06/04/2024
I wanted to start out with explaining my story. I have been diabetic since 2013. I was told that it was type 2 diabetes from 2013 up until May 2024. I was started out on metformin in 2013-2015 and it made me super sick. I told my doctor that and she wouldn’t listen. I decided to take myself off the medications up until July 2016 when my dad passed away. He was a type 2 diabetic from the time he was 28 years old, so I grew up knowing everything. I decided that I needed to get the disease under control and saw a doctor for it. I was put on several medications and in May 2017, I became pregnant with my son. He was stillborn due to a medication that my OB kept me on that either causes miscarriage in the first trimester or stillbirth in the third trimester. Mind you, my blood sugars were in range, watched everything I ate, and my A1C went from 8.7(when I found out I was pregnant) to 6.2 (within 2 months of finding out I was pregnant.) My OB chose to not give me the proper care that I needed as a diabetic such as seeing a fetal specialist and being on insulin during my pregnancy which ultimately caused my son’s death. I didn’t know any of this during my pregnancy because I went to an OB who I trusted because he delivered my niece and nephew. I learned what kind of care I should have had after I saw a fetal specialist 6 months after my son had passed away. With her direction, I saw an endocrinologist and got on insulin in order to conceive again. In 2019, I separated from my ex husband due to him no longer wanting children. I continued on my medications. Sometimes, I would fall off the bandwagon because this disease is very tiring and those who have it know what I am talking about. The constant pokes, watching your carb intake, the highs and lows, etc. It is exhausting! I fell off the bandwagon in October 2023 and went into my doctor in January 2024 to get back on my meds. My A1C(your blood glucose levels for 3 months) at that time was 11.4. I saw my new doctor in May 2024 who referred me to a diabetic specialist. My A1C at that time was 7.6 because I’ve been taken my medications correctly. The specialist called me because my labs had shown an antibody to insulin and had me come in for another lab that tested for antibodies to insulin. It was positive. She stated that I have never been a type 2 since 2013, but a type 1. I have no clue how all of the doctors that I have seen since 2013 could have missed this, but at least now I know. I just want to share my journey with those that want to learn more about this disease and those with this disease, so they have a light or beacon of hope that they can live a normal life with this disease.
Is life with this disease, hard? Absolutely yes! Is it worth living it? Yes! Will it be a battle? Yes, every day. Do I hate giving myself insulin shots? All the time. Am I working hard to keep my blood sugars in check? Absolutely!
I hope you can find hope in my journey! 💙🦋
