Sophie Rohrer

I was diagnosed with T1D at the age of five years old. Although I was too young to remember before, during, and immediately after my diagnosis, I dealt with many problems with bullying and emotional distress growing up with it. Kids at school would often make fun of me for wearing an insulin pump or for having to test my blood sugar. This led to me hiding my diabetes and being ashamed of it. I was the only individual in my grade dealing with T1D which made me feel very alone. Once I got to middle school, there were two others in my grade but I was never close with either of them. All of this caused me to spiral into depression and major diabetes burnout and I ended up giving up on even trying with my diabetes anymore as nothing I was doing seemed to be working. My numbers went out of control and would regularly be at dangerously high levels. Once the COVID pandemic hit while I was a junior in high school, I took that opportunity to start taking better care of myself. Once I started college in 2021, I realized that there are in fact others just like me and I no longer hide it as much. While I am still not at the point I would like to be regarding my health, I am doing much better and have wonderful support systems such as my parents and my wonderful boyfriend. While I still am not close with anyone with T1D, these people help me and try to understand the best they can regarding this condition which is all I can ask for. I know I am not alone and there are many others like me dealing with the same thing.