I don't know which way I became diabetic (whether it was inherited or so on) but here is my story.
When I was around the age of three or four, my mother started noticing that I was drinking a lot, running to the toilet frequently and so on. She didn't think anything of it and just thought I was a typical three/four-year-old child. Then one day, she was watching a medical programme about different illnesses and so on and guess what came up? Yep, diabetes.
The symptoms she saw were common to what she saw in me, and decided it was finally time to take me to the doctor to test for diabetes. I don't remember it all that well, as it was 14 years ago. All I remember is being sat in a hospital for a few weeks and having nurses constantly caring for me, and trying to make me eat a lot. I didn't understand, but who would at the age of four?
I was in hospital for 2 weeks, where they taught my mum how to inject me, and how to control my diabetes. I remember screaming so loud once over a needle, I actually fell asleep. Crazy to think they don't bother me at all anymore.
For the past 14 years, there have been ups and downs. I have had ketones quite a bit, but that was in my early teens, and there was one stage where I was taken into hospital with DKA, but since that time, I haven't been in hospital at all. I haven't even had bad ketones either.
For someone who got diabetes and never known anything about it beforehand, I believe I accepted diabetes very easily, and I couldn't imagine my life without it.
I loved knowing I could handle these incidents myself
Yes, sometimes it can be a problem. I had an incident in the park once when I was sat on a field with one of my friends, were it got to the time were I needed my needle, and thought, 'Hey, when I need it, I need it.' so I decided to do it whilst I was sat down on the grass. At that time, a large group of girls walked past, and they started saying I was doing drugs. But don't worry, me and my friend gave them quite a shock when I turned around and said I was diabetic, their faces dropped lower than their knees. Secretly, I loved it. Knowing I was unique and could handle these incidents myself.
Without diabetes, I think I wouldn't be the person I am today. With having to accept diabetes, and what comes with it, I have learned to look at the brighter side of life, and now I have (according to my friends!) a great sense of humour, a witty side and know how to listen and relate to people easier. I believe it has also make me be more independent, which is great in the world that we live in.
If I didn't have my family, especially my mother, by my side, I don't believe I would be here right now. My mother saved my life, and for that I never take her for granted. And the same for my father and my old sister, and my other family members.
I can do anything after living with diabetes
Right now, I am proudly sat here with a total of 13 GCSE's all C and above. I achieved 3 A's, 3 B's and all the rest C's (okay, I got a D in core science, oops! but I'm not really into science anyway.) and I am currently studying Graphic design and photography at a very successful college. You know why? Because I know I can do anything after living with diabetes.
Hopefully, my story will help people with diabetes know that they shouldn't look at it as a horrible thing that they have to go through in life, but something that makes them who they are.
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