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Being Different Isn’t the End of the World!

I don’t ever remember a life without diabetes. Some people might say that’s good, though. I certainly didn’t have a sudden lifestyle change when I was a child or even worse a teenager. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was just 18 months old. I just turned 13 this month, though, so I’m inclined to agree that a lifetime of diabetes so far is better than trying to change it all up at this age! Diabetes is an “invisible ailment,” so I know a lot of people, even those that know me pretty well from school, may not realize just how much it takes for me to stay healthy. That’s a blessing and a curse sometimes. I’m a competitive springboard diver and, of course, the physical activity impacts my blood sugar. I’ve definitely had some hypoglycemic episodes during training and competitions that really could have been a disaster if I didn’t have such a strong support system. I know that a lot of children and teenagers hate the idea of anything that makes them different from everyone else, and a chronic disease like diabetes is definitely a difference.

But… being different isn’t the end of the world! In fact, my mom tells my little brother and me all the time that being normal sounds awfully boring. I really couldn’t agree more! My diabetes might not be the best part of my existence, but it’s certainly never gonna hold me back from my goals!

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