I'm Rachel
and I am my #1!
My name is Rachel. I am 12 years old. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 14 months old. We have a long history of Type 1 diabetes in my family. My great-grandfather was diagnosed in the early 1930's, and his sons--my grandfather and great-uncle--were also diagnosed in their early 20's. I was so little when I started getting sick that the doctors didn't know what was wrong with me and sent my parents home many times with no answers to why I wasn't eating or walking anymore. It wasn't until my mom and dad talked with my uncle (a pediatric oncologist) thousands of miles away that they knew what was wrong. He asked the right questions and told them to send me be back in and get a urine test done. When I was finally "officially" diagnosed the doctors told my parents that if we'd waited any longer to come back in I might have died. Living with diabetes has been hard at times. I have had to miss out on some stuff with my friends--like sleepovers,...
I'm Nathan
and I am my #1!
I have had type 1 diabetes since I was three years old. I am now six and a half. I started kindergarten this year and had to take my mom to school with me for the first few days. Though it seems great to have your mom there it wasn't. None of the other kids had to have there parents there. I wanted to be independent just like them. My parents work very hard everyday to keep me healthy and strong. I have had many shots and I really don't like them. I have to do a lot of things other children don't and at times it is very scary. I would like to see a cure for diabetes because I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I do everyday. I also don't want to count my food, take shots and test my finger anymore. I want to have a carefree childhood. My parents and I have done many things to promote diabetes awareness in our community. We have done walks, sold paper sneakers and golf balls. We have also spoke to companies asking for there support. I have raised thousands...
I'm Heather
and my daughter is my #1!
Our daughter Cecilia was diagnosed on 10/15/01 at the young age of 3 years old. It came as a complete shock to us because no one in our family has Type 1 diabetes, let alone ANY diabetes. We started on 2 injections a day and she fought every bit of it. It was all we could do to hold her down to administer her life saving insulin. Over the years, she has become a very brave young girl. She has been on an insulin pump for 5 years now and she realizes diabetes is who she is. Diabetes never goes away...it goes with her to school, sleepovers, gymnastics class, Sunday school....etc. She has to ALWAYS explain WHY she is counting her carbohydrates and WHAT a pump is and WHY she is poking her finger to check her blood sugar. If she had a dime for every time someone asked her if poking her finger hurt, she would be a rich little girl! She has had over 7 severe low blood sugars that have required the use of an intramuscular injection called Glucagon. During these low blood sugars, which often happen...
I'm Cassidy
and I am my #1!
My name is Cassidy, I'm almost 7 and I was diagnosed 5 1/2 years ago with Juvenile Diabetes. When I got sick, I was one of the youngest Diabetics in my state and the doctors gave me 7 times too much insulin. I had lots of seizures and was really sick. When I was 3, I got a purple Medtronic pump, and I stopped being sick as much. I have spent over 70 nights in the hospital and we drive 3 hours to go to a doctor who can take care of me better. Diabetes is all I've ever known. I could poke my finger and squeeze out the blood before I could use the potty. I did a project on "How Life With Diabetes is Different Than 100 Years Ago" and learned how lucky I am to be so close to a cure. I love to play with my sisters, read books, do math, play dress up, sing and dance. I'm learning to play guitar right now so I can rock out with "The Turnaround"! I love parades, concerts, ball games, amusement parks and swimming, but Diabetes gets in the way of me enjoying them like...
I'm Matt
and I am my #1!
On November 13, 2007 Matt was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Matt was 7 at the time. His story began very similar to the other children on the JDRF website. Matt had flu like symptoms, frequent urination and he was very thirsty. This led to a trip to our pediatrician's office and then an ambulance ride to the hospital where we spent 3 days in PICU. Matt was a trooper the entire time! He never complains about his diabetes. Matt carries, what we call, "the Man Bag" everywhere he goes. It's loaded with all of his diabetic supplies. He was the first student at his elementary school with Type I diabetes and has to often miss recess due to low BSL levels. Matt has a positive relationship with his principal and school staff since he has a great sense of humor and keeps them laughing. Within a couple months of his diagnosis he was able to read his body very well, stating "I know I'm low when things get fuzzy or my hands start to shake". He has had to mature faster...
I'm Mikayla
and I am my #1!
My name is Mikayla and I am 6 years old I live in Connecticut. I have had diabetes since I was 18 months old so I don't know what it is like to not have diabetes, but my sisters tell me. It is hard to have diabetes when you are in 1st grade. I have to go to the nurse all the time during school, sometimes I don't want to miss writers workshop or readers theater but my diabetes decides my schedule not me. I miss a lot of time in the class and with my friends doing fun things. I have to go to the nurse before lunch to have my blood checked so I am always late to lunch, everyone is already sitting down but my friends usually save me a seat but I have to eat quick so I can go back to the nurse and have my mommy called and get my insulin so that I can get to recess which I am usually late for. I really want a cure for diabetes so that I can just be a kid I want to be able to go to sleep at night without being afraid, you see most kids are afraid of the monster under their bed that their...
I'm Conner
and I am my #1!
My name is Conner. I am eight years old and I’m in the second grade. I love school. I play baseball and soccer. I like riding my dirt bike with my dad and wakeboarding in the summer. I guess you can say I’m your “typical” eight year old. But, there’s one thing about me that’s not so “typical”. I am living with type 1 diabetes every day. I was diagnosed six years ago. I don’t remember that day because I was too young. My parents tell me it was a very hard time for my family. As a two year old, I didn’t like being poked all the time. I used to run and hide when I saw my mom with the needle. Now that I’m older, I don’t run anymore. There are a lot of things I have to do to keep myself healthy. I have to prick my finger to check my blood sugars 8-10 times a day, give myself 3-4 shots a day, plan my meals, and count carbohydrates for everything I eat. Then there’s the worry 24 hours a day. I mostly leave that to my...
I'm Nicholas
and I am my #1!
My name is Nicholas and I am a fun, outgoing eight-year-old boy from Chicago. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was four-years-old. These past four years have been a struggle and I have grown up a lot. I have to be more responsible than most of my friends because I have to manage this disease to stay healthy. I do get tired of pricking my fingers, but the worst part is when I have to sit out of gym because my blood sugar is low. My hope for the future is that researchers find a cure for diabetes. I have flown an airplane three separate times and I loved it! I want to be a pilot when I grow up. Currently, diabetics cannot get a pilot's license, but I still have hope that by the time I am an adult there will be a cure. I am going to fly all over the world! My family and I work very hard to raise awareness about type 1 diabetes. For the past two years we organized an awareness campaign at my school. We asked the students (pre-k to high school) to wear blue to show support for a cure....
I'm Sidney
and my daughter is my #1!
March 4, 2009 was the day that everything changed for us. Sidney our 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1. We started to look into what was going on with her body at her 4 year checkup. She is really small and her hair has never really grown well. (Even though she eats a healthy diet.) We did some blood work and decided it was genetic - we are not very tall people. Then at her 5 year check up we did A LOT of blood work and even more tests. Her antibodies count was high so they thought she was celiac. She was still not showing any diabetes symptoms at that time. We went ahead and had an endoscope done on her small intestine to confirm the celiac diagnosis. By then she had started to drink a lot of water, urinating more and wetting the bed at night. During the endoscope we talked to her pediatric gastrointestinal doctor about her symptoms. He told us we it sounded like diabetes, and had nothing to do with celiac. We called her pediatrician a few days later and took Sidney over...
I'm Ryan
and I am my #1!
Hi! I am Ryan Downes and I live in MN. I was diagnosed with diabetes at 22 months. I don't know life any other way then testing, pumping and always counting carbohydrates. My parents tell me that they used to chase me around the house to give me insulin shots and that my mom scooped up my food from the floor because she had to figure out how many carbs I had eaten versus what ended up on the floor. I'm 12 now and am getting really tired of managing the disease. I get sick of my parents constantly bugging me and asking "did you test?", "did you pump?" I'm tired of checking in all the time while playing sports. Sometimes I even have to sit out during a hockey game until my sugar gets in range. I just want to go to a sleepover and not have to watch what I eat or call home at midnight. I have 3 siblings and my older sister, Kelly, was diagnosed in September. We were all shocked. It is bad enough that I have to deal with diabetes for the rest of my life, but now I have to watch her...
I'm Ashley
and I am my #1!
My name is Ashley and I am 17 years old. I have been a Type 1 Diabetic for 7 years, but some days, it seems much longer. I poke myself 7-12 times a day. I refill my pump with insulin every 5-7 days. I put a needle in my backside every 3 days. Diabetes has no cure, but knowing that there could be one is what’s keeping everyone together. Diabetics have no days off. We are constantly fighting to overcome this obstacle in our lives. We fight to hide the embarrassment of taking out our meter and medicine on our first day of high school. We fight to maintain our blood sugars so we don’t have to spend the night in the hospital. I have tested myself so many times on my fingers, where some days I can’t feel the tips; but everyday, those little bumps remind me not only to fight for myself but also for the other billion diabetics who feel my pain. Not only do I put stress on my family, but so do the bills. I feel as though I am putting a hold on my family’s budget because of...
I'm Jaime
and my daughter is my #1!
Only 4 years ago, our family life was "normal" by average standards. But all of that changed when we heard our doctor say "I'm very sorry, but Paige has diabetes. You need to get her to the hospital immediately. We have a team waiting for her." Our bright eyed little girl would be forever handicapped with this insidious disease. Not that Paige feels sorry for herself too often. But it is painful to watch her test her blood sugars, by lancing her fingers, ten to twelve times a day. It is painful to pull her out of the things that "normal" eleven year old girls do, so that I can give her a shot, or have her test her blood glucose. But these are small pains, in comparison to the devastating handicaps that she will face if we don't try to keep her blood sugar in normal range. What parent wants to think of their child facing blindness, amputations, renal failure, and heart disease? Yet these are part of the worries of every parent whose child has been stricken...
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I'm Aliza
and I am my #1!
Hi! My name is Aliza! And i was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April 2009. I was only 6 at that time and i didnt know anything and/or about diabetes. None of my relitives or ancestors had it, so it was a total surprise for all of us. Now that im older i can take care of myself for the most part. Im almost 11 now and almost to the big 5 year anniversary!!! Im so glad that we now have insulin!! Im also very happy that we have support teams like JDRF and ADA (American Diabetes Association) and all of the other support teams in the world!!
I'm Jack
and I am my #1!
I am Jack. I am 4 and 3 quarters. I was diagnosed with Type 1 on Valentine's Day 2013. I was drinking a lot of water and no matter how much I drank I was still thirsty. I also started having LOTS of accidents which was embarassing because I have been potty trained a long time. My parents took me to my pediatrian before our annual ski trip because they didn't think that I would want to be stuck in a wet snow suit all day. I am glad that they did because my blood sugar was off the charts. I was rushed to the ER where they put an IV in and let me watch as much TV as I wanted. They said that if I hadn't come in when I did I could have gotten really sick or even died! Now, I have to prick myself 10 times a day to check my BS and get shots when I eat. I think that this is not fair and I tell my parents daily that I am all done with diabetes but no matter what I say or do I still have it. Sometimes my mom has to sleep on the floor of my room because my blood sugar has a tendancy to...
I'm Marci
and I am my #1!
Hi everyone, my name is Marci. I was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on December 21, 2012. These past 5 months have been the most challenging and difficult times I've faced in my 21 years . However, these months have allowed the opportunity to grow in so many ways. Here is my story. Growing up, I lived a very normal childhood and enjoyed doing anything active. I was a type-A student and enjoyed working hard in school. I was very involved in school activities and sports. As I went on to college, I took on 26+ units a semester, while balancing multiple jobs and maintaining a very healthy lifestyle. I had a passion for fitness and motivating others, so I became a fitness instructor and led large groups. My overloaded schedule became exhausting and it seemed that all I was doing was either studying or working. My free time consisted of a treadmill. I managed to get through my undergrad in a swift 5 semesters and took the next step in the education world. At 20 years old, I was accepted...
I'm Kristin
and My son Lukas is my #1!
Luke was diagnosed at 14 months. He's now almost 5 and doing great, thanks to the pump and CGM that make diabetes so much more manageable. Just as important are the people we've met who are also living with T1D. We lean on each other, we do everything we can to move closer to a cure, and we know that life will continue to get better along the way.
I'm Kaitlin
and I am my #1!
My name is Kaitlin. Im fifteen years old and attend 9th grade. I was diagnosed when i was getting ready to turn 11 years old. I had been very sick , very moody, eating alot and drinking alot but loosing weight. My mom made me a appointment with the doctor and had to have some tests done and it confirmed what we were thinking , I had type one diabetes. It was very scary at first I had to learn how to give myself insulin before I could leave the hospital. Everything I eat I have to count for , meaning if it has carbs I have to fiqure out the carb count. It has been very hard on me, But im doing the best I can to keep myself healthy.
I'm Dennis
and Mike Howe is my #1!
It's 5 o'clock on a Monday night. The Sun Devils are playing slow pitch softball at 6:30 and 7:30 in Tempe tonight. I am using a glucose meter to check my blood sugar, deciding what to eat, and how much insulin to take in order to get me through the next few hours, without going too high or too low in blood sugar. Mike, my son, is doing the same thing. He has been a diabetic since he was 13, and is now 33 years old. High and low blood sugars are not good for us. We don't want to pass out from low blood sugar, or suffer any damage to our kidneys and cardiovascular systems from too much high blood sugar. I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 43 years, and found out when I was a freshman at Iowa State University in 1970. I spent my 19th birthday in the hospital, learning how to take shots, do urine testing (no glucose meters back then), and how to handle high and low blood sugars. We both had the main symptom of diabetes: dehydration; as our kidneys were overworking to take fluids...
I'm Hayley
and I am my #1!
My name is Hayley and I am 17 years old. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes was I was 14 years old. I am the only one in my whole family to have it. Even though it has only been 3 years it feels longer. I was a freshmen in high school and everything had to change. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. It's hard now still because none of my friends can understand it since nobody around here really has it. They know I have limits to things I can do and every time we go out to eat I have to excuse myself to go test my blood sugar but it's pretty lonely. My mom asks constant question all the time like I don't know how to do things by now but I know its worrisome to her. Going into the hospital made me realize I wanted to be a nurse and that makes me glad to know what I want to do but the 24 hours I was in the hospital were some of the longest hours of my life. One day there will be a cure and that day will be the best day for everyone living with type 1 diabetes.
I'm Dominik
and I am my #1!
I am 17 years old and was diagnosed last week. I am graduating high school in a week. I have always been very active and my plans after high school was to join the Navy. I am an honor student, but was not interested in going to college. When I was a Junior in High School my mom would take me to colleges to see what some of my options were, but I was set on the Navy. Now with a week until graduation I feel like my world has come tumbling down. I am thankful though after reading the stories of all the kids that have shared their life challenges with Type 1. I had the blessing of sports and playing travel baseball and never had to check my blood sugar and take shots. But now this will change. Until a few weeks ago all was well until I noticed I had been so very thirsty and going to the bathroom a lot. The thirst would never go away. My Dad knew that was not a good sign, my mom called the Dr. and 48 hours later I was admitted in the hospital my FSBS was 530 and A1C was 14. I have an amazing...
I'm Elisabetta
and Matteo - Piacenza- Italia is my #1!
Sono la mamma di Matteo che ha 3 anni ed abbiamo avuto la segnalazione della vostra associazione da parte di un ricercatore italiano che lavora negli USA sulle cellule staminali. Matteo ha il diabete da 3 mesi e nessuno di noi in famiglia aveva avuto questo tipo di problemi in passato. Siamo completamente nuovi quindi a questo mondo. Per ora Matteo è curato con le iniezioni di insulina 3 volte al giorno e i continui controlli della glicemia. In Italia per avere l'assistenza a scuola su questo tipo di malattia occorre fare una richiesta di riconoscimento di disabilità che ci rifiutiamo di fare perchè segnerebbe per sempre il cammino di Matteo. Quindi io mi faccio carico dell'assistenza di mio figlio e devo mettere in secondo piano il mio lavoro. Per ora non abbiamo il microinfusore perchè in Ospedale ce ne hanno parlato molto velocemente ma cercheremo di approfondire l'argomento. Faremo una donazione alla vostra associazione nei prossimi giorni per...
I'm Carol
and Deacon Hanks is my #1!
Hello! My name is Carol Phillips and a child in my Kindergarten classroom was diagnosed with diabetes last summer just prior to school beginning. Deacon is an amazing young man. He has taken this diagnosis in great stride. He has his own personal clock he sets daily for 9:00 to remember to get his snack on time. He knows when he feels 'low' he simply gets the nurses pass and goes to the clinic. He checks in with the nurse before and after lunch everyday and then just meets us in the classroom. He has taken great ownership with this disease. I am in awe of him each and everyday. One of my favorite projects to do with the children is a "make a wish story." While others wished they were a certain animal etc., I found Deacon's 'wish' story sincere and touching. It is very endearing. Thanks for your time and all you do for the children! Carol Phillips
I'm maria
and I am my #1!
My name is Maria. I am 52 years old and have had diabetes since the age of 14. I have played basketball, cross country, tennis and wight lifting. I enjoy walking now and swimming. I would like to say I try to not let anything stand in my way to living a normal life, knowing how staying active makes all the difference in the world, living with diabetes. Is it challenging living with diabetes, absolutely. Best advice to the kids: listen to your parents, doctor and specialist who are there in your corner. I have been blessed to have great guidance from all of these experts. You too can live a long life with this disease and I plan on living even longer. I pray for all of us and know that there is a cure for this debilitating disease.
I'm Robin
and I'm Hannah is my #1!
Hi, I'm Hannah and I'm 6 years old. When I was 2, I got sick and the doctors thought I had a stomach flu. I wasn't eating and couldn't keep my food down. 24 hours after the doctors said it was a stomach flu, I started to come down with seizures. My uncle told my mom and dad to carry me to the hospital. It took Mcleods Childrens Hospital only minutes to tell my parents I was a diabetic. They said I was mummied, my keotones were very high and my sugar was 1565. They said I was lucky to be alive. The hospital and my uncle saved my life.
Now I'm in school. I don't get to go on feild trips or go anywere without my parents. I miss out on a lot. I have to take shots twice a day and somtimes more. I don't get to eat the same things as my class mates. It's hard, but I'm happy being me and wouldn't be anybody else except dr.mcstuffins or a fairy lol
Now I'm in school. I don't get to go on feild trips or go anywere without my parents. I miss out on a lot. I have to take shots twice a day and somtimes more. I don't get to eat the same things as my class mates. It's hard, but I'm happy being me and wouldn't be anybody else except dr.mcstuffins or a fairy lol