Effects Treatment Testimonies

These are testimonies by people who have diabetes or know someone with diabetes:

“She was sick when she was two years old and a virus attacked her pancreas and it shut down. She was in the hospital for seven months and she started to get better when thy started giving her insulin on a regular basis; She need three or five shots of insulin everyday to keep her body at a normal rate; My mom became pregnant with my sister, who as born with diabetes and they tried to stabilize her but she died; When she was pregnant with me, she had a team of specialist that helped her. In 1999, she got a mini-med pump and it was connected to her body through a catheter. She needs to change the catheter every four days and before she eats, depending on the amount of sugar, she gives herself insulin through the pump. And for her to be fully better, she needs a stem cell transplant, since its not legalized she can’t have it” –Debra

“My grandmother had diabetes after she had my mother. As a young child I didn’t know what diabetes was. When I was around 9 my grandma came from Nigeria to live with us over her in America. When I first saw her I didn’t recognize her, because of how diabetes had affected her body. She was advice to eat certain things that would be good for her. She started injecting insulin into her body and testing her glucose levels regularly, which I sometimes helped her with it. She also exhibited the complications of diabetes, such as numbness and tingling in the legs. After 2 year of staying with us, she left for Nigeria with a stabilized condition. Unfortunately in 2004, she died of diabetes. Later on, I joined the Science Research Program in my high school and the one topic that I believed defined me and meant a lot to me was diabetes, which I took on as project topic.” –Ursla

“My dad has diabetes; I don’t really now much about it. All I know is that he has to stay away from a lot of sugary and salty foods. When using sugar he has to use little or no sugar or the substitutes like Splenda. He has to cut down the things he eats; he has to eat more of vegetable and fruits to get his blood sugar normal. When he was diagnosed with diabetes, he started with a fever, he went to the hospital and was told that he has diabetes, and his blood sugar was very high. When I found out, I really didn’t know how to react. i felt bad, but I take care of him and help him. It was bad but not too drastic. He has to follow the diet the doctor gives him and he has to take insulin shots and pills and test his blood sugar. Right now his blood sugar is stable and can go up any time.” – Patricia

“My life has not changed a lot by diabetes. When I first found out I had it and the changes it would bring I was shocked. But, as time went on, I slowly got used to the blood sugar tests and visits to the Winthrop Clinic in Mineola. After every 3 months, I have to go see an endocrinologist. She mainly checks on my growth, and my blood sugar levels. It is important for me not to eat breakfast if I visit in the morning. So far, I’ve been doing pretty good.” - Taheem

****For those who know anyone with diabetes or have diabetes themselves and feel a need to talk about their feelings, you should always go talk to a counselor at school, friend, doctor or a trustworthy person in your life.****