Hey, I’m Chandler. I’m 17 years old, and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2004 (while on holiday in Florida!).
When I was first diagnosed I definitely had some trouble getting my head around it all; but I decided that if I was going to be taking injections and checking my blood sugars all the time I would at least do it well, to make it worth the time! So far that attitude has definitely worked; I’m on an insulin pump now and my most recent HbA1C was 5.6.
Something that has really helped me keep focus and in good control is my running. I’m a sprinter/hurdler, and the year I was diagnosed was, funnily enough, the first year that I reached the national ‘English Schools’ individual competition for the 200m and I even placed sixth overall. When I reached the under 17 age group I moved to 300m hurdles and faired similarly well with a fifth place position at English Schools and a seventh at a competition called the AAA where the competition involves anyone from the United Kingdom. I have at times found competing hard; all the adrenalin you get before a race sky rockets your blood sugars. However, with a bit of trial and error, I quickly managed to work out a kind of ‘diabetes routine’ into my racing warm up! It’s great, and means my type 1 diabetes has never hurt my competing. This year I’ve moved up to the under 20 age group (which sounds so old it’s a little scary) and I’m going to run 400m. At the moment I’m still struggling a bit with a hamstring injury I picked up last year. However, I should be back competing in a few weeks and I hope by the end of the season I’ll be able to pull out some pretty decent times.
Something else I’m really looking forward to this summer is my Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition. It’s a real challenge, where you have to be completely self-sufficient for four days and nights. Also, I’ll have to walk just over 20km a day, with a massive rucksack. We get to do it in the Brecon Beacons so hopefully that’ll be much more sunny than my practice, which I had to do in the freak hail and rain we had in April. It should be a great time, and I’m definitely up for the challenge!
2. At 20:00 on Tue 02nd Sep 08 Jake Collie wrote:
Hello, I'm Jake I am 9 years old and I have type 1 diabetes since I was eight years old . I too went to Florida and came back with type 1 diabetes. I felt very ill when i was first diagnosed. My favourite sport is football and my diabetes does not stop me playing it.
3. At 18:50 on Thu 04th Sep 08 ADELE wrote:
hi im adele and i was diagnosed with type 1 in may this year im 12 years old
4. At 08:59 on Tue 16th Sep 08 Emily McCarthy wrote:
I am Emily. I am four. I got diabetes when I was three. I don't mind the blood tests but I don't like having insulin injections because it hurts a lot. I am going to school after Christmas. I have diabetes every day. When my blood sugar is low I like to eat sweeties or a glucose tablet.
5. At 16:20 on Wed 01st Oct 08 Kath McNeil wrote:
hello im kath i have had type 1 diabetes for 5 weeks now i didnt understand at first and i was resasitated five time i am still scared know
6. At 10:43 on Fri 20th Mar 09 Jean Sinclair wrote:
Good luck with your D of E expedition - I guess you've already done it? If your rucksack was massive, you were doing something wrong! It is vital to get the weight and volume as low and manageable as possible. Borrow kit where possible, buy only what is essential to fit your correctly eg boots & rucksack, which you'll have for years (I'm still using rucksacks and sleeping bags that are over 20 years old!) and make use of discounts offered by certain stores to D of E participants. Dried food from supermarkets eg noodles, cous cous, flavoured rice, etc are fine, plus pitta bread or crackers with tubes of cheese or tinned fish or pate for lunch, and fruit & veg (eg onions & garlic for flavour) will survive for 4 years, with a bit of careful wrapping. I did my D of E Bronze & Gold awards before I got diabetes, and have assessed Bronze & Silver expeditions since. Brecon Beacons is a lovely area - hope you enjoyed the expedition and many more backpacking trips in the future. Try MAD (Moutains for Active Diabetics (http://diabetic.friendsinhighplaces.org/) for further inspiration.
7. At 14:46 on Sun 12th Jul 09 Stacey wrote:
Hello , I'm Stacey and i am 13 years old and have only just been diagnosed as diabetic . I have only been told 2 weeks ago and still can't believe it has happened to me or can my friends and family. But they are supporting me , so is my school and have told me to take as much time off school till my levels have gone . I Would love to chat more as i don't know much about it. Stacey .ox
8. At 12:18 on Mon 07th Sep 09 Sophie Bryant wrote:
Hi My Names Sophie Ive Had type 1 For 9yrs! I was Diagnosed When i was 3 im now 12. When I Had First Found Out all I could talk About Was It, It Was the Biggest news EVER! I think i enjoyed the attention But It Seemed I was Always Worried About The Needles, I had the Insulin Pen For 8yrs and For the Last Year i've moved on to the Insulin Pump, Its So Much more Practical. On Thursday I had my First eye Scan ! Only Because I Have Had Type 1 For Ages And I got It When I was So Young. Hopee Everyones Ok ! Sophie ox
9. At 07:57 on Sun 17th Jan 10 Bethan G wrote:
I've had diabetes for nearly a year now and I'm really struggling to get it under control. Hopefully with extra support I can push my HBA1C down (its currently 9.2 aaaahhh!)
10. At 10:29 on Sat 01st May 10 Leisha wrote:
hiya, i'm leisha:) i'm 13 and just over a year diagnosed. It was a real bad time for me i knew nothing about it and none of my family had it either! I was unconcious the first few days i was diagnosed so didn't really know anything about it till a week later. All i know now is it's so demanding and i get embarrassed by it at school, i hate to eat in front of people because i have to have my injection, this leads to me having hypo's all the time and i really need some help. I'm researching the omnipod at the moment...so hopefully i can grasp control. Wish everyone the best!
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Comments
1. At 19:59 on Tue 26th Aug 08 EMILY NORRIS wrote:
Hello, I'm Emily I am eight years old and have had Type 1 Diabetes since I was five. I still find it hard to take my daily insulin injections, but my family and friends fully support JDRF and hope that one day a cure will be found, not just for me but for everyone with type 1 Diabetes.