I was diagnosed in December of 1987. I went home to my pregnant wife in tears. Like many, I started out learning and doing everything the doctor recommended for me. But, in less than a year the diagnosis was official: I had type 1 diabetes.
I encountered many ups and downs in life. I visited my brother every day for a year as he slowly died of AIDS. I started drinking heavily. I went through a divorce, which sent my drinking into a spiral, and my diabetes followed. The ups and downs of life eventually translated to ups and downs in my diabetes care, ultimately leading me to give up on my diabetes.
I first started making changes in my diabetes care after a long conversation with my wife’s friend at her 10-year class reunion. The friend also had diabetes and introduced me to the benefits of using an insulin pump. This conversation helped me become aware of my struggle points, and I developed a stronger desire to improve them. I started using an insulin pump, which improved my diabetes management, but I continued to drink heavily.
Eventually, I met a wonderful and loving diabetes educator (CDE). She didn’t judge me. She helped me move forward one step at a time. Her support helped me make changes that worked best for me as an individual. She encouraged me to start using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), another device that, like the insulin pump, dramatically improved my diabetes management.
As my 50th birthday approached, I WOKE UP. I admitted that I was an alcoholic. It was like seeing the sunrise for the first time. Admitting this allowed me to make even more changes in my diabetes management and life in general. I had already reduced my A1C from about 13 to in the 8s after incorporating the insulin pump. After I quit drinking, I reduced it even further to the 7s.
I’ve now been sober for more than seven years. I’ve been smoke-free for more than two years. I’ve incorporated consistent walks into my routine, some which include extra trips to take photos and enjoy my love for photography. I’ve become a Medtronic Minmed ambassador, a volunteer with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and volunteer with my local JDRF chapter.
I’m disabled now from the years of not taking care of myself. But, today, with the help of my CGM, my A1C rests in the 6s, with my lowest number at 6.2. My A1C illustrates the progress I’ve made with my diabetes management over the years. I’m not letting anything stop me from living a happy, healthy life.