NEWLY DIAGNOSED
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, now what?
It is hard to fathom a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. As a newly diagnosed individual, I am sure that you and your loved ones have an endless amount of questions and concerns. I was in your shoes a few years ago, when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on May 9, 2009, at the age of 18.
I wish I could tell you that diabetes gets easier as the years go on. Unfortunately, through my own experiences living with type 1 diabetes for 10+ years, it doesn't get any easier. I can, however, confidently say that through experience, you and your loved ones become more equipped in dealing with diabetes.
Having type 1 diabetes is manageable and with the right tools, resources, and support system, a person living with this chronic, auto-immune condition, can live a vivacious, adventures, successful life.
Kaitlin O'Grady
What To Do When Type 1 Diabetes Unexpectedly Enters Your Life:
1
ASK QUESTIONS & DON'T BE ALARMED THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING DAY 1
2
DO SOME RESEARCH
3
STAY INFORMED
4
CONNECT WITH OTHERS
This will be a very scary and overwhelming time. Ask the questions that are burning in your head but also be mindful of information overload. A good way to look at your diagnosis is thinking of it as a crawl, walk, run, approach. This simply means that it will take time and practice to understand how to adjust to life with diabetes until you will feel more comfortable in managing your diabetes.
There are a lot of great resources out there that can help provide some context and understanding to your diagnosis and ways that you can better manage your diabetes. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is a great place to start!
Organizations like JDRF are continuously working on finding a cure for type 1 diabetes but also finding ways to make living with diabetes better. Be in the know on the latest trends and research.
Think you are alone in what you are going though? Think again! There is a huge network of people that have been impacted by type 1 diabetes. Getting connected to the T1D community is easy – You can meet virtually through the many online communities that exist or take part in events that are held by different organizations throughout the year.
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert, nor do I claim to be! I am just a person living with type 1 diabetes sharing my experiences and knowledge with others. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diabetes management.