dLife Bookshelf

Sugar Free Me by Naomi Grace Kingery (continued)

What I didn't expect at first is how much I would eventually learn. I knew I'd learn all the diabetes "lingo" and whatnot, but I've learned so much more than I thought I would ever know at my age. I've learned how much I can personally handle; I've seen what my breaking point is. I have broken and survived my breaking point, then succeeded is victory. I've learned that I can handle much more than I give myself credit for and I can live through some things I never thought possible. I can look back and see challenges I never thought I could endure, and I endured them and came out a better person. Do you believe that you or your loved one is now a better person because of this?

I've also been taught that the word "impossible" doesn't exist. I've seen that there are diabetics out there who know A LOT more than I do... a lot more about health and a ton about life. Being diagnosed is so much more than learning about diabetes. What have you learned since the day you were diagnosed? I didn't want to write this book with a lot of cheesy stories or explanations, nor did I want to sit and write out all the negatives. I just wanted you to step back and put things into perspective. It might be a perspective that you've never seen before or it may be one that you live in. If you're a loved one who read this whole book, kudos to you. It means a whole lot for you to care so much. It really does...so thank you!

Maybe you've had diabetes for a week or for thirty years; I hope this book taught you something. Thank you for reading and listening to what I have to say! I wrote it over a period of two and a half years, from the age of fifteen to eighteen. Two and a half years not only because I have a crazy busy life but because I wanted to write this as I continued to grow and experience new things. I've enjoyed writing this for you to read because in the process I've been able to look back on what my life has been with this disease.

My desire is that in a way I can make the voice of every diabetic teenager a little louder in the world today. We will get through this, we will overcome. You're going to have hard times, but you're going to get through those hard times. Hang in there and keep your head up. Value every breath you take! Remember: being a diabetic is simply a daily reminder that life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet. You'd be surprised how sweet a sugar free life can be if you only give it a chance.