The diagnosis of diabetes manifests itself in many different ways. The way in which diabetes appears is as unique and diverse as the people who are diagnosed with it everyday.
While the symptoms are similar, the way in which they are perceived in each person varies, depending on many different factors. Even though diabetics are a large part of the population, diabetics and diabetes, in general, are largely misunderstood by the general population.
The diagnosis of diabetes, whether it’s Type-1 or Type-2, is a personal tragedy that countless numbers of families and individuals live through everyday. The diagnosis of diabetes, especially in a baby or a small child, is quite literally a life-changing event.
From diagnosis on, each person affected either directly or indirectly by diabetes soon realizes that this is a serious medical condition. The process of ‘managing’ diabetes is a life-long task, one that involves family, friends, and doctors.
There are vast amounts of research and medical knowledge known about diabetes. However, until you live with diabetes, or care about someone with diabetes, you can never fully understand its complex nature. The way in which the properties and needs of diabetes interact with the human body creates challenges that every diabetic must deal with everyday of their life.
My diagnosis of juvenile-onset, Type-1 diabetes came at the age of 10. I was not lucky enough to be caught early; my diagnosis came as I fell into a severe DKA-induced coma. Like many children, I was thought to have the flu or some other illness. The signs were all there for diabetes, unfortunately without a trained eye to see them, many times they go undetected.
My parents had no idea this was happening, they had no idea I was so seriously sick. I was 10 and for all they knew I had the flu. My life, as well as my parents' lives, were about to change forever. We would never again be the same; the journey had begun.
There are many of us on this journey. We found each other for comfort, security, and understanding. We help each other through the hard times, and we all celebrate the good times. We hope for a cure, but we realize that we need to stay healthy while we wait.
We are one big family, each of us with our own special needs and plans. We are drawn together by a terrible circumstance, and we will take this journey together hand in hand…
Gary
2000
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