Comments on: Origin Story

By: Geannie

Geannie — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:48:44 +0000

Wow! Loved reading your Big D story. I got T1 when I was 8, thirty-six-some years ago. *GASP!* yep, I’m really old. I saw someone comment about getting as a child vs. getting it when you’re older. I think either one really sucks. When you’re a kid it kinda brings carefree childhood to a screeching halt, but when you’re older, it’s like relearning how to live with SO many areas of your life. At least that’s what I imagine it’s like.
You have an awesome attitude and I LOVE that! I try to keep positive, too & lean heavily on my faith in God to get me through the tough times.
Hang in there, keep it up & I will definitely be back to wander through the place. I’m anxious to see how you’re doing!
God bless!
Geannie in KY
T1 since 1975
Mom of two grown sons, 1989 & 1993
Pumper since 2004

By: Alyse Cooke

Alyse Cooke — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:17:58 +0000

i just found your blog.. and reading your origin story reminds me of my story and how i tell it … you have to keep light and sarcastic and funny or you might just go crazy! i love it!

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:59:53 +0000

I like the idea of an origin.

By: Emma

Emma — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 08:54:23 +0000

I remember, I was diagnosed on my birthday, and, like you, I had little idea of what was happening. Sure, my best friend is T1, as are a few others in my school, but nobody realised until it was a little late. You took it well though, and good luck with everything!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 26 May 2010 04:10:51 +0000

Dude, I am so familiar with that story, it made me laugh out loud. I remember it well, and it was anything but fun or remotely funny when I was going through it, but now I sit back and chuckle.
Thank You, I’m cruising around your site and getting to know you.
I hope you’re having a great time at your new job, keep it goin’

By: Diane Hillman

Diane Hillman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:39:06 +0000

Two separate points here…
1. Dianna, do NOT expect to find any particular accommodations waiting for you in an emergency situation; the consequences of relying on someone else to have what you need available could be devastating. Trust me, as the wife, mom AND sister of people with T1, you need to have your OWN emergency plan/pack in place so you’re prepared on a moment’s notice. For us, that means that all of our supplies (except for the insulins, which get grabbed at the last minute along with FRIO or other means to keep it cool), are kept in two plastic containers that can be grabbed in an instant and taken with us. This probably isn’t everything, but off the top of my head, each box contains my husband/daughter’s entire current supply of strips, lancets, infusion sets, reservoirs, detachol and IV preps for site changes, bottle of glucose tabs, blood ketone test kit/strips, glucagon kit, syringes (in case of a pump failure and we have to temporarily go back to a Lantus/Novolog mix), extra meters, extra batteries for the meters AND insulin pump, a user guide for each device, paper copy of all current pump settings, list of contact information (doctors, pharmacy,pump manufacturer, etc). It sounds like a ton of stuff, but it fits easily (room to spare) in a 15″x18″ lidded plastic storage box (like they sell for paper files–because they have the ridges on the sides, I can keep the paperwork in a single hanging file at the back of the box). If we had to leave our home in an emergency, once the insulins go in the box, we can be reasonably confident that we’ll at least have the diabetes stuff covered. (There’s a whole other conversation about other things anyone should be able to put their hands on quickly in an emergency.) An everyday advantage of keeping everything together like this is you can see at a glance what needs to be ordered. Obviously if you’re away from home when disaster strikes, you won’t have everything on you–but that’s why we try to be sure we always have at least a meter and lots of strips and glucose tabs/snacks with each of us at all times. Never wait until the last minute to resupply any essential item; it’s a fool’s game. Sorry to be long-winded on the topic, but it’s worth it if gets even one person to start preparing–and hopefully none of us will ever actually need to grab the box and run!

1. And to Chris: My brother was also diagnosed while he was in college, and unlike you, he spent a lot of years in denial and angry and more or less making an unfortunate situation worse by not accepting things and actively managing his condition. He’s paying a terrible price now in terms of complications. (In contrast, my husband and his family took the bull by the horns from the very start–he was dx-ed at age 6, at a time when blood testing was still unheard of and you had to boil your urine to test it, not to mention those steel syringes–and he never let it stop him from anything. At age 53 he still plays ice hockey and routinely outruns the 20-somethings on his softball team, with not a single complication. In the end, I think attitude is at least half the battle with diabetes. I congratulate you and wish you all the best!

By: Dianna Inkster

Dianna Inkster — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:16:52 +0000

An interesting story! And, of course, one that is not unfamiliar to most of us. Why is it that Type 1 diabetics who have such horrendous medical bills (strips, lancets, insulin, insulin pumps, supplies for the insulin pump [reservoirs, sets, sensors], transmitters, bg meters, etc.) don’t lobby more for public healthcare.

Type 1s seem very content to sit down and submit bills to private healthcare plans, but not to lobby for other type 1s to get better coverage.

Oh, yes, does anyone know of a site where I can find out what preparations are made for a type 1 at an emergency shelter when disaster strikes. My husband (my type 1) is need a lot of care. What kind of care would he get at an emergency shelter?

By: Martin Jackson

Martin Jackson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:55:26 +0000

Hi Chris,

Greetings from a fellow diabetic and network engineer.

I was diagnosed about 4 weeks ago (at the age of 36), and your story has a lot of external similarities to mine (minus the weightlifting – I’m not really into that sort of thing).

So thanks for sharing from me, too. Reading your story and the stories of other bloggers has really helped me adjust.

By: Tonya

Tonya — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:51:14 +0000

Thanks for sharing! Yes, all of us diabetic superheros should share our origins. My new roomate recently told me that she “admired my courage”. She shreiks everytime she sees me with a needle. She’s constantly worried that I will pass out from HG. I’m a little tired of being a superhero to people in that way. I’m really just struggling! I’m 34 but was diagnosed as T1 only 3 years ago– adult T1 runs in my family; my mom was diagnosed T1 about 10 years ago. I’m really working hard to just keep up. I started a new job recently and had a near dangerous moment while teaching class because I was rushing to get out of the house and forgot to bring my emergency supplies. I still feel a little resentment when I have to shoot up and count carbs when just going out for a bite with friends. Or especially when everyone else wants pizza and I have to get a salad. Does one ever become immune to that kryptonite?

By: Regina

Regina — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:13:50 +0000

Yeah, I got type 1 IN college. I don’t think there is ever a good time. However, I try to look on the bright side and I’m thankful I didn’t have to worry about all of this when I was in grade or middle school.

I’ve had it for years now and I just say, make sure you don’t burn out. I think it happens to everyone at some point, but I had some hard phases in my life and slagged off on taking care of myself. I’m lucky.