type 2 being older, even when I saw the specialist he said we will start with 16 units once a day , only be a drop in the ocean , but was too much so lots of bad hypos still going to work, until work told me to have a week off , which was good of them.
Eventually worked it out and even scuba dived again, with my boys, when the specialist told me never to dive again.
So we do learn to live with it done we.
Thankyou for letting me share my story with you. ❤❤
Thank you for your openness about this! I was diagnosed last year (at 25) with an A1C of 13.1. Felt like I was dying but couldn’t figure out exactly why, finally worked up the courage to take myself into the ER. A year later now and my last three A1C’s have been 4.9-5.1, using only long-acting insulin at about 8-12 units daily. Low carb diet has been a miracle for me. I know it’s not a solution for everyone, but if anyone here has considered it, give it a shot!
You are to be applauded for being able to get A!C's like that with just long-acting insulin. You must be a very structured person.
@@dwightl5863 thanks I do work hard at it. I’m sure it could be credited in large part to my honeymoon phase too. Trying to extend that as long as possible and stay insulin sensitive!
You have a great father, also I understand the weight issues. You have a good family, and friends support, and you will come out better, because you now have a greater understanding of your sugar, and hopefully you’ll control it. I still love sugar today, and try not to have sugar daily. Well take care, Enjoy. P.S., I am type 2 diabetic, and trust me when I was told I had diabetes, the tested me 3 times. I hate getting up daily, and looking at my cgm, and knowing this label of diabetes is over me.
Thank you for sharing your story. Mine s so similar,yet so different since I was diagnosed in my thirties. I remember the anxiety. I hope have close family members that understood what was happening helped you along . Stay upbeat!
Oh Terri - I'm sure being diagnosed in your 30's was quite the shock! I completely understand that! Sometimes I wonder if it's harder to be diagnosed in adulthood because you're more set in your routines and life in general. I hope you're doing all right now and I thank you so much for your kind and positive comments, I wish you the same! Stay happy, stay upbeat, and joyful!!!
I’m so glad I found your video. I find out tomorrow if I have diabetes. I’ve been having the classic symptoms and I was so scared at first. I have a huge finger pricking phobia and to hear you say it wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be makes me feel so much better. You helped make me feel less afraid and alone. Thank you so much for sharing it makes me feel so much better. I’m still very scared about what tomorrow might bring, but hearing you talk makes me feel so much more courageous.
I got diagnosed when i was 9, i have an older brother whos also diabetic so we knew the signs of it and i was getting alot of them like frequently using the bathroom and frequently thirsty, and one time i came home from school and i just didnt look good at all, i was shaky, tired, just drained. My mom told my brother "lets poke your sisters finger" and i was at above 700. I got rushed to the ER and they did some blood tests and then they told me the unfortunate news. Im doing better now, i know how to control it, and im happy.
Thank you so much for making this beautiful video!! The way you describe trying to be strong for your family brought me to tears. I was 21 when I was diagnosed, and I took a lot of it on myself because I didn’t want to burden my family or make them worry. The way you worded that though was exactly how I felt, and the way I’m sure a lot of us feel when diagnosed! Thank you again! 💛
Thank you so much Alyssa 💙 I totally TOTALLY understand wanting to be strong and not burden others. Oh my goodness - that is me too! Thank you for sharing and please know that this is a very safe place for us all to share the burdens! Like I always say - we are not alone! Big big love to you my diabuddy! 💙💙💙
I was diagnosed October 9th 2020 at 67 years old. I didn't get much information at the time. Basically it was here are the syringes, here is your insulin. Take this much, inject it like this. You have a phone appointment with Dr ... on such and such date and time. Do you want to speak with a diet counselor? I was overwhelmed and confused and didn't know what I was really supposed to do. It sucked big time.
Oh my goodness, Karla, I am so sorry to hear this!!!! At any age I believe a diagnosis is difficult, but particularly when you’re an adult and already set in so many ways and patterns and not given the same care and attention as children are given. This is awful, and not right. I sincerely hope you’re getting the help you need and feel supported by those around you - you certainly have my support my friend!! I’m glad you’re here and want you to know that you are not alone!!! ♥️
I was 9 years old at the time in 1973. I was losing a lot of weight and my mom told me to eat more, but I was eating. My third grade teacher asked me if I was feeling okay as she said I just didn't look well, but I told her I was feeling fine (as I was feeling fine). Then one day at school, I just bottomed out. My parents were called to pick me up and they drove me straight to the hospital. I actually lapsed into a coma for a day while at the hospital but luckily rebounded and was sent home a week later. I too was given oranges to practice on but I actually didn't start injecting myself for a couple of years. I know I cried many times during the first few weeks at home when my parents gave me my injections. When I was about 12 years old, I realized I would only be able to sleep over at a friend's house if I gave myself an injection so that was my inspiration to start injecting myself.
Anita, thank you so so so much for taking the time and having such courage to share your story here. Wow, you certainly went through a LOT at such a young age. And I find it so interesting (and probably extremely helpful and relatable to others) that the sleepover concept is what inspired you to inject yourself. I also just want to applaud your 12 year old self for learning to do that! ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE AND BRAVE you are were at such a young age!! I hope many parents of T1D children see your comment and take inspiration from it! 💙🥰😍
Thank you for sharing. I am newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It’s been about 2 months. My diagnosis story is not dramatic at all. I’m 47 years old and I had been feeling kind of weird. I did also have gestational diabetes with my children. I decided I was going to go get a glucose meter at Walmart and check my blood sugar. My first reading I got was 252, and so I continued to check quite often. I let my doctor know. She was able to diagnose me just from keeping record of sugar levels. My Aic was 8.0. I was put on Metformin it made my sugar level drop really fast. I’m not on anything right now. I’m waiting 10 to 14 days to see if the medication will be ok’d by the insurance. I’ve never had any kind of issue ever with this kind of thing. It’s really frustrating. Needless to say I feel less concerned about my diagnosis…..
So brave to tell your story..I had tears in my eyes…
Love your videos👏👏👏
Thank you my friend 💙💙💙 For watching and for your kindness 💙💙💙
I appreciate you sharing your story, and I understand the many emotions that come along with that. I certainly resonate with so much of what you saying. So many of my experiences are the same as yours. Thank you for being a source not only of information about diabetes but a source of encouragement and inspiration for those of us living with diabetes.
Oh my goodness, thank you thank you thank you for your kind words, and for being here and watching!! This video was actually a lot hard to film than I originally anticipated, so in the end I'm glad I made it and that it's resonating with people - thank you Steve!!! 💙🙏🏻🤗
Hi Andrea loved your diagnosis story. I would also like to update you on how I am doing now. I have now been on the Medtronic 770G pump for around nine weeks. The difference it has made is amazing. I ❤ the freedom and control Auto mode has given me. A1C has dropped from 8.4% to 7.3%. Hypos are almost a thing of the past but always just around the corner. I am now staying in target range on a regular basis with out the super highs and super lows I was having before. Well done on your channel. You have helped and encouraged me in my journey so far.
Thanks Andrea. I was just 7 years old when diagnosed (almost 50 years ago). I don't remember that much of the exact details, but I know at some point I went hiding inside a closet one morning when it was time to receive my daily insulin shot: I was struggling with the fact that it was not something that a temporarily annoyance. Needles at that time were a lot thicker than in these days.
I ended up in the hospital in 1970 which often happens, after Thanksgiving. Only on oral medication for the two years before that. But as you said there was no carb counting. It was food exchanges and that was a nightmare in its own right. Foods now have nutrition labels which they didn't have back then which help a lot for me.
Oh yes! I think my Dad was taught the whole food exchanges thing! Thank goodness for labels! INDEED! I didn't know they were that recent of an offering! I don't know what we would do without them!! Oh and I hope your Thanksgiving wasn't too disrupted that year - it's one of my fav holidays - but with type 1 it can be a little....tricky!! 🥴💙
Today, I'm diagnosed with Diabetic type 1 which is awful and I'm down, but seeing this video does lift me up.
You are so strong and inspiring to every diabetic🤍
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for these kind words!!! Thank you for being here and supportive all of us here!!
I found out 2 weeks ago that I have type 1 Diabetes . I was shocked and overwhelmed. I’m 44 and it came out of nowhere. Lucky I got myself checked out by going to the doctors due to lots of weight loss. They said it could have been much worse if I left it longer.
Thank you for sharing your story! I love that your parents let you still do your singing competition before the hospital. One of the best gifts my parents, and really my whole immediate family, gave me was that they didn't treat me any differently. I was still me, just with a bit more planning and medical involvement. I feel like your family saw you the same way from what you've described.
My siblings used to watch me check my bg and count it down with me, or watch me give my shots. But other than that, they didn't see me as different or complicated. I was still me. 26 1/2 years later, diagnosed when I was 12, and the only thing that's changed is I have more tech and my sister who is a nurse follows my dex 😊
I am envious that you have siblings with diabetes, no one in my family talks about diabetes. I have asked my siblings to get their HbA1C's checked every year, but that is all. Who else can we talk about it with, but other diabetics? Thanks for sharing!
I hear you! I do feel incredibly lucky that I have a brother who I can share my struggles with. We type 1's really are the only ones that can truly know and empathize with others as to what it's like to live with this condition. You have a friend in me! And all of us here, at the very least!! 🥰
Thank you for sharing this, I'm actually surprised you haven't already! But understand how something so close can be hard to share. You've inspired me to share mine on my channel, will try to do that soon. My diagnosis was during the pandemic, I am fortunate that I've been able to work with my medical team. They're great!
Yay, Finally!!!
Wow a 4pm posting
I thought today was going to be skipped again
I know you told me but you forgot to say in this video that the day was 4/9/01
YAY!!! I know this have been a bit all over the place- but I’m glad to be posting today!! 😍😍😍
@@ShesDiabetic I don’t understand how back then you gave yourself insulin without carb counting
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s so emotional and when you speak of your dad I can feel the love ❤️
I’m a fairly newly diagnosed type 1. 35 year old with 2 kids a 5 year old and 9 month old. It’s really hard to get use to this diagnosis but I’m sure there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Got to be here for my daughters 💕
I was diagnosed when I was 22 and I am 27 now. My grandma was in town visiting and I had a check up around the time she was visiting. I did not have as much luck as you because nobody in my family knew of anyone who was diabetic or what diabetes really was. We found out it had skipped some generations after my diagnosis. After leaving my annual check-up, I got a call from the hospital that I needed to go to the ER quickly. Not urgent care. They were not allowed to tell me why. My grandma drove me to the ER. I remember so many people swarming me and freaking out. I was crying not knowing what was happening. I was fine the whole time, but my blood sugar was around 800. The nurses missing my veins when giving me an IV, blood coming out of my arm, my grandma was crying. I was in the hospital all night. I had to attend diabetes appointments for the next several weeks. I had to take time off work and move back in with my parents. I remember the majority of my family members were understanding, but some wouldn't eat around me because they felt bad, and my step dad told my mom to tell me to take my insulin in the bathroom and not at the dinner table (They are divorced now..) My mom didn't have the heart to tell me about it until years later. I had it very rough when I was diagnosed, and hearing your story brought tears to my eyes because remembering the days is very hard for me emotionally. Thank you for sharing this story. It helps me remember that I am not alone.
Thank you for sharing that intimate part of your story Andrea. It most definitely is scary when young teens get diagnosed with T1D. I was diagnosed when I was 13yo I was in middle school. Spent 2 weeks in the hospital my blood sugar was 500. I spent time there to learn how to treat it and it was so scary to learn that this is my life from now on. 💉
When I got diagnosed, I had such bad DKA that I was put on fluids and didn't get to eat or drink anything for two days I think. My ketones were over ten times the accepted value and I had lost almost 10kg of weight (I was already nearly underweight before that). I couldn't even go up the stairs without getting out of breath...
Luckily I got diagnosed in the UK and the healthcare was awsome! Now I'm much better.
Thanks for sharing your story! This really helps people like me. :)
The more diagnosis stories i hear the more grateful i am that my diagnosis was purely coincidental without me having developed any of the typical symptoms besides being tired often. Of course it was a big shock still, but at least i wasn't hospitalized and needed to change my entire lifestyle from one day to the next, like so many other people with t1d
Hi Andrea, I have had a surprising turn of events happen. I had a doctor's appointment some time ago, I was talking about the signs and symptoms of what I was experiencing and said, "From what my GP said, he said that I have type 2 diabetes." This was about two years ago, I was put on a standard essential medicine called Gliglizide, which basically stopped the sugar coming into the bloodstream, unfortunately, it made me lose weight and eventually have my first hypo. fun! To cut a long story short, I have been battling my weight this whole time and changed medication to the medication that I was on, which was the original metaformin. But, the surgeon/doctor who I saw, which was at the kidney and urology department, which had a diabetic department as well, the doctor/surgeon said, "Hey, what you are saying doesn't match up, you need to have a GAT, a General Antibody Test. This will show in your antibodies what type of antibodies you have., whether if it is Type 1, 2 or something else entirely." Cut to 13th July so this Thursday, I saw another doctor/surgeon, he said "Well we have your results and you have a gentle "Type 1" diagnosis, but it seems to be fine, as long as you are doing what you are doing, you will be good. You will have checkups every six months and you will be notified when you will have insulin and about other things, when we feel, that it is suitable. I am now on a medication called 'Januvir' and I have changed the way I eat as well, not to lose weight but to gain weight and I am slowly putting on weight and hope it carries on. That's it, great video btw.
I was diagnosed when I was 8... Beginning of Summer break. Fell ill with the flu or something. Then began the long journey through the diagnosis. I remember constantly being thirsty, and urinating. A Lot. waking up in the middle of the night hungry, thirsty, and near bursting bladder. Low energy I don't remember so much. Parents watched in concern and then finally called and scheduled a family physician appt. First thing they did after hearing symptoms was pull out the glucose meter and stick my finger. I do remember being exhausted while at the dr office and the ER. BS was 400+ I think. They calmly told my parents to get me to the hospital immediately. I remember being in the E.R. waiting room holding my child-hood Turtur (tortoise pattern blanket. Still have it to this day.) and holding my shorts by the waistband because they were falling off my hips. Funny thing, at the end of the school year those same shorts were nearly bursting from my chubby thighs. All told I spent a week in the hospital. I was really enjoying the chicken parmesan that was on my menu of choices. I remember being told I couldn't leave until I demonstrated that I could administer an injection of insulin. (which is why I ended up in there a week and not just a few days) the frustration and emotional turmoil of facing that goliath still cause a tightening of the throat even 28 years later. I remember being given a needle and an orange to practice on... I remember angrily throwing the needle like a dart at the orange. I remember my sister having fun with it and extracting orange juice with the needle. I remember getting care boxes from family friends. Those brought a smile to my face. I remember getting to play on the brand new Sega Genesis game console that the fire dept had provided to the childrens wing of the hospital. Sonic the hedgehog was one speedy dude. I remember my dad suggesting that we hang me on the I.V. stand and hide myself there while he wheeled it outside so I could go free. That brought a laugh to my soul. Then finally being able to stick the needle in. I think I had such an adverse mental reaction to it that I have since developed a mental block against sticking myself with needles. Then going home.... and thinking that everyone would be nice and coddle me... nope. life continued. Matt, go do your chores.
Thanks for telling your story dear. It helps all of us to know that we aren't alone as we face this demon day in and day out.
I recognize some of the stories here. And I believe it is important that we are more open on it to. The more we spontanious share our stories, the more understanding there is from poeple around us. It is very difficult to treat you're self very well when you try to hide you're decease.
I was 21 when my DT1 was discovered. I was also very thursty, losing weight and drinking a lot off fluids. So I had to go to toillet a lot too. First time I went to the doctor she said that it was stress. I not understood why. I got medecines to calm, while I was always calm. My parents where putting fluids away because they were thinking that this cause a part of the problems. And it was not alcohol that I was drinking because there was so good as no alcohol in house. That make it alone much more worse. Two weeks later the situation was a lot more worse and then the doctor did a test of my blood and called me the next day that I had to go to hospital because of extreme high value. My weight was then reduced to just 48 kg and was very dehydrated. I had to wait first in the waiting room off the emergency room of the hospital and not much later was a doctor telling the person after the desk that he not found the diabetes patient in the intensive care. She told him that I was in the waiting room and he was very suppriced that with a value of more then 725 mg/dl was just sitting in the waiting room. I had to stay in hospital for a week where they give a lot of education on diabetes and try to find the right doses for me. Because that the blood sugar dropped seriously as result off the insuline my view was for weeks complete trouble and I could not seen any dia they showed during that education.
Because I was strugling already a couple of weeks, my feeling was more about releave. I was happy to know what was wrong and that their was a sollution for it. That I still could do what I want to do, but just had to take insuline, see what to eat and some other aspects. I not saw that as a big trouble at that time. At home, it was also easier to deal with it because of the food. But at other places there was it more difficult I discovered later because everywhere they provide food with a lot sugar and not understood that some poeple have troubles with that. Treatment was at that time also not yet advanced as currently with the insuline pumps and counting carbs was not much done then too. I see now that poeple found that counting carbs as a big dificulty, but comparable with then it give you much more freedom in what you eat then at that time. And I trust that in future there will come sollutions that also counting is less necesary to do.
I decided from beginning to just tell always when was relevant that I had diabetes and what this means for food. Poeple mostly appreciated that and where also mostly happy to understood why you did some things in that way. I never hide that.
When I was still in hospital I got from an aunt that was a nurse, a year membership of the diabetes liga! The best gift I could receive at that time. The information they provided and education they organized was very helpfull. I started to be a point where other diabetes patients could order material at lower prices via the liga. The liga was always an organisation from as well patients as professionals and every part was lead by as well a patient as a specialist what helps a lot in negotiating with government to reach things for the patients. There is the way how patients experience and there was the scientific knowledge about what was requested, how that should turn out. A very good organisation for diabetes patients. I became also on national level active in the organisation and work together with my diabetes specialist in some commissions. Knowing him also in that way was also very helpfull in my treatment choices.
The one time that I really felt in more dificult situation with my diabetes, was recently with the corona lockdown where diabetes patient was mentioned as a much higher risk. When they not know already much how to protect and they started already schoos were the virus was also very much spreading, they told that kids of risks patients better went not to school, and while I offer the school all sollutions that the kids could follow the less giving in the class could follow over internet from home the director of the school would not do that. I really feel then that my kids were discriminated because I was a diabetes patient. Lucky the teachers were not following the director and still offered the opportunity to follow with the tools I had offered them.
I often feel like it’s a blessing that I was so young when I was diagnosed because I don’t remember all that much of it. Or much of my life before diabetes. The one thing I do remember is being so scared to prick my finger after I got home from the hospital. The nurse who checked mine the first time had the depth setting way too high and it hurt so badly! I thought it would always be like that. But as you said, I soon learned it was not that bad lol.
I know what you meqn. I was diagnosed when I was 5. Now I'm 32. Now I have a bad time with my diabetes. I can't handel with it at all...
@@martita080213 I’m so sorry to hear that! I hope you are getting the support you need!
Hi Andrea, love your Videos! Would be very interested in your views around Strategy for Mental Health and Type 1 Diabetes
Thank you so much Mike!! And I think yours is a FABULOUS suggestion!!! It's such such such an important topic! I just recorded a video about (sort of) the mental health comparing strategies for those that are newly diagnosed, but I'm going to try to do more mental health content all around as it's a real passion of mine! Thank you so much for reminding me to make more!!!
I come here for the positive vibes, the great content is a bonus 😅
Positive vibes a go-go coming at you my friend! Thank you so much for being here!! ❤️
10am ET unless you want people to wait all day to click on your videos
I know it’s 3pm for you when you post but it’s morning for the US
That wink was for me, wasn’t it? 😄
OMG yes! Don't worry I won't mess it up again - this was another one where I made the mistake again!!! And yes - the wink is absolutely for you 😉!!!
I was diagnosed at the age of 21. It came as a huge shock, right before Canada Day. I was going to the lab to get something else checked, and it was in that time that it was discovered that my sugars were off. In Canada, we have a test that they can do at the laboratory where they test your sugar, you then drink really concentrated pop (or soda) and then you wait for two hours and then you get your sugars tested again. Mine came back 17 mmol/l (306 mg/dl) and I froze. I didn't know how to tell my parents, because I thought it was my fault, and we were not very well educated about diabetes, so I didn't know how to. My Dr eventually had to tell them. First, I went through all the stages of denial, and I was misdiagnosed in the beginning as type 2. So it was oral meds and checking sugars. Then as the first months progressed my numbers slowly started climbing into the high teens/low twenties (300-405 ish) so then that's when I had blood drawn and sent down to Salt Lake and it was confirmed that I had late onset Type 1. So I had been doing injections for two years, and I had had it with feeling like a human pin cushion, so then I was approved for a pump, and I've been on pump therapy ever since - that was 11 years ago of diagnosis.
My son is type1, diagnosed 2 yrs ago. We have no family history so it was a shock. I also test my other kids at least once a month bc idk if they might develop it too. The drs said it would be rare, but in life experience and knowing other type1's tells me it isn't so rare. So we check the other kids once a month.
I was 18 when I first got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes that was in 2019 ... For me before experiencing diabetes symptoms I was sick with something else..I fell sick i got home and had an intense headache and stomach pain just thought it was normal and so just took painkillers then after I entered my menstrual cycle a bit earlier than usual and that’s when my journey to my diagnosis started. I was bleeding for several weeks at the time i lost weight and was in so much pain i was no longer able to go to school my body was just numb and in pain ..I remember being tested for a lot of things including for diabetes and at that time I didn’t have it then i was referred to a gynecologist and that doctor said im okay it was just a cyst and I will be fine I shouldn’t over exaggerate the pain of which I wasn’t at all i was struggling didn’t have much of an appetite and was just really tired and always in pain
I had to go see another gynecologist as I hadn’t stopped bleeding and i am anaemic .That Doctor admitted me and confirmed that it wasn’t normal for me to be bleeding that much but still then i wasn’t told what was causing it or what it was i was just given blood and also pills which did not help but made things a lot worse until the gynecologist suggested that I should do a DNC to clean my womb and try to stop the bleeding that way
So that was done and the next day I stopped bleeding and was discharged but when i got home the day after I started bleeding again and also now I was always thirsty and was just going to the bathroom nonstop
For me I wasnt drinking water to help me with my thirst I just wanted cold juice which I kept on drinking non stop like I wasn’t able to even sleep at night as I would always be drinking and going to the bathroom
Then after a week decided to go back to the gynecologist to tell him I started bleeding again and that i was always thirsty and going to the toilet every minute then he just brushed me off and said i will be fine I should wait a little while then everything will stop
But it didn’t this was on a Tuesday on the 18th of June 2019
In my family no one has diabetes so no one understood what was going on
Like even just going with my mom we now had to carry a bucket in the car since I was just always pressed
Then on Saturday 22nd of June i was in so much pain I couldn’t breathe I had chest pain and i was failing to catch any air
I was at home with my little brother it came to the point where i told him to call my dad because i was in pain and felt like i was dying because was losing breath
Then my dad took me to the hospital when we go there i lay on the bed had to wait for a doctor to come see me in that time my dad bought be juice to drink because i was super thirsty out of air and in pain
I don’t remember what happened when the doctor came but just that i was told I should stop drinking the juice and that i had diabetes and at that moment it was serious i was drowsy so don’t remember much but my parents told me that my sugar was at 48.4mmol/l at that time and they took me to the ICU
Was in a very critical state was being given air and well the doctor that came to see me said if I hadn’t come that day it was possible that I could have died
I don’t remember my time at the ICU
But i was in there for weeks then came out of ICU went to normal rooms and was in the hospital for about 2 months or so
I live in Zimbabwe well Doctors here don’t have much experience and don’t know much so really wasn’t taught much but just told not to eat somethings and that I should exercise only that
But im grateful for the channels like yours because I don’t get to learn much here in my country but seeing this helps a lot
Thank you
Oh my gosh, that sounds very frightening to go through, so do you have access to insulin? I live in the US so even though I don't have health insurance I can purchase Novolin without a prescription for a reasonable price but it wasn't always like that and for a few years of my life I had to go without insulin and I found ways to lessen the damage done to my body by eating no carbs and running like I was being chased
@@MeatMachine212 i do have insulin now and then but it’s super expensive this side
And for me without insulin my sugars are really really high even when I exercise
Like after i got diagnosed i spent a few weeks with insulin then couldn’t afford it so went without until I got to the point of being admitted again
Like when I exercise instead of my sugars lowering they go way up
But it’s different when i do get to inject myself with a little bit of insulin ,when I exercise my sugars do lower a bit
My diabetes is weird like for me when I spend time without eating i do get lows but i get highs ,extreme highs
For me though I’ve noticed food doesn’t affect me that much it’s more of emotions and the adrenaline
Like when im too happy sugars go up like to 30.something mmol/l does the same when I exercise without injecting myself even when i go without eating for a while they just go up that high
But Well doctors don’t help much this side really they just continue saying just exercise and never eat certain things again
Like for us here we are not even taught how to count carbs
Just given an estimate of units you’re suppose to inject
@@samanthandlovu7671 dang, I am sorry the situation this has put you in, actually my blood sugar will go up even if I don't eat sometimes, I wish I knew a way to help, maybe soon there will be insulin available at a reasonable price
Yay, Thank you for sharing your story!!
This story is soo relatable with me. I still remember the very first time I got my very first shot of insulin. I said the same words to my mum. Ohh, it was not that bad. And at that movement I saw tears in her eyes ...... After listening to your story I just remembered the whole incident as it's already 12 years now. Uhh can't explain what it really was. But that movement has made me more strong everyday.
Thank you soo much Andria for sharing your story with us. It really motivates us to be more strong and helps us to keep our sugar levels under control.
May god bless you Andria. I really connected with you in this story and right now I have goosepumps all over my hand.
Stay blessed, happy and healthy
Lots of love from India 😊❤️
Thank you for sharing your story! I was diagnosed at age 22. My glucose was in the high 900’s along with severe pancreatitis and I came very close to dying/spent 2 weeks in hospital. I suspect I may have type 3c but tests are inconclusive. In the end it doesn’t really matter because either way my pancreas does not produce any insulin and it’s the exact same symptoms as type 1 and treated the exact same way. My a1c is down to 5.6% after 14 years of being in the 8-9% range. What has helped me the most is cutting carbs waaay down and dialing basal in and kind of letting it do most of the work for me and mostly Bolusing for protein/fats. The whole less carbs =less insulin = less room for error really applies to me and my improvement plus once I start eating carbs I can’t stop so I’m better off without them 😀.
Your story sounds very much like mine. Cutting carbs has been my best decision ever! My A1c has has been 5.6 for 3 years. Why didn't my doctor teach me this? His plan was eat 150 carbs/day and inject lots and lots of insulin, then ride the glucose rollercoaster 🎢.
I just got so emotional thinking about my diabetic story and also just realized how it still bothers me.
I completely hear you - when I made this video I was shocked at how emotional it made me. It's a lot we have to hold onto and have to deal with immediately at diagnosis and I wonder if maybe we don't fully grieve at the time of diagnosis. All I can say is that, I'm right there with you my friend, and I feel for you and can empathize 💙💙💙
My mom noticed me drinking a whole bunch of water then the next day she took me to the hospital and I was diagnosed with t1d I was 14 I'm 31 now. Fort Worth Texas
Thank you for sharing this! Your Mom is clearly a very smart and intuitive woman!
@@ShesDiabetic thanks, I will show her this, she will be quite pleased.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 7 years old my mom is also a type 1 diabetic she was diagnosed at 13 and my older sister is diabetic she was diagnosed at 16 and my younger sister is also she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 19 I’m just praying when I have children that they don’t have it because it seems like it’s getting past own to every generation of kids in my family
I have diabetes as well and I’m going through it ! Ugh it’s a daily struggle A1C 9.1
I hear you!! It really is a daily struggle- totally understandable. One step at a time, I’m right there with you my friend😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️
I had been in an auto accident which nearly killed me due to the numerous injuries I had sustained. As the following year went by I had been telling my doctors that I felt we had “missed something at the time of the accident because I am not feeling well. I know my body and there is something that is not being taken care”. So on my one year anniversary I ended up in the ER due to having jaundiced so bad that even my eyes were a bright yellow. My blood sugars were high, and the next thing I knew they were bringing a stretcher and told me to hop on. I was told later that night that I had developed Diabetes, and it was likely to be Type 1. I did not realize an auto accident could cause it, as there was no Diabetic gene in our family tree that I knew of. So my diabetes was hard to control as they did not realize my stomach had been damaged in the auto accident so I had also developed Gastroparesis, which means your stomach digests food extremely slowly. This is rare though as I had all reasons to have developed this monstrous complication, besides the diabetes. So anyway, if ever any of you or your loved ones are not “feeling quite right” ask for the simplest of starting places - a blood test, and a urinalysis. I did not have either of these done while on some pretty heavy pain medications. But I truly am a rare duck in the diabetes world as all of the trauma has accelerated my Type !, as I am now a Brittle Type 1 Diabetic dealing with complications due to several DKA episodes and the difficulties of living with the Gastroparesis as it makes eating much of anything rather difficult. I was 43 when diagnosed and just this year having turned 60 the stress of my boyfriend passing away led to a series of events which had me hospitalized for nearly 5 1//2 months. So when living with diabetes and trauma do yourself a favor stay with a friend or family member while you are dealing with grief. As we age with diabetes our symptoms of when our sugars are “off” may sometimes disappear. This is what was happening to me and the scariest of them all was that I was home alone and hallucinating. Please know to call 911 immediately, at the first sign of clarity. It is another symptom of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) that could be due to a fever, high blood sugars or an infection. Either way, being alone is not safe as you can pass out without warning. Had a friend not stopped by to check on me I would have been dead by morning on the floor of my entryway. All I know is that I had no clue I was even sick. I only share this as something to be aware of but NOT scared of. Education is key with this forever morphing imbalance in our body which can lead to so many different things it is simply best to know when to take action as it could mean the cost of a limb or your life or your mobility. So stay strong, listen to all of Andrea’s videos should you have the time as she is a delight and one who is also so very bright when it comes to knowing how best to live your best life with diabetes. It is a game changer, and for all who are involved, so we get to learn to live with this “new you” and all of the confusion that goes with it. Not many friends will understand if you are at a younger age when diagnosed, but the best news is that the technology is moving along fairly quickly so be patient as your generation has ample opportunity to find a cure for all types of Diabetes’.!! Andrea, your bright shiny soul is still shining through!! I want you to know that while in the hospital, I would think of you and your parents and how lucky you were to get such a great upbringing with an understanding of diabetes. Not that it takes away from the time and heartache it still takes to process and get used to. You are a survivor and a great mentor for those in need!! Keep on shining!! 🌞