Can Type 1 Diabetics be successful?
The world was
spinning like I was trapped in a spinning top, turning continuously. I was so
scared. Everybody and everything was moving so quickly. It was so much colder
than before, much darker. I remember the ambulance, the anonymous noise coming
from all different directions. My life changed that day. That day, May 20th,
2008. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic
disease where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to break down all
the carbohydrates and glucose. This disease is Juvenile, meaning there is no
cure for it during this time period. I was afraid of the needles, afraid of
giving multiple injections daily. Life from then on was harder, but did it
change who I was? Could I still be successful?
When
people hear the words diabetes, they think of obesity. Type 1 diabetes does not
relate to overweight. That is type 2 diabetes. Today I look back at May 20th,
2008 and never forget how afraid I was. I was told by kids that I would not be successful in school or sports. That
diabetes would change who I was. Now, I attend Early College
High School and am involved
in sports. Who says I can not be who or what I want to. To me, my life never
changed. Diabetics could and can be just
as successful as other people without diabetes. There are many athletes that
are in professional sports that have Type 1 diabetes. They have a treacherous
journey to get where they are today. Not because they are diabetic, but because
they had something to prove. Not to others, but to themselves. Reggie Bush and
Jay Cutler are just a few diabetics that play in the NFL. Diabetics can be
singers, athletes and anything they want to be.
There
are many kids in today’s time that go each and every day fighting to prove that
they can be successful. They have been told that this disease will overcome
them. Why think that? When we can overcome the disease. I am no different. The
kid that has to leave class a little earlier and take shots in the nurses’
office is no different than you are. Diabetes in a young or even older child or
adult is absolutely normal and happens on occasion. Nearly 3 million people in
the United States
have Type 1 Diabetes. Annually 15,000 children are diagnosed with Type 1
Diabetes (American Diabetic Association). That is approximately 40 children a
day! Statistics will not prove if a kid is more up judged to be successful or
not, only one can judge that. People are
always asking me what it is like to have diabetes and how does it make me feel.
I will not lie, it is difficult, life threatening and upsetting. Knowing I can
not have a Pepsi because of the carbohydrates and sugar in it. Knowing that if
I do not take my insulin when I eat that my blood sugar will corrupt to a “Sky
High” blood sugar. Do I feel any different? Honestly, yes. Sometimes when my
blood sugar drops, the sounds around me will fade, I will get dizzy and shaky.
I will also sense an overwhelming welcoming of tiredness. People do not realize
that life is tougher for us. The only detail on the outside of our bodies, our
temples, is the scars on the tips of our fingers from checking our blood sugar.
Having to prick the tip various amount of times a day. The bruises and lumps
where the needle injects into the skin, spewing insulin into us so we can live
day to day. We still fight on as any other successful person would.
Did you know that
the kid you made fun of because he was always drinking diet drinks had diabetes?
There are kids in today’s time that go each and everyday fighting to play that
sport they cherish the most. Kids will think that they can not do what they
have always dreamed of doing because they get stuck, diagnosed with this
disease. Truth let it be, there are many star athletes in many professional
sports that thought the same opinion. They had to try 10 times harder to be who
they are today, but is that really a burden? It makes them stronger, tougher
people. They are a great example of a soul being determined to get something
complete. Chris Dudley, center for the Portland Trailblazers was diagnosed with
Type 1 Diabetes. He was so worried that he would not be able to play basketball
anymore because there was no possible way for the star center to control
diabetes and basketball. He says “I was scared because I didn’t know what
diabetes was.” He was continuously asking his doctor if it was possible for him
to continue his basketball career. Up front with no hesitation the doctor
answered with a strong and confident “Yes.” He never gave up; consequently he
had to work harder. Repeatedly he had to go through getting made fun of because
his sugar would drop and Dudley would have to cram a quick snack down to rise
the glucose level to that of “average”.(Chicago Tribune pg 7) Fact be known,
not many people of America, adults and
children know what diabetes is. This is a shame, since diabetes is the 7th
leading cause of death.
We are not looked at like the living dead. Someone
who you have to always be aware of or afraid of. Success with Diabetes comes in
many shapes and sizes. Of course, with Jay Cutler or Nick Jonas, they only have
to sing a song or heave a football into the end zone to prove their success,
but what about ordinary people? In small steps, they can accomplish the
unbelievably believable. It takes courage, dedication, and effort. Each and
every soul, person, and or individual will be successful in their own way.
Famous musician, Bret Michaels was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was
only 6 years old. He grew up with a plan to overcome diabetes and not let it
stop his dreams. His music career is one of the most successful among many of
the top rock singers. He has sold over 25 million records, which include 15 top
10 singles. His works have expanded to
greater things including film producing, writing and directing, and acting. He
is currently involved in a reality TV show called “Rock of Love”. Michaels
takes 4 injections daily and checks his blood glucose level 8 times a day. He
recently won “The Celebrity Apprentice.” He has also pledged $250,000 dollars to
the American Diabetes Association. (Type1diabetes.about.com)
Success is an availability
to every single individual in today’s geographical world. Some will achieve it
in various ways. Some differently than others. There are tons of musicians,
actors, athletes and many other careers that diabetics have been successful,
but many of the people in this world do not essentially know of their
condition. For example, The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis the Pelvis, had Type 1
diabetes. His condition was very opaque. He did not want the media to know because he did not want to feel any different or have fans look
at him as “strange”. He gave himself multiple injections daily. Doctors say
that his condition was so under control that there was no need for media to be involved
(health24). He is one of the most famous artists of all time, ever. Anybody who
is anybody knows who he was. Maybe if they knew he had type 1 diabetes then
those of today would grab more attention toward the disease. He did not let it
stop him, and neither should anyone else. Diabetics do not get enough credit
for what they do. They go day in and day out, doing the same activities that
most Americans do, but with a life threatening disease.
Challenges are
approached each and every time a diabetic tries to do something. For example,
if they want to attempt an athletic event, they must be attentive and make
sure that their blood sugar will not
drop to a low blood sugar. By preventing that they must carry a snack or
glucose tablets to prevent it. Again, challenges may be different depending on
the type of activity they are involved in. Type 1 diabetes is a disease that
you will NEVER outgrow. It will stay with you for your entire life. Diabetics
have to face the fact that they will subject themselves to it every day.
Success is sometimes a hard fixation to come by. You may not have the support
at home that you need, or the support from yourself. Does that mean you life
comes to a end? Teens my age have to face the fact that peers will look at them
differently, but not always badly (JDRF). They will be more cautious of you and
worry about you, and trust me it will get quite annoying. Someone asking you
every so minute if you are okay. Also, when you ask to go to the nurse the
teacher assigns someone to go with you because they are worried that you may
pass out. We’re different without a doubt, but not different for the worse.
Success is defined
as an accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Elvis Presley’s success was to be a
musician and he accomplished that. Nick Jonas’s success was to also be a
musician but to influence diabetics to do what they set their mind to. Jay
Cutler’s success was to be an active starting quarterback in the NFL; he is
currently starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Chris Dudley success was
to be a player in the NBA; he is currently the star Center for the Portland
Trailblazers. Then there is Erika, an everyday girl living in the everyday
world. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 12. Her success was
to continue to live a normal life and be a normal person. Guess what? She is just as normal as before. All these examples
are proof that type 1 diabetics can be successful. Each one had a goal, a
dream, a hope. Each one went out and completed it. Each one fought the disease
and is continuing to fight it today. Each one is stronger, tougher, and more
loved because of what they have done. Each one has type 1 diabetes. In my eyes those
who have diabetes can and will continue to be successful. Never let someone tell
you that you can not do something. In the end, only you are the one to judge
what you can not and can accomplish.
