I was sitting in my pcp's office and he came in and said "Shane, you have diabetes. Take these two meds every day and check your BGL twice a day and if you lose some weight it might not even be an issue for you anymore." This was told to me like we were discussing the weather or a baseball game. I was so flabbergasted that I had no idea what to do about it. He had just told me that life as I knew it was over. At first I cussed the psych meds I take because they are the reason I have this but I NEED them so I'll just have to deal. As for life-changing events, my life don't change much. I'm a nut and I stay home most of the time. I live in my computer. So there you go. Enjoy your day. Shane

Shane, thanks for sharing some of your story. I am sorry your primary care physician was so unproffesional in speaking with you about your diabetes. And as far as your comment goes regarding being on the computer all day, I too am on here all day. I know how ya feel man. Take care. andy.

i was diagnosed at the age of 5, the summer that my family moved into a new house. i vaguely remember being thirsty all the time, and wetting the bed while staying at my grandparents house while my parents got the new house ready to move in. i also remember my mom talking on the phone to my aunt about my behavior and symptoms, comparing it to my cousin who had diabetes. we went to the pediatrician, and they made the initial diagnosis and sent me to the hospital. my most clear memory of the time is going to grab a lollipop out of the bowl on the reception desk of the dr.'s office before we left, and being told i couldn't have one. my mom doesn't recall it happening, but i'm pretty sure it did. i also remember my hospital stay, which was about a week long, but to me it seemed like the entire summer. i actually had a lot of fun there playing with the other kids, learning nintendo, and learning things from the nurses. my 1st grade teacher thought it was strange that i talked about how much fun my stay in the hospital was. my mom had to explain to her that as far as i was concerned, i wasn't sick, i didn't FEEL sick, so i played in the playroom, and learned some things and came home. i think i have a tougher time adjusting to new situation now, as an adult, than i did then =)

Wow. That's an amazing story Stephanie. Thank you very much for sharing it. I am sure lots of people can relate to your type of experience(s). Isn't funny too how we remember the smallest little things sometimes. Like you grabbing the lolly pop (it was a can of coke for me ;).

Thanks again. Andy

I remember being in junior high school, losing a bunch of weight, and not being able to make the short walk home without a thermos of lemonade - the unquenchable thirst was awful, but little did we know how much the lemonade was hurting. It wasn't long after that I was sitting in the doctor's office with my dad, being told that I had something called 'diabetes'. All I knew about it was that my Grandma had it and that meant that I got to eat the icing from her cake whenever we celebrated a birthday (again, not a good choice, but who knew?)Of course there were a lot of changes, but we all adjusted and thirty years later I feel so blessed. I had one episode of ketoacidosis and, yeah, that was a bummer, but other than that I've had few serious problems. My husband and I have two wonderful, healthy children (20 and 17) - and while they were high-risk pregnancies, everything went beautifully. I can't remember a time when I didn't have this disease, but I wouldn't turn down a chance to be rid of it. :)My parents, within the past 5 years, have both been diagnosed with Type II. It makes me sad, but at the same time I certainly have some experience and now it's my turn to be here for them!
Diane

Happy Anniversary to me! When I was a senior in High School, I spent Easter Sunday and most of my Spring Break in the hospital when I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. I was taught how to take shots (the needles were longer back then) and was told what I could and could not eat. I was told of all the complications I could look forward to and I’ll never forget this—I was told I could never be an airline pilot. Dang, there went my big plans! I was 18! All I was thinking was “can I still drink beer?” Talk to you soon man.
-Kirk

I was sick for at least a year (possibly 2 years) before I was diagnosed in March of 2005. I was in a dark ugly f'ng place in my mind almost that entire year. My feet hurt, I went from almost 300lbs to 170 and didn't think too much about it. I have diabetes all up and down my mom's side of the family, but thought, $hit...I'm only 44 years old. It's not time. Well, the thing that finally sent me to the Dr. (guys don't go to the doctor I hear) was the endless nights of little/no sleep due to the neuropathy I had in my feet. I made an appt to see my pcp. I couldn't get in for 3 weeks. In the meantime we went to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. I ate all I wanted, drank all sorts of fruity alcoholic drinks...and felt like crap the entire time. Little did I know I could have coma'd out in a foreign country. Anyway, my pcp thought it was thyroid. Two days later he calls and said have I ever been told I'm diabetic (he's been my pcp for years) and I kinda laughed and said no, you've never told me that. Anyway my A1c was over 15. He had me come in that same day. My BG was over 600 standing there in his office. He put me on Metformin and Glpizide right then and off to the Endo I went. I was an idiot for not going to the Dr. sooner. I could have easily stroked right the F out and been a terrible burden to my wife and family. I'm trying hard to be a good diabetic now (about time, right?). I'm not perfect every day, but I do not intend to be alive without all my limbs/organs.

Corey

F-ing awesome comment Corey. Thanks for sharing it. I too went for months before realizing something was terribly wrong. My A1c was f-ing ridiculous too man. They said 800's..(not that I am trying to 1up you or anything!) anyway, glad that your still here with us bro and your family and other friends are surely thankly too. Rock on..let us know if you have any other comments or diabetes related questions or thoughts. -Andy

I am writing on behalf of my 2 yr old daughter Halle.

Halle was diagnosed Nov 2006, the day after her 1st birthday, day before Thanksgiving. Of course SHE will NEVER remember life without diabetes...unless there is a cure. Halle had an ear infection 2 weeks before her birthday. She was sleeping through the night for months and then she started waking up 2-4 times a night & wetting through her clothes & bedding.

A few days before her birthday I noticed how thristy she seemed...way more than normal...she practically had to have a sippy cup 24/7. I had her well baby check scheduled for the day after her birthday but I didn't think that any of what was happening needed attention until the night of her birthday. She wet through her diaper within 15 minutes of changing. This happened 2 or 3 times that night. She was SOOOOO THIRSTY, everyone who was over for her birthday was constantly giving her something to drink...at that point I had a good idea of what was going on....not exactly knowing...but had that feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The next morning we went to Halle's pediatrician and the overall appointment went good. Ear infection was gone & she was a heathly little girl. I mentioned to the Pediatrician that she had to have something to drink constantly...he did the right thing by having her BS checked...459. The nurse asked what she had to eat...told her that she had milk & graham crackers for breakfast on the ride over. The nurse said that they were both considered sugars. The pediatrician came in & just by the look on his face I knew...he said I am sorry but Halle has diabetes...he had a call into the nearest peds endo (4 hrs away). They gave her 2 units of Lantus and we had to travel 4 hrs to the peds endo.....scariest 4 hours of my life, cried the whole way there.

We were lucky to have her diagnosed as early as we did. They think that the ear infection was the trigger of the diabetes...she tested positive for the antibodies. Halle did not have to stay in the hospital. We got to the endo clinic at 4:30 pm and were there for about 3 hours. Halle was able to stay at the hospitality house with me and my husband over night. We went back to the clinic at 7:30 am and were on the road home my 11 am. My husband and I knew how to read the labels and knew about carbs. I was familiar with diabetes due to an aunt & cousin & my husband's cousin with T1 diabetes. We learned how to test blood sugar, draw insulin and give shots.

Halle has been dong well since she was diagnosed. I think the hardest thing about Halle's diabetes is when she doesn't want to eat when she NEEDS to eat. I don't like to tell her that she can't have something...we try to fit it into her meal plan...but she can't always have as much of it as she wants or at that particular moment.

Michelle

Wow, it's been almost 2 years since I was diagnosed w/type 2. It came as a relief, a shock, and a wake-up call, & more mixed emotions that seem surreal even now. My dr. is great as she called me herself with the results of my tests. It's really started me on a healthier path, and even though I'm controlling w/ only diet & exercise, it still feels like a day-to-day new thing. I'm thankful that I now know what's happening in my body. I've told my hubby I'm not happy that I have diabetes, but I am happy that I know I have diabetes. The most challenging enemy is the one that you know is there, but you can't see or know what that enemy is. Thanks for listening!

I am a teacher and was reading to my students and wondering why the print was suddenly getting blurry at times. I was told I was getting old and would probably need bifocals. I was 43 at the time. One summer morning i woke up and was in a hurry so I grabbed some donuts and orange juice. I called my pcp after I started shaking uncontrollably. They told me to come in right away to get tested for diabetes. I went on medicine that made my stomach hurt and decided it was time to take control of this. I lost 75 pounds and was no longer on any medications and feeling great. But the past two years have been tough. I lost my father and am now going through a divorce. Within less than a year I went from no medication to taking throid, diabetes, blood pressure, and allergy medicine.