My First Post...

Well as you may have guess, I have diabetes. The reason why I decided to do a BLOG is because I never really feel that people understand my true feelings towards my diabetes at some points and how and why it affects me in different ways. Hopefully this BLOG may help me air some of those feelings and perhaps I may offer advice to someone or a parent like me who are suffering or has a child suffering from the same illness. Perhaps I may even inspire someone else to write a BLOG like I was inspired by Diabetic Dais BLOG (http://diabeticdais.blogspot.co.uk/) to start one of your own :)

So I better start with the start I suppose, my diagnosis. I was diagnosed on the 26th June 2004 with Type 1 Diabetes, I had been ill on and off for about a year leading up to my diagnosis, but the doctors couldn't put their finger on what was making me ill. The day before I was diagnosed I had come home from school, and fallen asleep on the sofa. I went the whole night without waking and the next morning I woke up and felt awful. I was pale, shaking and was really unwell, my Mum decided to take me to the doctors. When I got my local GP they did a finger prick test and that pretty much spelled out DIABETES. I think if I remember correctly my blood glucose was about 18.9, and that is pretty high for a 'non-diabetic'. All I can remember thinking as being a 10 year old was... 'Oh I can never have chocolate again!' Which isn't obviously the case, I didn't understand the whole implications that my unseen illness would have for me for the rest of my life. I was rushed into hospital and had my first insulin injection at about 11.00pm that night. I was asked to return the next morning for my morning insulin, I and my family had a crash course in Diabetes. I met my Diabetic Nurse, Wendy (who has been great throughout my years of children outpatients and has fully supported me throughout however, I have recently moved on to young adults so have a new nurse.) I also met my diabetic consultant, who I have never really met eye to eye and disliked him for a long-time. Although I don't have to see him anymore and have a lovely new doctor at my young adults clinic.

So as you may realise I have had diabetes for coming on 7/8 years (I'm not too good at maths). It has been a roller coaster of emotions and stresses and at times I have wished and wondered why me? why do I have diabetes? But in all fairness my attitude to my diabetes today is that it's just another thing that makes me, me and it makes me UNIQUE! (I hope this really doesn't sound too hypocritical when I am really down with my illness and I am fed up).

But anyways I do hope this has helped someone out there that's all that I ask. And if it hasn't well I hope some day my friends or family will see this and be proud of the person I have become throughout all the trials and tribulations of today. And if not them well, I certainly know that it has helped me and will continue to do so as long as I keep up with updating my You, Diabetes and Other Things Blog. Thank you to everyone who has supported me until now and continue to do so over the years to come. :) x