At age 16, I peed in a cup and my life changed. I was at the medical center for a physical to attend Girl’s State, a model government experience that promotes leadership for high school girls. I was not sick…or so I thought. The blood draw confirmed it. I had Type 1 diabetes.
Well, shit. This overachieving star student would spend the week of Girl’s State hospitalized learning diabetes survival 101.
I don't recall having a dramatic emotional response to my diagnosis. I was surprised and curious. My mother was stunned and understandably frightened. She carried the same questions as me, but I recall that I asked many questions of the kind endocrinologist (whose name I regrettably forget).
WHY me? There is no family history of diabetes. What does this mean? What suddenly changed in my body? Isn’t there a cure?
My stay in the hospital that June before my junior year was great, truly. I was there 5 or 7 days while they stabilized my blood glucose and monitored insulin levels. I was educated on nutrition, human physiology, insulin dosing and so much more. It felt like summer school and did I mention LEARNER is my core strength?
As I learned about my new bff diabetes, I could see the symptoms clearly in hindsight: Incessant thirst and consequential frequent urination, mood swings, and weight loss. All the symptoms could be rationalized – Mood swings? I was a teenager. Weight loss? I was hustling busy shifts as a hostess at IHOP (that's International House of Pancakes for you Waffle House fans).
I will never forget the day the RN came in with a large navel orange, syringes, and insulin vials filled with water and said, “You can go home once you've mastered giving yourself shots.”
My mom was with me that day and looked at me wondering how I would respond. I was crystal clear as I stretched my arm with the IV, “Sure. Will you give me the orange?”
I surprised myself and certainly my mom when I saw her expression – mouth open and eyebrows raised – ease into a smile with a sparkle of joy in her eyes.
I imagine her joy was rooted in the fact that I embraced the challenge rather than shrank from it. I really wish my mom was here so I could hear her tell this story. Little did we know she would lose her battle with breast cancer less than 7 years later.
As challenging as life with diabetes was then and is now, I appreciate the role I play in it. I can’t explain why, but I didn't hesitate to take responsibility for my disease; I accepted it.
I guess I felt grateful that it was (and is) a condition I can influence directly. In fact, many (and I may say all) conditions are ones we can influence with our disposition, thoughts, and actions.
I want to be VERY clear here. I am not saying you can think your way out of diabetes. What I AM saying is how you see the world…and more importantly your place in it with a disease…affects your nervous system and those around you. You need not be defined by it. To read about my real-life pivot point to learn this lesson click here.
Diabetes is not a death sentence; I see it as a life sentence – a path to mindful living.
It is entirely possible to live a long, full, healthy life with diabetes. I choose a mindful, compassionate, and informed approach to achieving good numbers, building awareness of my patterns, and remaining agile in my approach. I invite you to shift from controlling diabetes to living in harmony with it.
I am stepping up and out to share what I’ve learned over 35 years living with diabetes and 20 years thriving with it. I’m certainly not perfect, but what I AM is not defined by my diabetes.
- Identify and Overcome 12 Hidden Energy Drains - 08/01/2025
- Yoga Therapy - 07/31/2025
- Conscious Breathing for Anxiety – 4 Natural Techniques That Work - 06/03/2025
13 Responses
This article is a must read for anyone that is curious about mindfulness around lifestyle choices and the impact of our mindset
Thanks Freedom! That’s my hope in sharing this story. 😉
Thank you for sharing this important message for the world. So many have no clue how to live a life of purpose and get struck in negativities. may your inspiration motivate everyone to take up the challenge and become the best version of themselves through love, care and responsibility.
Dear Dr. Sir, thank you for your kind words and for always being a conduit the the powerful teachings of yoga.
Wonderful sharing, dear Dawn. Thank you for you and your work!
Inspiring article, no matter the challenge faced. Thank you for sharing. This statement resonated in particular: “In fact, many (and I may say all) conditions are ones we can influence with our disposition, thoughts, and actions.” I have found choosing joy in the face of rough circumstances (even if I do whine, rage, or cry a bit first) to be a powerful way to live life. Love your can-do attitude and sense of humor, Dawn.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness Karen in your reply. “Choose joy” is a powerful mantra. I’m so glad to know that someone gets my sense of humor. Methinks we’ll be good friends.
I too learned to give a shot to an orange…then gave my first insulin shot. 😆 I wonder if kids today with all their electronics still use the orange as a teaching tool for shots?
Michelle! That is a great question. I wonder how teaching technology has evolved? My first guess is that they still use the orange because, sadly, insulin pens or pumps as delivery systems are not available to all. Thank you for reading!
Dawn, your story resonates deeply with me. Diabetes has touched my family in multiple ways.
I was fortunate not to inherit my grandmother’s diabetes, though one of my cousins did. She’s done incredibly well managing it and has had an insulin pump for years now, which has been life-changing for her.
Unfortunately, my grandmother didn’t have access to the same management. She couldn’t resist living a life on cakes and smoking. She passed away at the age of 60.
My stepdad is currently living with diabetes and managing it well at 80.
You were so young when you lost your mother. I lost my father to cancer just last year, and like you, I often think about how we hope science will be on our side when we need it most. It’s both humbling and hopeful to see how far we’ve come in understanding and treating conditions like diabetes, even as we wish those advances had come sooner for the people we’ve loved and lost.
Thank you for sharing your story. These experiences remind us why continued research and awareness matter so much.
I look forward to hearing how you apply your skills today in combating diabetes, or is that a completely separate endeavour?
Thank YOU for sharing your experience Martina. These discourse is a gorgeous by-product of writing. My response to your question came straight away, so l’m sharing here too. 🙂
I don’t “combat” my diabetes now. I live (more) in harmony with it. Every decision, every day considers blood sugar management. Ive adjusted my perspective and am all the better for it.
Please let me know if you have other questions. We’re all in this together.
Sounds very interesting. Does that mean you don’t need to take insulin? Or do you manage it with insulin and healthy food?
No, I require insulin to live…and likely always will. My pancreas doesn’t make it anymore. Prior to my pump (25 years ago), I took insulin as many do now – through mulitple daily injections via syringe or pen. Harmony in my life with Type 1 diabetes, obviously and firstly includes insulin therapy (as noted), healthy, mindful eating, regular physical activity, emotional and nervous system regulation, and a very healthy dose of self-compassion.
Living with Type 1 Diabetes has been a tremendous learning experience – an outstanding “no choice” opportunity to learn and live better. Thanks for asking Martina.