American Diabetes Association: For the 6 of us and the millions of others

For the 6 of us and the millions of others
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
By: Maggie Sheaffer

For the 6 of us and the millions of others

Since I was little, the subject of diabetes was a common topic in my household...

Since I was little, the subject of diabetes was a common topic in my household. With my grandmother, her sister, my godfather, my cousin, and my dad all affected by the disease, family gatherings were often a blur of blood sugar monitors, vials of insulin, and trading diet tips. When I was diagnosed myself 7 years ago, I became the 6th person in my immediate family to acquire diabetes. Thanks to my family's extremely open attitude about the disease, I couldn't have been more prepared.

However, as a college student, this couldn't be more challenging.

Fighting late night pizza cravings and watching roommates eat the best ice cream on the East Coast can be challenging. I have slightly more flexibility with my diet thanks to an insulin pump, but I still need to watch most of the time. Staying active and involved in several activities is a big help. I am certainly thankful for a wonderful new group of friends that are understanding and curious about this disease. I take any chance I get to show off my pump and explain how it works.

I hope to educate as many students as I can about diabetes: for the 6 of us in my family and the millions of others who live with this not-so-terrible-after-all disease.