Monica Spencer

My Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis at age 16 came out of nowhere. No one in my family had experienced it and I’m sure my parents didn’t think I’d live very long. At the time of my diagnosis, there was no self-monitoring other than urine testing which wasn’t of much benefit. I started out taking one shot of Lente insulin a day and managed to survive the rest of high school and college and eventually graduated to two shots, first using semi-Lente and then Regular and NPH. I have now been on an insulin pump for over 30 years and a CGM for about six. I have two degrees in Vocal Performance, have been married for over 42 years, have two healthy adult children and now, two beautiful granddaughters. I have sung opera professionally, directed the Children’s Chorus for our local Symphony Orchestra and have owned and maintained a voice and piano teaching studio for over 20 years. Diabetes need not stop anyone from doing what they want to do. I travel (in the last year to Hawaii, France and Walt Disney World), am an avid sports fan, holding season baseball and football tickets for the Ole Miss Rebels and am active in church and community. There is so much more help out there than there was when I first began my journey, but perseverance and faith in God has brought me here 50 years down the road.