Stephanie Clifton

The earliest memory I have of my childhood is being in the hospital when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was sick for a long time until a doctor finally told my mom to pack a bag and bring me in. For the next 2 weeks, I learned what constant shots were and finger pricks and doctors constantly looking at you was like. That was all when I was 4.5 years old. To this day, I can give anyone details of the room I stayed in, some of the other children I met and the smells I now am all too familiar with. I’m now going on 34 and have a small boy of my own. He knows my insulin pump as “mommy’s medicine” and he’s fully willing to let you test his blood sugar as it’s a normal in our home. I’ve gone through many highs and lows in my life and it’s taken me many many years to truly understand my body and what reacts certain ways. And best believe it will be the ongoing battle that I myself have to handle but my family as well. My fiancé truly is the best thing and looks out for me all the time. He can read my body and know whether I’m running high or low. Diabetes has truly made me the person I am today.