Living with diabetes has been a difficult but good experience. When I was diagnosed with the disease, I remember feeling as though the world had collapsed. Even without having much knowledge on the subject, I had the notion that much would change in my life from that moment on.
When they told me I was insulin-dependent, the first thing I thought about was the needles. My God I was so afraid of them and thought “how am I going to administer insulin to myself?”
I was 18 at the time and I was scared. The next day, I left the hospital and I wanted to learn all about the disease. However, I did the worst thing you could do when you are afraid- I went on Google. Suddenly, what was already a scary situation seemed much worse, and it seemed that I had no more than 15 days left to live!
The first time I injected myself I cried. I made everyone else at home cry, but I suddenly also got a new life. I was no longer tired and without strength, and I finally felt like leaving the house and seeing people. Food finally had taste and the hope of a “normal” life took shape.
I know that my story is not much different from all of you, but sharing with you how much my life has changed has been good for me. This condition has shown me that I am stronger than I imagined, taught me the value of support from those who are with me daily, and taught me to take more care of myself and my body.
In about two months, I had reached a state of thinness and weakness. I was such a different person and did not realize it. So I learned to pay more attention to my health, to what I eat, and when I eat. Living with diabetes is not anyone’s dream, no disease is. However, when we understand that it is part of us, when we accept it in our daily lives, when we understand how to deal with the hunger or lack of it, and the sudden mood changes, it becomes our companion. It reminds us to adopt healthy habits and take care of ourselves.
Diabetes does not define us and this is the thing that I say to myself daily. It cannot prevent us from doing anything or being anything, and it improves us in a very profound way.
If you don’t think we are strong people, just look at how we can live without complaining to those who ask us if the libre is some sticker or if we ate a lot of sweets before the disease.
I hope that everyone is safe and healthy and just remember to be happy, positive, and strong every day.
Showing the world I am more than my disease.
