DIAGNOSIS STORY!

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For three months, I'd had a cough that I couldn't get rid of. Doctors assumed it was allergies, and advised me to continue on with my summer plans. In the summer of 2014, I got the opportunity to travel to Italy with my family. In July’s heat, my mom, also type 1 diabetic, realized that I was drinking an excessive amount of water. I decided to check my blood sugar and it was 356, (normal blood sugar is 80-120), so we headed to the nearest hospital. Thankfully, it was one of the top pediatric hospitals in Europe! Spending three days in the hospital was challenging because hardly anyone spoke English. We tried using google translate, but not many people spoke formal Italian, so we were basically playing charades in attempt to communicate. I'm so thankful that I didn’t end up in DKA before I was diagnosed, even though my A1C was around 13. For years, I felt like pursing a career in the performing arts was an unattainable vision. It took me a while to realize that having diabetes was a strength, not a weakness. I now make it my mission to encourage others to pursue their passion, and to find what empowers them, no matter the obstacles they may face.