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Permalink Reply by Teowyn on May 13, 2012 at 11:59am

Who: I wasn't actually present. At dx I was in a coma induced by DKA. I didn't really wake up until the ICU--my mother was there and told me I'd been diagnosed with diabetes.
What: I'd been ignoring symptoms for a couple of months. Probably the biggest clue was having to get up in the middle of some movie to go to the bathroom. And being willing to drink from the fountains at the theatre. And then there was that last really bad nausea thing that I had going on.
When: 24 July 2008. I was 31 years old.
Where: In connection with my personal body? In the ICU as I was drifting back to consciousness. I'd heard of it before, but not in connection with me or anyone else in the family.
Why: I don't know. Sometimes bad things happen, and there isn't ever a good reason. I just have an overactive immune system, I guess. I may never know the proximate cause. But it doesn't really matter, I just have to deal with the reality I've been given,

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Permalink Reply by Jonah on May 13, 2012 at 12:12pm

Who: my mother.
What: I was making a new notch in my belt because it had gotten too big.
When: September 1, 2006- about two years later.
Where: Ironically, I had been interested in diabetes for years. The first time somebody agreed with me that my symptoms might be diabetes was when I was talking to my boss about my symptoms, about two weeks before I was diagnosed.
Why: 'Cause I'm special.

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on May 13, 2012 at 1:02pm

Who and what and where all go together for me. I had been wondering for a couple months about increased thirst and peeing. Then I started losing weight without trying which at my age (58) was definitely odd. I knew the first two things were indicative of Diabetes but didn't know about the weight loss so I looked it up online and saw it was. So I asked my doctor for a blood test. When they called and said my fasting blood sugar was 325 I didn't know what the number meant, so just said "so that means I have Diabetes?" I wasn't surprised and just assumed I had Type 2 as that "was what people my age got". The doctor assumed the same and I didn't figure out any different for 15 months. When Original diagnosis - July 2007. Correct Diagnosis and treatment - February 2009

why am I lucky? Because I'm smart enough and the internet is here and TuD is here, to figure out I'm actually Type 1. Because I have good insurance (even into retirement) and can pay for my medical needs including my pump. Because I have all of you.

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Permalink Reply by Nel on May 13, 2012 at 1:23pm

I was diagnosed with T1 at age 22 and many have assumed I was T2 because of my age as well! (People are also surprised when I tell them that I have diabetes because I'm not fat. It's kind of funny in a way.) My uncle was diagnosed with T1 in his late 30s, however, so I've known for a long time that T1 wasn't something that only small kids got. It's part of the reason that I think people need to be better educated about diabetes. There are a lot of misconceptions out there that could potentially make catching and treating either type harder.

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Permalink Reply by PedsRN on May 14, 2012 at 9:23am

Who: with Mom in ED
What: fading in and out of consciousness in ED
When: Feb 10, 1984- I was 15, glucose 696
Where: Waking up in the ICU, starving, a breakfast tray was delivered to me with French Toast and syrup and started eating it and having the nurse say " you can't eat that, you're a diabetic".
Why: not lucky, but grateful to still be here and with only minimal complications, considering it took me about 10 years to get out of denial and start taking care of myself

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Permalink Reply by Stoyan on May 14, 2012 at 10:50am

WHO: my dad was with me when I first heard the news
WHAT: I was visiting New York for a summer trip. Extreme thirst, extreme going to the bathroom, and then throwing-up let me know that no, whatever this was, I could not ride through it.
WHEN: Summer of 2006, I believe
WHERE: At my dad's apartment...doctor called.
WHY: That only God can answer, lol.

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Permalink Reply by Dana825 on February 23, 2013 at 2:20pm

Who: I was alone with my primary care physician.
What: I was getting ready for bed and had horrible abdominal pain. I had class and work the next day so I decided I would go to the doctor afterwards.
When: October 4, 2012
Where: I was in the doc's office. Before I was "officially" told, I overheard a nurse talking to my doctor because she couldn't believe how high my BG was and that I was still up and walking.
Why: I'm still not sure yet. Maybe to get me back to the athletic person I was before I got sick.

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Permalink Reply by pancreaswanted on February 23, 2013 at 2:30pm

who: with my doctor and the nurse who would also become "mine" with my diabetes.
what: looking in the mirror before getting in the shower and thinking i was looking thinner and thinner. getting up two and three times a night to pee and drinking oceans. water was like nectar, it never tasted so good!
when: november 2011, i was 36.
where: in the doctors office with her.
why do i feel lucky? i dont feel lucky to be diabetic at all. i do feel lucky i didnt have to grow up with this, that i got to be a normal kid and teen, without the fear of hypos and sweets deprivation.

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Permalink Reply by David (dns) on February 23, 2013 at 2:58pm

Who: My opthalmologist. Went to see him for blurry vision.
What: See above.
When: 1995, Spring or Summer, not certain.
Where: First heard the D word when I was very young. Mother explained to me what it was; can't remember how the subject arose.
Why: Because I got my mental wake up call in time to take control and do something about it. Because I've gotten really good information about management and control, from both self study and this magnificent community. Because I have (somewhere) found the self discipline to do what's needed, and because it's working. Because without the D to motivate me, I probably would not be taking as good care of my health as I now do. And because otherwise I would not have met some of the truly wonderful people who hang out here.

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Permalink Reply by lotsofshots on February 24, 2013 at 4:25am

This is really a neat post. It has been around many years and I think that I answered it already, but will do so again. It got me thinking!

• I was in the barracks at Ft. Bragg visiting with friends. I remember we were all sitting and talking in someone's room early in the morning after PT. I was so tired that I had to lay down on the bed.
• I felt like I had the flu for a long time. I was so fatigued and when I got sick to my stomach it was weird, not like the normal flu, more like projectile vomiting. I still had the strength to do physical training in the morning, and that didn't seem right because usually the flu makes me feel very weak.
• I was diagnosed somewhere around 1990
• I first heard the D word in the emergency room at Ft. Bragg. I went to sick call for the flu, and the doctor took blood tests and told me my BG was 4 times the normal level and that I had Diabetes. I had no idea or conception of what it was. I never knew anyone who had diabetes. I was totally clueless as to what that meant. 
• I feel I am lucky because diabetes taught me healthy habits. I feel honored to live in a time where I am able to have the tools to keep myself healthy, not just to control my diabetes, but to actually improve my health. I am sure thankful that I have access to a glucometer, insulin pens, A1Cs, the DOC and healthy food. 

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