Hello,

My name is Debbie and I have been a type one diabetic for 37 years now. I would like nothing more than to be able to say how great my life has been since I got this condition at age ten, but thats really not the case.

There are circumstances in my life that i attribuate to the reason I was attained condition. When you read this story see what you think.

At age eight my father (who owned his own business) was murdered. This really caused alot of uncessary problems in life in general as well as the sadness and loss. I was needless to say very very upset.

Two years later I was with my grandparents in church one Sunday and I kept leaving church to go to the bathroom.My grandparents were getting mad at me. I had no idea what was wrong. That evening when my mom came to get us grandma told her how I had been acting and I was taken to the hospital. The poking and stabbing began.I was very distraught. I was kept in this hospital for a week as the hospital personnel attempted to reprogram my life with all their very limited diabetic information it was 1967. I was taking pork insulin. I was told to take the same amount every day and follow this diet plan and weigh my food etc. etc.Friends who came to visit me in the hospital would bring gifts and if the gift contained any kind of candy or food the nursing staff would take it away from me.

After I got out of the hospital. My mom located a diabetic doctor who told me at age ten that I could probably never have children. Because of the diabetes. At that moment, I decided I was going to have chikdren.

At age 16 after being placed in the hpspital again for diabetes I had had enough. I prayed and sorta made a deal with God. I told Him I would drink nothing but diet soda (which at that time there wasn't much choice) If He would keep me from having any of the problems that this condition causes. I understood that we had an agreement.

Well, I lived with this condition for years and years and had very little problem a couple reactions here and there but nothing really horrid.

At age 21 I got married. thinking I could now have my children that I wanted. I got pregnant. Pregnancy and diabetes is not easy. My first daughter weighed 5.5 pounds when she was born and had something they called hyline membrane disease meaning her lungs were not totally developed at birth she was also six weeks early. After four weeks in the hospital she came home very healthy and happy. Thank God.

Three years later I got pregnant again and had my second daughter she was on time and weighed 7.5 pounds at birth. Diabetes lost this round.

Years later I was divorced and left on my own with no insurance no money and two chilldren to raise. The children being my first priority I did everything to make their lives as plesant and happy as possible.

Things went pretty well,until 2000 when I started having problems with my eyes, I developed a hemmorrage in my left eye and it scared me to death. I went to the eye doctor who said I had retinopathy and needed laser treatment. He said though he thought I would be o.k.

I had the laser. on both eyes, i had a vitrectomy on both eyes I had cataracts removed on both eyes. I became legally blind. I am only 48 years old. I am now unemployed, on disability and I truely feel shot down by this disease in the prime of life.

I am starting back to college in Jan. taking online classes. Trying to get my life back in order

Diabetes is the most horrifying disease I have ever seen or heard of and through my experiences I have learned there is little to nothing anyone will do to assist people who lose their vision because of this disease. Social Security throws you into poverty and with little vision finding a job is a nightmare.

This disease needs to be cured NOW! I

Debbie

Hello, my name is Frances, and this is my story, Part II.

I posted "my story" about 6 years ago. I told about the day I found out I was diabtic and how I was handling it, which wasn't very well. I ended my story by saying it was too hard for me to write more, and maybe one day I'd finish it. Well, today is that day. I've been diabetic for six years now, I found out when I was 18 (6 days before I moved away to college). I was alone in a new place and learning to deal with it by myself. I felt scared and I hated diaetes more than anything. I became depressed and indulged in self destructive behavior for at least 4 years. To me, I would always be different, I would always be "sick" and I basically gave up all hope of ever being happy and felt sorry for myself all the time.

This is amazing and may be hard to explain, but, I went from feeling like that to now bieng happier than I ever could have imagined. First off, I went on the insulin pump about two years ago. That helped. I'd rather do 3 big pokes a week than 6 smaller ones a day and it was easier to eat and snack as I pleased, but I was still depressed and feeling sorry for myself.

However, God changed my outlook, and my life. I had a good friend, Josh, for a couple years that I met through work. One day, I realized he was too special to be my "friend" any longer. I started going to church with him and slowly trusting him enough to share how I really felt, how I really felt deep inside about being diabetic. There was a part of me in the deepest, darkest hole.

After being together about six months, my trust and faith in God grew stronger, with Josh's help and encouragment. Finally, on one really low day, he told me I needed to go home and get on my knees and give this to God. It was too big for any one person to handle and I wasn't able to do it on my own.

I can honestly say that day now defines my diabetes. Not the day I found out I had it, the day I gave it to God and he helped me cope and feel better about it. I don't feel sorry for myself anymore and I'm not depressed. Yes, I may have this disease, but I also have a great family and a husband I never could have imagined. I don't know why I got it, but I know it made me who I am today and I am happier than I ever thought I would be, even before I got it.

So, for anyone out there who feels hopeless and helpless, I understand, but, I know it doesn't have to be that way. Trust God, lean on him and with faith, He will get you through anything. We never know what he has planned for us. Life does go on.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

I myself am a long time veteran of diabetes, diagnosed back in 1976, at the age of two. I have lived happy and healthy with diabetes, (type 1) for 27 years now.
My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 five years ago, we will celebrate her anniversary two days after thanksgiving! We always have a sugar free cake and celebrate the day rather than be sad.
Her diagnosis did not come as a surprise, I waited in the wings, watching the symptoms add up, first came the thirst, she could never get enough water!! I kept that in the back of my mind, and if she should become sick with flu symptoms I would immediately check her blood sugar, fearing the onset. Her day came two days after thanksgiving, another Saturday night, or date night, as I liked to call it. At the time I was a single mother having just left an abusive marriage the year before. I struggled to raise my two children, and I think that the emotional strain was the worst. So my date night consisted of taking my two children across the street to the laundromat, laundry never stood me up on a Saturday night! We had several loads that night, my daughter was just five at the time, and my son three. They always got an orange soda from the vending machine, and they played. Then my daughter came to me and said she didn't feel well, here we are half way through the laundry, having just put the clothes in to dry. I had her sit in her brother's stroller thinking that maybe she was coming down with something. Then she began to vomit, repeatedly. I grab the wet laundry and throw it in the basket, and put it on top of the stroller, grab my son like a football, running across the street with the thought of oh my, her blood is high, then remembering that she did not have diabetes. I stripped her down on the front porch, got her in and filled a warm bath to clean her up, then came, "ok, humor me let's test your blood" I got my testing supplies and checked her sugar, and I was heartbroken when I ever saw the word "HI". I began to cry, I knew what her life was going to be like now, and it made me so sad, I think that too, in a lot of ways I felt guilty for "giving" this to my daughter.
And as I sat on the floor in the living-room crying just breaking down, this little voice said to me "mommy does this mean I can go to your camp now?" And I stopped for a moment and thought if she is not upset about this life change, why am I? Thinking back, I was glad that I had taken her to alumni day at Clara Barton Camp where I had spent many happy summers!
I went back to the bathroom and told her that we were going to play a fun game called pee in the cup, and she looked at me as if I had two heads, and thankfully, the ketones were negative. I placed a call to the pediatrician, who told me there was nothing to worry about, that throwing up was a stress on the body which would cause the glucose level to elevate, I was like no you don't understand, my meter reads to 600! He told me to watch her ketone level, and if it continued to be negative, she was fine. The next call I placed was to my endocrinologist, knowing that she did not treat children, but just wanting some firm medical back up. She told me to get her to the hospital, and there we went for a night of poking and screaming, talk about nightmare, not just for her but me too! There was nothing that I could do, I was helpless, and I hated that feeling! I went into the emergency room and told the nurse at the desk that my daughter has diabetes, and she said "so?", I was like no wait you don't understand, I need her to be diagnosed, she goes," but you said....." no, but I need a doctor to agree with me. And sure enough, I was right, my daughter was diagnosed type1 that night, and being that I had acted fast, she never really got sick. In fact she went home that night, the doctor in the emergency room thought that I probably knew more about diabetes care than they did. Proven that night, when they gave my 40 pound daughter a five unit injection of regular insulin to help her sugar come down, and crash we did in the middle of the night. But knowing that was going to happen I tested her sugar every hour, to prevent any bad situations. The morning came, and I dreaded giving my daughter that first shot, but to my amazement, she did her own shot that morning, with the help of an injector! Wow!
And here we are five years later, living life, accepting the challenges we are given, and making the best of what we got! We have both decided to switch to insulin pump therapy, I made my switch this spring and love it, and my beautiful ten-year-old daughter will begin in just a few months time!

December 6, 2000 is a date I will always remember as well as most all the details of the day. My seven year old daughter had been very thirsty for several days and was very emotional. I decided to take her to the pediatricians. He ordered a urine test which was high for ketones. Brittany rode in an ambulance to Children's Hospital and our lives will be forever changed. I could not believe this was happening to us...to her. I had given up my nursing practice 4 years ago. I now know why I had become a nurse. The two days in the hospital were packed with information and teaching sessions. How any one without a medical background can comprehend all the information thrown at you the first couple days is beyond me. Some days are really tuff - but we try to keep everything as normal as possible for Brittany. Her attitude is wonderful and she is always telling me not to worry. I know it could be so much worse - but they just have to find a cure. Brittany's childhood carefree days have been robbed from her because of diabetes. We can handle the high's and low's of this disease - what scares me is the long term complications that we have little control over. I think if we all take on an active roll - to educate, promote awareness and encourage funding for research - we'll have a better shot at a cure.

Hello

Just about 5 months ago I was diagnosed with Diabetes.This is how I learned that I first had this diesease. Well, at first, I started feeling just plain sick all of the time. I was always thirsty, and ate everything in sight. My Mom noticed that I was losing weight, but she didn't really mention it. One day I stayed home from school because I had cramps, and a dizzy headache. Whenever someone is sick in my house, we have to have a doctor's appointment. I begged my Mom to not take me, and told her that it was only a 24-hour thing. But she made me go, and I'm really glad she did. When we got to the doctor's office, the nurse weighed me, and I was 61 pounds! My regular weight was 70-75! At first, my doctor thought it was an eating disorder, and I told him that I thought of myself as a little skinny, not fat, and that I was eating alot. Then my Mom told him that I was also drinking all of the time. He then knew that I must have Diebetes. The nurse checked my blood sugar level, and I was 880! Then I had to go to Yale New Haven Hospital where my Mom&Dad stayed with me so all of us could learn how to take care of me. It was actually really fun to stay there because I got to watch whatever I wanted on TV without my brother intruding! Here I am now though, very happy and healthy.

My husband (Roger) has been a diabetic for 4 yrs now and has been insulin dependent for 3. We are sad to say that Roger did not get the proper training in how to take care of himself by the doctor that he was going to and the week of Christmas Roger was put in the hospital. He was in the first stages of a diabetic coma. It was so very scary. Since this time we have found a different doctor in hopes that he will be better. We do not have insurance at this time or would have takin some classes that would have helped us more. So I have found myself here on the internet searching for answers. I have enjoyed this site and will be praying that it reaches others, to have faith in God to help find a cure horrible disease in the very near future. May God bless all who enters this site.

My son Stewart is 9 yrs old and was diagnosed Nov 30, 1998. I'll never forget that day, that day that his life would change forever. I know that every parent thinks that his or her child is terrific, but my son really is. I have always known that he was a strong child but dealing and coping with his diabetes, he has shown great strength and discipline and I am so proud of him. We often talk about a cure and how old he may be when it comes but I don't believe we have ever prayed for a cure. I have only prayed that GOD give us the strength to deal with it and for us to appreciate what we do have, but now I will add to our prayers a cure for diabetes. This is a great sight! It sure is nice to know that we are not alone.

What A Wonderful Site. As the mother of a seven year old Diabetic daughter, diagnosed at age 3, I admit to being a Woman on a Mission for a cure to this horrendous disease. I Pray with every ounce of my being daily for a Cure. Never doubt, there is Power in Prayer ,and Power in Numbers. Let us all Keep the Faith,and someday I truly Believe ,we will rejoice with the news A CURE FOR DIABETES HAS BEEN FOUND !!

Hello, I think it is wonderful that there is another site for diabetes. My daughter was diagoised 18 months ago. She is 12 years old.I never realized that children could get diabetes until it happened to my daughter.I Never realized how serious diabetes is. Well, now I know. I believe all our children with diabetes are all remarkable children. I often say God gave diabetes to my daughter because he knew she could handle it. Im very proud of the way she has handled it.

I beleive this is a wonderful idea and find it reassuring that we are not alone with this often confusing and devastating disease. We also pray every day for a cure and we keep the faith that one day there will be. Melissa was diagnosed on Feb. 25th 1999 and at times it is still so overwhelming, the questions, the information, the fluctuating numbers, waiting for the honeymoon to be over, Melissa wanting to be normal. Everything I have read states that the greatest advances have been made in the last 4 years so there is a great hope that she will live to see a cure. I plan on becoming involved with this site in any way I can because I can see the great benifits it provides.

William Flowers & Marlene Safford

My husband is a diabetic and I am glad I found this site. I have printed out the info on the prayers and am going to pass it to all my friends and to my church. This is a wonderful site.

Melody Hyatt

As a devout believer in the power of the mind through prayer, I am delighted to have found this sight. I will print the schedule and my whole family will honor these prayer times with our deepest devotion. A Prayer: I know there is only One creative power in this universe, One almighty Life that I call God. I know that because there is only One Creator, that all life and everything is a manifestation out of that One Life. I am a part of God and God is in and through all things. I am one with God. Knowing this, I affirm right now, that the cure for Type 1 diabetes is already known and manifesting into my reality NOW! God is perfect love, abundant wealth, and perfect health. It is the absolute truth and it is the truth about everyone on this Earth. I ACCEPT this as the truth about my son, Zac, knowing that diabetes is only an illusion and the truth about Zac is that he is whole, perfect and complete health. I know this truth for Zac and anyone else who chooses to accept this prayer. I give thanks for God's presense in every moment of our lives. I give thanks for the awareness and the knowing of God living in and through all things and I accept God's divine perfection in my life and Zac's life NOW! I release this prayer into the Universe, knowing that it cannot return to me void and knowing that all is well. And so it is....amen!

Hello, my name is Frances and this is my story:

The summer of 1998 I graduated from high school and began feeling sick. I had all the symptoms of diabetes, but didn't know. I was too busy preparing to leave for my first year of college in August. It started out that I was thirsty all the time. I would drink as much of whatever I could all the time. Then, I started losing weight, I thought that this was great! Being a young female in America, appearnce seems key. My normal weight is 130 lbs, (I'm 5'6) and by mid July I was down to 115 lbs. I really loved this. But, I did think it was strange how hungry I always was. I ate all the time, Burger King, anything I could get my hands on.  And I was losing weight.  And my hair. It started falling out, little by litte. This really bothered me. I was also just feeling plain "sick" most of the time. I'd get shakey, eat, then feel like I could sleep forever.  All summer it got worse. My mom pleaded w/ me to visit a doctor, but I wouldn't. Deep down I was just scared of what they'd tell me. The weakness I was feeling progressively got worse. To make this long story short: On August 14, 1998 I went to the zoo w/ my friend. It was a Friday and we were going to move to college on the next Thursday. I was too weak to walk around. I was feeling faint, things were blurry and I really couldn't walk. We went home and I finally went to the doctor weighing in at 107 lbs. It hasn't even been 4 months yet. They told me I might not make it to college, but here I am! Adjusting is so hard. This is still too painful for me to really talk about. I feel like crying right now. So, I'm going to quit. Maybe one day I can add more.

My name is Mike Cavanagh. I am 33 years old and have been diabetic for 17 years. I began praying for a cure as a small child, for my mother who has now been diabetic for over 40 years.
The worst feeling I ever had was seeing my mother, a very strong woman, break down in tears the day I came home with my own insulin. But I learned to care for my own diabetes by watching her and after the first ten years learned to admire her for the strength she had in controlling her disease. 18 months ago I started on an insulin pump (a great relief from three shots a day) and was proud when Mom started on hers 2 months ago. The moral of the story diabetes is survivable with love, prayer, understanding and a good support structure. But survivable isn't free and healthy I will stand with you and pray for us all. 

God bless, 
Mike Cavanagh 
  
 

There was nothing wrong with my child questioning the wisdom of an infinite number of shots and injections; there is; however, something wrong with a society that finds nothing wrong with this regimen and thinks of insulin injections as being the cure for diabetes. There is something seriously wrong when a society believes if something goes awry and complications begin to take hold, that the diabetic himself is to blame. People with diabetes face so many obstacles already, it's not fair to add ignorance and blame to the mix. Thanks for doing your part to educate people and let them know that the cure hasn't been found but that together, perhaps we can make it happen. 

Marina 
   

Thank you! 

Lynne O. Burfeind 

My name is Jackson Zhang, Age 29 and live in GuangZhou, P.R.China. I was diagnosed as a type one diabetes just one month. My home history do not have any disease about this, my height is 1.68m, and my weight is only 56kg, not a fatty. I don't know why I got this disease? Also my doctor don't know why? I am a computer engineer, and responsed for software development and project management. I hope to get the information about this disease as well as how to cure it. Thank you very much! 

Best Regards, Jackson Zhang 

Katrina Morris 

Ruth White 

God bless,

Trevor E. Johnson