1. What is life with Type 1 Diabetes like?

Is it possible to enjoy life with type 1 diabetes? How common is this?

You have probably given this some thought.

When I read these questions again, I had to stop and think.

As of 2023, I have been living with type 1 diabetes for 22 long years. I did miss my life before I got type 1 diabetes. Life with type 1 diabetes is like riding a wave: sometimes I love it, sometimes, I get exhausted.

Some may say, "there is NO WAY to enjoy living with type 1 diabetes! UGHHH!"

We will see. Just relax and keep reading.

2. Hearing Type 1 Diabetes for the First Time

Type 1 diabetes was an UNKNOWN word to me when I was little as I rarely visited the hospital. Little did I know, the hospital was my soon-to-be hangout place.

Being sat in my doctor's office feeling so sick and very weak, with my eyes closing every few minutes, left me with a BLANK STATE OF MIND.

It made me feel like I'm LOSING MY MIND. WHAT IS HAPPENING?! My doctor quickly pricked my hand with a finger lancet, and the results showed that my blood glucose level was so high.

The next thing I knew, I was getting an injection of... "It's INSULIN," the doctor said. I asked again, "What is this?" My doctor responded, "You have type 1 diabetes. You have to give yourself insulin."

I thought my doctor must be making fun of me. BUT, NO, so I kept quiet. Listening about type 1 diabetes was kind of hard and stressful. I was so ready to go home.

I was excited to go home because I cannot absorb all the diabetes information shared. The doctor gave me a bag filled with needles, test strips, and prescriptions. I thought, "THIS IS JUST ANOTHER SCHOOL PROJECT." BUT THIS TIME, I AM THE SUBJECT.

3. Injecting

With type 1 diabetes, I cannot escape from injecting insulin.

My CONSTANT QUESTION to a Genie has been, "When will I stop injecting? Sure, needles have been smaller over time, but can my life with type 1 diabetes simply disappear?"

Mr. GENIE wasn't able to do the magic. I was sad that I would always have type 1 diabetes because it made me feel different from my friends. I felt lonely and out of place because I was the only student living with type 1 diabetes.

At times, I would have to choose between giving insulin in class or in the bathroom. Since I didn't like going to the bathroom up and down the stairs and school hallways, I just pricked and shot myself wherever I was.

I've become used to injecting in public and have been met with expressions like "how sad, so pitiful" because of it. In all honesty, I find it annoying hearing these comments.

I was upset by what others said. I struggled in accepting life with type 1 diabetes and being pitied. I cannot imagine type 1 diabetes is for life, unless a cure is around the corner. No matter how long or short the needle was, injecting insulin has not been a problem. But since type 1 diabetes sounded like a heavy burden with a stigma attached, I imagined how challenging it can be to keep up with type 1 diabetes for LIFE.

4. Eating

Wow, I couldn't believe how quickly our kitchen pantry TRANSFORMED the week I found out I had type 1 diabetes.

I asked my parents, where are my usual junk snacks? What is this new food? Am I in Mars? Can we eat out instead of always eating at home?

The next thing happened. I got an appointment with a nutritionist. My mind went blank seeing all those numbers and measuring cups. OH NO!!! THIS WILL BE MY NEW LIFE?!!!

I just couldn't keep up. I looked at a long list of things I had to do. Which one should come first? I need to think about what I'll eat, do the math, and then give myself an injection. Or do I check my blood glucose level first, then...?

I really don't know how much insulin to give myself when I sneak out to get junk food. My blood sugar will rise because of it. After that, my mood will also change.

This convinced me that, okay, I sort of needed to learn carbohydrate counting so that I can manage the rise and fall of my blood glucose better. I need some sort of reference to keep my blood glucose from getting super high or so low.

5. Exercising

I really enjoy sports. But when I play sports, I get in trouble because my blood glucose drops quickly, also called hypoglycemia.

What I don't like about working out is that I must eat even if I'm not hungry, just to treat my diabetes. When I go low blood glucose, my palpitations have been like an earthquake inside my body. I don't like it. It's as if my world is falling apart.

When my blood glucose drops too low, I also have trouble figuring out how to manage my weight because I have to eat again.

After a lot of trial and error, I figured out that checking my blood glucose level before doing anything else is the best way to prevent hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

Most of the time, working out made me feel good. I feel like all the cells in my body are moving. I feel good both in my head and in my body.

When I work out, I may also need less insulin than on days when I don't work out.

6. By now, am I having fun with type 1 diabetes?

I lost count of my type 1 diabetes trial-and-error attempts. Every day is different from the last. If today is not so great, maybe tomorrow will be better.

What I do know is, counting carbs has helped me better deal with my blood glucose changes because I can figure out how much insulin to give myself.

When I exercise regularly, I feel good. Since everyone with type 1 diabetes is different, the best way to get the best results is to tailor your care to your needs.

I don’t mind injecting in public as well. Whatever society may say, I value taking care of my type 1 diabetes.

Having type 1 diabetes has been a special part of my life because it has helped me grow so much. We can be as strong as the deep blue ocean waves. There will be moments where we may get wiped out, but we can rise again.

And YES, we can STILL HAVE FUN while living life with type 1 diabetes, because WE CAN!