Kalina Gilson

I was diagnosed when I was 15 years old. I had been having a hard time staying awake for what felt like months, but was only a few weeks. I was starving all the time, but eating everything I could get my hands on. I was so thirsty that I would drink a gallon of water in just a few hours and then go back for more. My parents had to take me to an urgent care after I nearly passed out at a campout with my church, and when my blood glucose results came back, I was up at 647 mg/dL. I was taken to an ER by ambulance, and another after they first didn’t have a new diabetic unit.

Fast forward nearly 10 years, and I’m still here, fighting the fight. I married my wonderful husband, have had 4 beautiful children, and push through every day with diabetes. Some days are good, some days are bad, and others are terrible. But I push through one day at a time (sometimes one hour at a time). My mother was a huge support to me, and my husband continues to be my rock.