I remember feeling like I was dying. I was vomiting nonstop and sweating profusely. My chest felt tight, making it hard to breathe. I couldn't remember what I ate that day, but I knew it was one of the three times I felt the sickest. It was also the day I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
After my 21st birthday, my endocrinologist introduced me to my first Dexcom insulin pump. Excited about my new pump, my friends and I decided to go camping. But being fairly new to the pump, I didn't realize that the needle inside it could get bent or stuck in my skin. During the camping trip, the needle did get stuck, and I didn't realize it. As I slept, my body went into Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous condition that happens when blood sugar levels remain high for a long time. I woke up vomiting nonstop, with an excruciating headache and painful muscles that made it hard to move. My friend had to take me to the ER, and I ended up staying in the hospital for three weeks.
Throughout my life, I've always been skinny. However, there was a time when I was throwing up after every meal, but still gaining weight. This made me sluggish and sick consistently, so I went to the doctor for help. That's when my life really changed. I had to start having dialysis.
To this day, I'm on the transplant list for new kidneys and a pancreas. Some days, I don't feel like going to dialysis, but I go anyway. How? First, through persistence. By eating healthy, exercising, and testing your blood sugar at the same time every day, you can start to live the healthiest life possible with T1 diabetes. Second, ask your endocrinologist about an insulin pump. The Dexcom insulin pump changed my life, and I highly recommend it. The pump notifies me when my blood sugar is too high or low. Third, having a healthy diet can help you live a great life. That doesn't mean you can't have a few sweets here and there, but understanding what you put in your body is crucial. Staying away from carbs and sugar has given me an energy boost.
