“I was 35 years old when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. When I found out, I thought my life was over. I was so scared. The first person I contacted was a good friend of mine. He calmed me down and explained to me that there is nothing I can do but to deal with my condition, otherwise I can make it worse. Blunt, but that was what I needed to hear. It’s hard to deal with even till this day and now that I’m 43 years old I have learned how to control it the best that I can by maintaining my sugar levels. I still have days where I don’t feel so well but now I know what to do to help myself get better. It’s important to have family and friends to help and support you with any chronic illness. I’m lucky to have all that, but there are times where they don’t understand what I’m going through and it’s hard for them to relate. This makes it hard to take advice if they don’t understand, but I know everyone is just trying to help.
It’s so frustrating at times to deal with my diabetes but I must deal with it. I have learned from the past years that it’s not only me dealing with my chronic illness. My friends and family are also feeling my pain and I don’t want them to hurt, so that keeps me thinking positive and wanting to keep myself healthy. It takes strength and courage to deal with a lot in life, especially when you are dealing with an illness. After my near death experience with diabetes, strength and courage is what got me through. I have tattoos of those words as a daily reminder to never forget how I got here.
I’m in the construction business and work odd and long hours. There are times when I’m so busy I forget to eat or even take my insulin, which is not good for a diabetic. I always adjust depending on what I’m doing for work, so it’s hard sometimes to maintain my sugar levels. Even though I must live with this condition, I’ve learned to love and appreciate life more than before. I will look at everyone else enjoying themselves and who am I to take that away from them, to have to worry about me not doing well? I don’t want anyone to worry about me, so I do my best to take control of my chronic illness and not the other way around. It’s always good to talk to or read about people who have these conditions and relate to them. I like knowing I’m not alone out there.”
Sergio
