D-blog Week 2015- Crazy Stories

           

         This week I am participating in the 6th annual Diabetes Blog Week. Each day there is a designated prompt that is meant to advocate about the different issues surrounding diabetes. Today I selected a wildcard topic entitled crazy stories. Diabetes can sure bring some crazy moments.  So tell us your Top 3 craziest D related stories!  If you can't think of three, don't worry.  We're just as happy with one or two . . . .  (Thank you Maria M of My Life: A Long Trip with T1D for this topic). 

Friends for Life <3 

               In my experience, Diabetes has proved to have a way to bring people together for life. The journey to my diagnosis is undoubtedly an example of that. This story started 10 years before I was diagnosed. In 2001, I met this girl, E, at my learn to skate class. We became fast friends and were inseparable during our ice show that year. That summer we both began taking private lessons from the same coach, but I soon realized I did not see E for a few weeks. I was relieved to see her return in the fall. Unbeknownst to me, E was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes that summer at the age of 8. I was introduced to the disease in a very matter of fact way and really thought nothing of it. E simply just had to take a few extra steps in life, but she was no different than me. Over the years I learned so much about insulin pumps, empty reservoirs, carb counting, high and low bgs, and finger pricks during skating practices, competitions, camps, and sleepovers. I always paid close attention to what she did when it came to T1D management and asked many questions. I am sure this annoyed her from time to time ;). Through it all, E & I were the best of friends and got to spend so much time together. Fast forward to the spring of 2010, we were finishing our Junior year of high school and got the devastating news that the ice rink we spent our lives at was getting rid of the skating program. This led to us skating at different rinks and we hardly saw each other.  Then in the early days of 2011, I started experiencing strange symptoms, but E and T1D  never crossed my mind. But that fateful day came, and I was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 17. The first phone call my mom made was to E's mom. And before I knew it, E was by my side with me in my hospital bed. I remember that visit we were both pretty quiet which is unusual for us. But really, no words were required. Just having her there made things easier for me. If she could do this, I knew I could too. Knowing that T1D never stopped her from doing anything that she wished gave me the confidence to fight the D- monster head on. I believe that people become friends for a greater purpose, and that holds true in this situation. I am blessed to have her in my life. 

For more of my crazy Diabetes stories, click the links below....

• The Pump that couldn't take a Bump- The story of a travel adventure that involved a broken pump. 
• Twenty Nine- The story of a crazy exercise-induced low. 

Here are more " Crazy Stories" Wildcard posts.