Shelley Flanigan

My diabetes journey started after I was hospitalized numerous times before being diagnosed at the age of two. At first they thought I had leukemia. Then I had a bad case of Chicken Pox with a very high fever that I was told brought the T1D to the surface and that’s when they tested me. I grew up in Michigan, Dearborn to be exact. I had a doctor that only dealt with adults with Type 2 diabetes because there were no pediatric doctors in our area. I know that the doctor did the best he could but he also told my mother that I would be dead at the age of 19 because of the blood sugars and being a brittle diabetic. Well, sorry doctor, thankfully you were WRONG! I am 53, I am damn proud of myself and for my wonderful mother who, still today, knows by looking at me if my blood sugar is low. It is a tough battle of unknown’s having T1D and I could go on, but I will stop there!