Six Years with Type One Diabetes

Updated: Sep 17, 2023

Celebrating My Diaversary/Diabirthday

Six years ago today I went into my pediatrician's office for a check-up, postponed after several of my summer commitments came to a close. I had begged for this appointment, after experiencing a set of strange symptoms for months at that point. I was extremely thirsty, constantly needing to go to the bathroom, always tired, losing weight, having changes in my eyesight, and more. As with most appointments, the first thing the doctor did was get my weight. The number that showed on the screen in front of me was a bit shocking, to say the least. It was five pounds less than the number on the scale that I randomly stepped on a week earlier and 35 less than my average weight at the time. After seeing that drop and at the mention of my first symptom, my pediatrician sent me to get a test done and warned my mom to prepare to go to the ER when I got back. And, that is what happened.

The doctor called the ER a few blocks away and we drove over to where the staff had a room and bed waiting for me with IVs hung and insulin already in the room. They hooked me all up while we waited to be transported to the Cleveland Clinic Children's downtown. My sister was with us, as she, my mom, and I had planned to go out to lunch and on a shopping trip together after my appointment. Luckily my grandparents live nearby and came to pick her up and deal with my mom's car that would be left in the ER parking lot as I was transferred by ambulance to the main hospital.

That was July 21, 2017. Six years ago to the day. It was the summer before my senior year in high school and since so much has changed and evolved in my life (and in the world, in general) it is hard to believe that this event took place only six years ago. I recall that during my week-long hospital stay, my mom asked the nurse and doctor questions about what my future might look like with this chronic disease. She fixated (falsely) on the belief that I could never have a milkshake again. Even though I rarely had milkshakes prior to diagnosis, I'm not sure where that one came from... But at that time, I didn't think that having Type 1 Diabetes would hold me back. And yet, I also would not have believed you if you told me that exactly six years later I would be celebrating this anniversary in Ireland, less than two weeks from finishing a yearlong trip away during which I traveled to 8 countries, 6 continents, and 22 different airports totally by myself while managing the added hurdles that come with T1D and Celiac Disease.

To get to this place, I spent upwards of 100 hours on the phone with insurance companies, pharmacies, doctors, airline workers, and embassies to be able to carry with me everything that was needed for me to survive for a year. It filled up an entire extra checked bag that I would not have had to bring with me had this trip been done seven years ago.

So today, just like every July 21 since 2017, I have popped on a blue and white sundress and made the most of the day. In 2018, the festivities included being thrown in the pond at Clara Barton Camp and going out for ice cream. In 2019, I was also thrown in the pond at CBC and then took the rest of the camp day off and explored Boston for the day with one of my camp besties. In 2020, I was trapped at home during the pandemic. But Annie (my sister) and I went for a long walk in the Metroparks. We had Pad Thai for dinner (my favorite meal!) and watched a movie. In 2021, I was on campus at Oberlin doing classes due to the silly schedule that year, so my celebration was a large iced coffee and my favorite gluten-free treat from the best bakery in town, Blue Rooster. In 2022, I was just five days away from departing on my year-long adventure and soaking up time with my parents and sister in New Mexico. My mom and I went to a lovely totally gluten-free lunch spot, shopped, and hung out by the pool. She gifted me the butterfly necklace that you may have seen on me in many of my pictures over the past year.

And, that brings me to this year. Today, I got up early and made a special breakfast, and then hopped on the bus to go into town. I visited a museum I had been wanting to see and then discovered a photography museum that just opened a new exhibition today about home and evolution. It felt fitting. And, it was amazing and so well done. I concluded the plans by treating myself to a nice lunch with a gluten-free brownie.

2017: