Whitney Marie Smith

I was 12 years old when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I got extremely sick prior to being diagnosed. My parents had separated a year earlier, and I began to struggle with mental health issues. All my doctors were focused on my mental health, and they thought I was bulimic. I got ridiculously thin and am lucky I didn’t go into a coma. My Mom, after throwing away many large water bottles, realized I had a symptom of thirst, which led her to conduct a Google search, where Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) was mentioned. It was Easter Sunday, and all my family was getting together at my grandparents, so she called my uncle, asking him to bring a meter to test my blood sugar since my cousin Bliss, who has Down syndrome, was diagnosed with a T1D half a year before me. He thought my mom was overreacting, but when he tested my blood sugar later that day, the meter just flashed “High.” My blood sugar was over 500. I was taken to the hospital and officially diagnosed as a T1D on April 4th, 2010.

I entered my teenage years with the responsibility of keeping myself alive, 24/7, 365 days a year. I also struggle with severe mental health issues, and my intense emotions affect my blood sugar, which in turn affects my emotions, which affects my blood sugar, and so on. This vicious cycle has been hell! Despite my best efforts to stabilize my blood sugars, they still seemed to be completely random and out of control. Every person with T1D has their own personal struggles with this chronic illness, and I know I am not alone in this struggle. Diabetes technology and care have gotten immensely better than what it first was when I was diagnosed. I am extremely fortunate to live in this day and age, where I have access to an artificial pancreas, an insulin pump, and a continuous glucose monitor. This has allowed me to better control my emotions and blood sugar levels significantly better. However, despite these advancements, Type 1 Diabetes is still mentally and physically exhausting. It still scares me, especially as I watch health care and drug prices rise. I am currently on Medicare to be able to afford my diabetes supplies, but it’s a full-time job trying to stay on top of all the requirements and paperwork they require for me to stay on Medicare. I constantly have the fear of not being able to access insulin. It’s terrifying to have drug companies deciding if I will continue to get to live. I pray for a day when I will not have to fear the availability of insulin and, if I am lucky enough, a cure. Until then, I will continue to fight, day after day, month after month, year after year.