- Messages
- 32
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- High and low blood sugars!
I have been type one diabetic since I was 7 years old and from a young age I dealt with my TD1 maturely and never caused a fuss, my parents were very lucky! I would compare living with T1D to a rollercoaster ride as it has its ups and downs with a fair share of surprises. Of course, I am not the "perfect" diabetic with good blood sugars all year round, I try my best and sometimes I believe that I try too hard. In primary school, I was the only diabetic child in the whole school and I was faced with discrimination such as parents passing remarks about me being allowed to drink Coca-Cola when my blood sugar dropped and classmates complaining about me being allowed out to the toilet when I needed it. Secondary school was better as the school I attended provided me with great support for my Diabetes and I really enjoyed my five years at the school. I did have a hard time adjusting to hormones because when menstruation started I didn't have much knowledge about how it affected blood sugar levels and that definitely was the craziest rollercoaster ride ever! However, the two years that I attended a different school to complete my A-Levels was by far the worst diabetic experience ever. I have finished my exams by which I am relieved but part of me is reflecting on just how difficult those two years were. I was extremely unhappy at this school, I didn't have friends to talk to. A typical school day for me was to put my head down and get on with it. I do believe that I had what I now know as Diabetes Distress. Every single school day my blood sugars were high and my mouth always felt like the Sahara desert. This school did not offer good support, I injected myself in the toilets and the school nurse was a horrible woman. I couldn't believe the difference between the schools. During my time at this school, my mental health was up and down. I was sent to see the school councillor who was very nice but I thought that coming from another school and attending counselling, people might have gotten a bad impression from me. I think what is happening to me at the moment is that I can't believe that I stuck that school for two years but the experience has certainly knocked my confidence in living with T1D. I am considering attending counselling as it might help me get things off my chest. I am open to other ideas if anyone has any.