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Home > Knowledge & support > Resource hub > “Five things I wish I knew when I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes”
When I was first diagnosed, I was told that I would have to monitor the carbs of everything I ate – a task which seemed so daunting at first. I assumed I’d never be able to have my favourite chocolates or ice creams ever again, because they were ‘too sugary’.
But the truth, which I discovered for myself as time went on, is that as long as I took the right amount of insulin, I could eat as many chocolates as I liked (within reason, of course). I didn’t feel ‘different’ to my friends because they could eat something and I couldn’t, which was a massive stress relief at parties and hangouts with friends.
With type 1, there are no ‘illegal’ foods, whether its Ben & Jerry’s or cake, you don’t need to feel like it’s off limits.
Another assumption I made upon being diagnosed was that I’d have to give up tennis. I was playing frequently and thought I wouldn’t be able to regulate my blood sugars if I continued to play. Soon, though, I realised that there were SO many ways to stop myself going low during sport. Whether eating a slow-release carb snack before I played, using activity mode on my pod, or taking ‘juice breaks’ during games, I could continue with the sport I loved at the level I wanted to play at.
Sport was also great for keeping my blood sugars in range and for me, it is the single most effective way to bring down blood sugars. Diabetes didn’t limit what I could do in sports at all.
In the first few months after being diagnosed, I wrestled with conflicting emotions. Even when I didn’t feel physically ill because of my diabetes, I sometimes felt overwhelmed and frustrated.
With the support of my parents, doctors, and people around me, I realised that my emotions didn’t need to be justified. Even though here are so many technological advancements making everyday life with diabetes more manageable, it’s perfectly normal to feel like your diabetes ‘isn’t fair’.
It’s a lot to handle, which is why it’s so important to share your load with people that you trust. Asking for help is never a bad thing, and sometimes when I can’t think clearly, someone else will tell me to go on a walk if I’m high or watch some TV to calm myself down. Sometimes little things like that are the easiest way to feel better again. It doesn’t have to be a big act.
From my experience, and the experiences of so many young people with diabetes, a common fear is feeling ‘different’ or ‘isolated’ because of type 1.
What I learned after being diagnosed was that this feeling dissolves over time, as I became more comfortable and confident with my diabetes. At first, I felt like I couldn’t tell my friends what I was going through out of fear of burdening them, but true friends will always listen. My friends have been my diabetes support system in so many ways. Sometimes there’s nothing like talking to someone your own age, and I taught my friends about my diabetes and they became interested in it even without my encouragement.
Knowing they could support me if something happened and give me advice if I was feeling lost, as well as having their understanding and empathy made the load of diabetes much easier to bear.
One of my biggest concerns after my diagnosis was how exams and lessons in school would work with my Dexcom CGM and diabetes in general. I thought I wouldn’t be able to check my blood sugar during the day and was worried about not being able to deal with highs and lows in school, or having no one to help me with them.
After speaking to the school nurse and my teachers, I realised that they weren’t going to restrict me. In fact, they did everything they could to lighten the load. I can check my blood sugar with my phone in lessons, leave at any time to deal with lows, and the school nurse was equipped to help me treat lows or highs if need be.
I could ask questions about food or anything else that I needed, and there would be someone to support me. In terms of exams, my school and I found a plan which worked for me, and I was able to have sugar and my phone with me in the exam room, which largely reduced my stress. Your school will be able to collaborate with you to find what works best for you and will always cater to your needs.
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Our research is improving the lives of people with type 1 and making strides towards a cure. We’ll keep pushing until we make type 1 diabetes a thing of the past.
