I’ve been living with Diabetes since I was 11 years old. That’s 34 years of finger pricks, carb counting, highs and lows — and a lot of life in between.
Here’s the thing: there comes a point when you have to understand that you are not your disease.
T1D is part of your life, yes, but it does not get to define who you are.
It’s never going to be perfect. Even if you eat the same food at the same time every day and try to stay perfectly still, your numbers will still fluctuate. At some point, you have to give yourself grace, stand up, and say:
“I am a strong person who just happens to have diabetes.”
Because if you let it take over your life, you’ll lose yourself. And if you’re diabetic, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
My Turning Point: The Insulin Pump
I have had diabetes since 1991, but it wasn’t until 2005 that I hit my breaking point.
When I was first diagnosed, I started with just two daily injections. But as we worked to get tighter control over my blood sugars, those two shots turned into four. And when my doctor mentioned adding a fifth, I just… couldn’t do it anymore.
That’s when my doctor suggested something I knew almost nothing about at the time: an insulin pump.
Honestly, I was skeptical — and a little scared. But taking that leap turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made for my health.
The pump completely changed my life. Instead of extreme highs and lows, I now get small doses of insulin throughout the day. It’s not perfect (nothing with diabetes ever is), but it gave me back something priceless: freedom.
I didn’t have to disappear to the bathroom at restaurants to check my blood sugar and give myself a shot. Instead, I could glance at my CGM, plug the numbers into my pump — which honestly looks like an old-school pager — and quietly go back to enjoying dinner like everyone else.
Medtronic gave me my life back. And now, there are pumps that can even communicate directly with your CGM to adjust your insulin automatically. (I haven’t switched to their current CGM yet, but I’m hopeful they’ll refine it — and when they do, I’ll be ready.)
Why It Matters
If you’re living with T1D and struggling to keep up — I see you.
This isn’t easy, and it’s okay to admit that.
But you don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to let T1D take over your life. The insulin pump was a game-changer for me, and it might be for you too. Talk to your doctor, absolutely — but also talk to other people living with diabetes. They’ll give you the honest, real-life tips that make all the difference.
And if you need someone to chat with about what it’s like or how to get started, I’m here. 💛
You are strong. You are capable. And you are so much more than this disease.