Alice Martina Smith

I was diagnosed at age 12 when I was old enough to take care of urine tests and daily injections on my own but without understanding what long-term complications might be. For the first 10 years post-diagnosis, I took care of my medical needs and didn’t let diabetes impact my life. I played basketball and other challenging sports. I graduated from university, got a full-time job, married, but when I got pregnant, I really had to do something about my status as a type 1 diabetic. I tried an insulin pump for about a year, but having a device hanging off my belly 24/7 made me feel sorry for myself as a diabetic for the first time ever. Twenty years after that, I got a diabetic alert dog who helped me live my diabetes publicly and happily. Twelve years after the dog entered my life, I am celebrating 50 years with type 1 diabetes. Some heart plaques and a heart catheterization mark my 50 years, with the good news that I don’t have severe blockages. God is blessing me and those who care for me! I’d rather not be a diabetic, but this is a disease that I can manage with help and prayers.