More about my story with Type 1 Diabetes...
Welcome! My rationale for posting my journey with type 1 diabetes is to share helpful information for those who are struggling with a recent diagnosis or those who have been living with the disease and want to stay on top new developments. Lastly, it is alway important for people whose lives are intertwined with a loved one with Diabetes to have another perspective.
Over the last decade, all aspects of my life have been TRAINEDbyINSULIN (hence the name). Simply put, my life is dependent on insulin, but in all honestly, only family and close friends really know I am diabetic. I don’t necessarily hide it, but I haven’t always embraced it either, it's something that I am learning to do. I, like all other diabetics, struggle with this disease, but it hasn't limited my passion to travel, ability to compete in sport, crossfit, triathlons, or my desire to jump out of airplanes, run with bulls, bungee jump & willingness to master nutrition...most importantly be an active participant in LIFE!
So WHY this site and WHY now? Well, a recent experience with INSULIN, the drug that saved my life, also could easily have been the same drug that killed me. It was an extremely scary moment as my wife Googled for answers on insulin overdose during our honeymoon from a hotel on a remote island in Thailand, only accessible by boat. As you can tell, I made it and i'll go into more detail in my first blog post. Hopefully, through my experiences, I can help others while helping myself remain diligent in the daily battle of managing diabetes, challenging myself to learn and step out of my comfort zone.
Over the last decade, all aspects of my life have been TRAINEDbyINSULIN (hence the name). Simply put, my life is dependent on insulin, but in all honestly, only family and close friends really know I am diabetic. I don’t necessarily hide it, but I haven’t always embraced it either, it's something that I am learning to do. I, like all other diabetics, struggle with this disease, but it hasn't limited my passion to travel, ability to compete in sport, crossfit, triathlons, or my desire to jump out of airplanes, run with bulls, bungee jump & willingness to master nutrition...most importantly be an active participant in LIFE!
So WHY this site and WHY now? Well, a recent experience with INSULIN, the drug that saved my life, also could easily have been the same drug that killed me. It was an extremely scary moment as my wife Googled for answers on insulin overdose during our honeymoon from a hotel on a remote island in Thailand, only accessible by boat. As you can tell, I made it and i'll go into more detail in my first blog post. Hopefully, through my experiences, I can help others while helping myself remain diligent in the daily battle of managing diabetes, challenging myself to learn and step out of my comfort zone.
My Diagnosis and treatment
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This is the quick and dirty on my diagnosis and evolution of treatment. I was diagnosed at the age of 17 while going to the doctor to get results of a neck x-ray from a football injury. I was a couple months away from being 18 and insisted to my mom to be able to go to the doctor by myself for the first time. As I mentioned to the doctor my insane thirst and frequent urination, he order the nurse to check my blood sugar, which struck me as odd. Didn't really have any idea why? As the nurse showed the doctor the results with a puzzled look on her face, he told her to check it again. As she did, she got the same result - "HIGH". Side note - "Well hello there to you too my new side kick, blood glucose monitor, that will not leave my side for the rest of my life."
My mom had to come take me to the hospital. They checked my bood sugar again. It was over 600 mg/ml, which could easily put someone in a coma. Why was my sugar so crazy high? Well on my way to the doctor, I was so thirsty I stopped at AM/PM and got a 32oz lemon lime gatorade and decided to have a pack of Starbursts too :/ Oh the irony. I spent the next couple days in the hospital after I had passed out while getting my first IV. They flushed my system with liquids to lower my BS before they gave me any insulin. I was so pissed off, all I wanted to do was go home! I was so angry about the whole situation. Why me? I still don't know. However, one thing that truly stuck with me besides the fact that a couple of my friends came to visit with a huge chocolate chip cookie, was the stranger I shared my room with on the other side of the curtain. I did not want to talk to anyone, the nurse, my mom, the doctor or especially the obese man struggling on the other side of the curtain. I was so angry and after being angrily hasty to my mom, she left the room. This man pulled back the curtain and asked if he could talk to me. I didn't say anything, so he proceeded to talk. I did not want to hear anything he had to say. His message was strong even though I don't remember the exact words, but it was to not live in anger, follow a higher power and love your family. As much as I didn't want to hear it, I am glad he had the courage to speak to me. So I was diagnosed. My family doctor put on Humalin 70/30, which was an old school insulin regime that you took twice a day, but had to schedule out all your meals for the whole day. I went to an endo doctor and he put me on a Humalog and Lantus regime immediately. I have been on this regime for over 10 years. As of 2012, I have started on a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, which has been one of the best tools I have used for my management. I have an Animas pump, but have yet to try it outside the saline trial in 2012. I will share my first attempt when I do.
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