“Do you have all your supplies?” Mom and Dad asked. My childhood has been crowded with that question. Do I have my supplies? Two auto soft XC infusion sets, two t: slim X2 3mL cartridges, two 3mL disposable syringes with needle, a full bottle of insulin, alcohol wipes, 3mg glucagon nasal powder, and a full pack of Skittles. Stuffed into whatever, whether it be a colorful or basic bag. At the age of 7, on November 11, 2015, that became my everyday question as a type 1 diabetic. Having diabetes forced me at such an early age to become more mature and independent than any of the other kids. I was forced to relearn how to live my life and still be able to have a childhood. I had to learn to be tough and take multiple shots a day to eat, sleep through the night, or even to maintain my blood sugars for regular activities. I had to learn to be comfortable with tubing hanging off of me. I had to learn that feeling shaky was a symptom of low blood sugar. I hated learning a new way of life when I felt that my childhood was slowly fading. It wasn’t until the summer of 2015, when I was dropped off at a sleepaway camp for diabetics, that I slowly found that I was more than just a kid with a disease. I was introduced to kids my age who have had diabetes all their lives, and the only thing on their minds was when we were going down to the lake. Diabetes was on the back burner for all these kids and became not as much of a dark tunnel but a river that I just so happened to step into, but as the week went on, I slowly did not mind it as much and became more comfortable in its waters. Being able to share and talk about my struggles with people who also went through it allowed me to let go of wishing I could go back to focusing on how I can manage my diabetes, but more importantly, maintain my life the way I want to live it. Diabetes just happened to be a small path with a few twists and turns leading into a bright future. Yes, there were still many nights when I wondered why God would give me this life, and where I just cried and cried after having to change my infusion site 4 times, and my blood sugar still not coming down. But I was able to take a deep breath and know that this incurable disease led me to who I am today. The girl has gotten her A1C from 11 to 6.2, which is considered pre-diabetic. The girl who figured out how to balance diabetes with school work, athletics, and working. The girl who has learned to enjoy speaking out and educating others about her diabetes and how her disease has changed her life in both good and bad ways. The girl who still has bad days but never lets them destroy her self-esteem. Being a Type 1 diabetic forced me to grow up when all I wanted to do was stay little. What was the lesson I learned? I learned that life is not fair, that you can let it destroy you, or you can rise above. Diabetes does not define me; it is a part of me, but it is not who I am. I am creative, insightful, a dreamer, a fighter, and will never let this disease rule my life.

“Do you have all your supplies?” Mom and Dad asked. My childhood has been crowded with that question. Do I have my supplies? Two auto soft XC infusion sets, two t:slim X2 3mL cartridges, two 3mL disposable syringes with needle, a full bottle of insulin, alcohol wipes, 3mg glucagon nasal powder, and a full pack of Skittles. Stuffed into whatever, whether it be a colorful or basic bag. At the age of 7, on November 11, 2015, that became my everyday question as a type 1 diabetic. Having diabetes forced me at such an early age to become more mature and independent than any of the other kids. I was forced to relearn how to live my life and still be able to have a childhood. I had to learn to be tough and take multiple shots a day to eat, sleep through the night, or even to maintain my blood sugars for regular activities. I had to learn to be comfortable with tubing hanging off of me. I had to learn that feeling shaky was a symptom of low blood sugar. I hated learning a new way of life when I felt that my childhood was slowly fading. It wasn’t until the summer of 2015, when I was dropped off at a sleepaway camp for diabetics, that I slowly found that I was more than just a kid with a disease. I was introduced to kids my age who have had diabetes all their lives, and the only thing on their minds was when we were going down to the lake. Diabetes was on the back burner for all these kids and became not as much of a dark tunnel but a river that I just so happened to step into, but as the week went on, I slowly did not mind it as much and became more comfortable in its waters. Being able to share and talk about my struggles with people who also went through it allowed me to let go of wishing I could go back to focusing on how I can manage my diabetes, but more importantly, maintain my life the way I want to live it. Diabetes just happened to be a small path with a few twists and turns leading into a bright future. Yes, there were still many nights when I wondered why God would give me this life, and where I just cried and cried after having to change my infusion site 4 times, and my blood sugar still not coming down. But I was able to take a deep breath and know that this incurable disease led me to who I am today. The girl has gotten her A1C from 11 to 6.2, which is considered pre-diabetic. The girl who figured out how to balance diabetes with school work, athletics, and working. The girl has learned to enjoy speaking out and educating others about her diabetes and how her disease has changed her life in both good and bad ways. The girl who still has bad days but never lets them destroy her self-esteem. Being a Type 1 diabetic forced me to grow up when all I wanted to do was stay little. What was the lesson I learned? I learned that life is not fair, that you can let it destroy you, or you can rise above. Diabetes does not define me; it is a part of me, but it is not who I am. I am creative, insightful, a dreamer, a fighter, and will never let this disease rule my life.

“Do you have all your supplies?” Mom and Dad asked. My childhood has been crowded with that question. Do I have my supplies? Two auto soft XC infusion sets, two t:slim X2 3mL cartridges, two 3mL disposable syringes with needle, a full bottle of insulin, alcohol wipes, 3mg glucagon nasal powder, and a full pack of Skittles. Stuffed into whatever, whether it be a colorful or basic bag. At the age of 7, on November 11, 2015, that became my everyday question as a type 1 diabetic. Having diabetes forced me at such an early age to become more mature and independent than any of the other kids. I was forced to relearn how to live my life and still be able to have a childhood. I had to learn to be tough and take multiple shots a day to eat, sleep through the night, or even to maintain my blood sugars for regular activities. I had to learn to be comfortable with tubing hanging off of me. I had to learn that feeling shaky was a symptom of low blood sugar. I hated learning a new way of life when I felt that my childhood was slowly fading. It wasn’t until the summer of 2015, when I was dropped off at a sleepaway camp for diabetics, that I slowly found that I was more than just a kid with a disease. I was introduced to kids my age who have had diabetes all their lives, and the only thing on their minds was when we were going down to the lake. Diabetes was on the back burner for all these kids and became not as much of a dark tunnel but a river that I just so happened to step into, but as the week went on, I slowly did not mind it as much and became more comfortable in its waters. Being able to share and talk about my struggles with people who also went through it allowed me to let go of wishing I could go back to focusing on how I can manage my diabetes, but more importantly, maintain my life the way I want to live it. Diabetes just happened to be a small path with a few twists and turns leading into a bright future. Yes, there were still many nights when I wondered why God would give me this life, and where I just cried and cried after having to change my infusion site 4 times, and my blood sugar still not coming down. But I was able to take a deep breath and know that this incurable disease led me to who I am today. The girl has gotten her A1C from 11 to 6.2, which is considered pre-diabetic. The girl who figured out how to balance diabetes with school work, athletics, and working. The girl has learned to enjoy speaking out and educating others about her diabetes and how her disease has changed her life in both good and bad ways. The girl who still has bad days but never lets them destroy her self-esteem. Allowing myself to see the light in the darkness of this disease showed me that I love seeing myself and other fellow diabetics improve, and led me to find my calling in life to help diabetics who need a little help finding the light in their tunnel.