I'm pretty eccentric. I am all about living my life to its fullest. I am definitely not a push-over. I like to help people that want to help themselves. I say the truths that no will, even if it hurts me to say it or you to hear it. I live everyday like it's going to be my last. Which can be a good thing and a bad thing. Although, I have acquired some bad habits through the years like smoking. DON'T SMOKE!!! It's harder to quit, now more than ever, with all my health stresses! I have good days and bad days like most diabetics and am far from PERFECT. I try, the best I can, to keep a healthy lifestyle.
THE HARD PART: I was 10 years old when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I developed my first diabetic complication when I was 17 yrs old, Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum or NLD. It's a blood vessel disease that breaks down the layers of your skin. I have it on my legs. It's like type 1 where it's caused from an auto immine deficiency disorder and less than 1/2% of type 1 diabetics have it. At 19, I miscarried with my first child due to my diabetes. At 22, I was diagnosed with neuropathy in my feet and legs. At 25 I had my first laser surgery to my right eye to slow down blindness from diabetes. Since then I went blind in my right eye for a couple of months but most of my vision came back after 2 more laser surgeries. I have little peripheral and night vision due to the 7 laser surgeries I have had thus far. At 26 yrs old, I was diagnosed with Pyoderma Gangrenosum, a skin disease that acts out whenever there is trama to the skin (scrape, burn, cut). I also had my tubes tied after the dr's terminated my pregnancy due to my diabetes. I was also diagnosed with high blood pressure and kidney damage. Then at 27 I was diagnosed with gastroperisis. At 28 I had an angiogram (heart catheter) as it appeared that I had blockages to my heart. It turned out to be narrow arteries which is typical of a diabetic heart. Then I had another surgery to try to help with pain (endometriosis & hemmhoragia). Then at 29 yrs old I was diagnosed with Fybromyalgia. In the meantime, I have struggled with OCD, insomnia, and manic depression since I was 15 years old. HHmmmm, imagine that! So to make a long story short (TOO LATE)I have been on an insulin pump for 5 years (FINALLY got a dr to approve me for one after 10 years). I am now ONLY on 11 different medications. Believe or not just a few years ago I was taking 16 different meds and over 30 pills a day.
There are two types of diabetes:
Type 1 Type 2 A flu virus that causes the body to attack itself (auto immune deficiency disorder) and kill off the insulin making cells. Usually develops in childhood. You have to have a specific DNA make up in order for this virus to attack. Since the body does not develop any insulin, daily injections or an insulin pump is the only way to stay alive. About 10% of diabetics are type 1. Insulin resistance or the body's inability to produce enough insulin. It's hereditary and the risks are higher if you are over weight and/or minority. Can usually be managed with proper diet, exercise, and sometimes oral meds. About 90% of diabetics are type 2.The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Powered by a network of more than one million volunteers and a membership representing diabetes patients and their families, physicians, scientists, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and educators. ADA's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.