Phobia of Hospitals.
All I could seem to remember was waking up with my entire body numb.
Now, if you’ve been hospitalized you know that it is nearly impossible to rest. All i wanted to know was what was going on with me. I lost about 22 pounds in 2 months. However, being that skinny made me look sick. I was not losing fat, instead I was losing muscle mass. There were days where I had no energy to get up and walk. My legs were as weak as I can imagine. I finally went into the ER, thinking all I needed to do was get blood work done, maybe even some medications.
I ended up being stuck there. I had gone into DKA and I was as weak as I could remember. If you all don’t know what DKA is, it’s when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones. If left untreated and sugars remain sky high, you could possibly go into a coma. I was terrified.
When I got released from the hospital, I was a whole different person, I was diabetic! Being told I was Type 1 Diabetic, just seemed to fly right by me. I couldn’t take it in. Probably because, all I needed to know was why ME?
Being told that for the rest of my life I will have to inject myself daily with a needle, frightened me. I kept telling myself this can’t be happening to ME.
I’d love to sit and tell you that it gets easier day by day, but I’d be lying if I did. Truth is, I’m still trying to figure this all out myself. I’m trying to figure out why my body doesn’t work like a “normal” body. There are days where I don’t feel like pricking my fingers 4 times a day, don’t feel like injecting myself.. but if I didn’t.. I could die.
All i really seem to understand at this moment is that my pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, so my cells are not absorbing the nutrients I need.
When it finally sunk in.
Diabetes got the best of me. I was confused at this entire situation and just kept asking myself why? Trying to understand everything possible about being Type 1 diabetic frustrated me. I was stubborn and didn’t want to be educated. Until it was like something came and slapped me across the face. You live with it now. I was finally realizing that I would have to put in that extra work that was needed for being a Type 1 diabetic. I realized that this is my life. I will always have to inject myself, I will always have to count my carbs. And I will always have those days, where I would either have perfect numbers or bad numbers! It has been the most challenging time, but ultimately it has made me much stronger.
Take it day by day.
I want you to know that you are not your diabetes, you are so much more. Yeah, it demands for a new lifestyle, but YOU can handle it. And always remember…
Have a support group. They are there for a reason. Talk to them! I am surrounded by love and endless support, and I can’t thank them enough. It’s not easy, but having people surround you who help you get through it makes it a whole lot easier. Don’t allow this disease to get the best of you. Don’t let it consume you. You are still the same person, just with a little extra work to do.
You control your diabetes, it doesn’t control you. Make this diabetic journey be one hell of a journey. This is my journey on accepting every aspect of my diabetes, in hopes to find its silver linings and hopefully inspire and support others.
And don’t forget.. Live your life. Having diabetes shouldn’t stop you from doing what you love. If anything, let it be a motivation to become more self aware and tune in with your body.
Continue do THRIVE, TO LOVE, TO LIVE.. live to inspire.
It’s a lot to handle, but Diabetes has empowered me and i hope it will for you as well. You still have the best years of your life ahead of you, don’t lose hope!
I am a type 1 diabetic and this is my story!
Stay strong, xo
Living With Hashimoto’s Disease
Let me back track just a few months prior to being diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic.
I was in a frightening car accident late August of 2014. While in the hospital waiting to get released, they did more blood work to make sure everything was fine. Eventually 6 hours later they released me.
About a week after, I got a call from my Doctor saying I needed to do an ultrasound of my thyroid because they “found something”.
Results are In.
My thyroid test came back with everything registered within the normal range. I felt good, I didn’t feel hopeless anymore.
Fast forward to when my entire life was changed.
Not long after being diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic, my Doctor ordered another thyroid test to be done. I figured it wouldn’t change much since I took the test only a few months ago.
However, she explained to me that individuals who are type 1 are more likely to develop other autoimmune disease’s, just like thyroid disease.
Let me first explain what your thyroid does. Our thyroid is a small gland that produces a thyroid hormone, which is essential for our body’s metabolism. There are two different types- underactive thyroid (Hashimoto’s disease) and overactive (grave’s disease).
One day, I found myself in class dazing off and I felt so confused. I felt something was completely off, so I called up my doctor to see if my results were in by now.
Shortly after, she had called me telling me my TSH level was extremely high (A test that evaluates your thyroid function). She indicated that I have an underactive thyroid gland, resulting in Hashimoto’s disease. Apparently my immune system is not allowing my thyroid to do its primary job and had begun to attack it.
My thyroid wasn’t producing the hormones that my body needed.(Much like my pancreas isn’t producing insulin anymore).
Handling Diagnosis
I believe hearing your diagnosis and accepting it is the hardest part in dealing with a chronic condition. And that was entirely true in my case.
I would have never imagined that at age 19, I would be diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic and living with Hashimoto’s disease. But just like everything else in life, we stumble over obstacles.
However, please don’t let those obstacles interfere with your everyday life.
I live with Hashimotos disease, and it is now velcroed into my daily life.
The only advice I can give to anyone who may be dealing with thyroid disease, with or without another autoimmune disease, is that its up to you. The power is in the palm of your hand.
You define the way you live, and I hope that you can remain strong in any given situation.
We live everyday in a daily battle between our health and our chronic disease taking over. Know you are not alone, and know that the current battles we face will make us stronger in the end.
Always remember… Half the battle is accepting you have it, and being strong enough to overcome it.
You are you.. and you are strong.
Here I am, living with Hashimoto’s disease.
Embracing the D. 