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My Story...
Hello, my name is Colton, and I am 13 years old. I am in 8th grade, and I participate in tennis and chess club! I also love technology, and hope to one day be a computer engineer, programmer or video game designer. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2011 when I was 11 years old. Managing my diabetes has been very challenging at times, because I have to think about it all the time. I have heard people call it the 24/7--365 condition, and now I understand why. It is a constant process of testing my blood sugar 5-6 times per day, counting carbohydrates for everything I eat, calculating how much insulin to take, and making adjustments for everything from exercise to illness. Everything I do has to be carefully planned, and I can't go anywhere without my supplies and emergency kit.
My biggest fear about having diabetes is that my blood sugar might go so low that I pass out and never wake up. My parents worry about this too, and wear a sensor that monitors my sugar levels at all times. (I wish it could take the place of finger sticks, but I still have to check my blood 5-6 times per day. My parents like the monitor because they can see how I did at school, and it can alert them of my highs or lows during the night.
When I was first diagnosed, I felt really alone because my friends didn't understand what I was going through. Some of them thought that I got diabetes from eating too much sugar, which is not true at all. I used to feel embarrassed when I had to stick my finger or give myself a shot in public because people sometimes stared at me. Things are better now that I use a pump because my treatments are not so obvious anymore. I love having my pump and monitor because they have made things a little easier for me. I wear both of them in a pouch (like a runner's iPod arm band) strapped around my ankle, and I usually get questioned daily about what is on my leg. On a silly day (or when I just don't feel like explaining what it really is) I sometimes get a laugh at watching people's expressions when I tell them I'm on house arrest!
I have heard about Camp Sweeney from my doctor and nurses ever since I was first diagnosed. The videos and pictures online made me really want to go there, but we couldn't afford it. My parents have insurance, but they still have to pay around $400 per month for my medicines and medical supplies. Last year, my Granny surprised me and paid for me to go to camp, and it was the best experience of my life! The first day of camp was my 13th birthday, and I got the royal treatment! My session had 250 kids who were just like me. We all checked our sugar together, we gave our shots together, and we ate together. (It was nice to not have people staring at me for a change!) We
Thank you for reading my story, and I really hope that you are able to support my goal to go to camp again this year. I know that not everyone will be able to donate, so if you can't, I understand. I am just glad that you got to learn a little bit about me, and I hope that you will help to spread awareness about Type 1 Diabetes....until there is a cure.
My biggest fear about having diabetes is that my blood sugar might go so low that I pass out and never wake up. My parents worry about this too, and wear a sensor that monitors my sugar levels at all times. (I wish it could take the place of finger sticks, but I still have to check my blood 5-6 times per day. My parents like the monitor because they can see how I did at school, and it can alert them of my highs or lows during the night.
When I was first diagnosed, I felt really alone because my friends didn't understand what I was going through. Some of them thought that I got diabetes from eating too much sugar, which is not true at all. I used to feel embarrassed when I had to stick my finger or give myself a shot in public because people sometimes stared at me. Things are better now that I use a pump because my treatments are not so obvious anymore. I love having my pump and monitor because they have made things a little easier for me. I wear both of them in a pouch (like a runner's iPod arm band) strapped around my ankle, and I usually get questioned daily about what is on my leg. On a silly day (or when I just don't feel like explaining what it really is) I sometimes get a laugh at watching people's expressions when I tell them I'm on house arrest!
I have heard about Camp Sweeney from my doctor and nurses ever since I was first diagnosed. The videos and pictures online made me really want to go there, but we couldn't afford it. My parents have insurance, but they still have to pay around $400 per month for my medicines and medical supplies. Last year, my Granny surprised me and paid for me to go to camp, and it was the best experience of my life! The first day of camp was my 13th birthday, and I got the royal treatment! My session had 250 kids who were just like me. We all checked our sugar together, we gave our shots together, and we ate together. (It was nice to not have people staring at me for a change!) We
Thank you for reading my story, and I really hope that you are able to support my goal to go to camp again this year. I know that not everyone will be able to donate, so if you can't, I understand. I am just glad that you got to learn a little bit about me, and I hope that you will help to spread awareness about Type 1 Diabetes....until there is a cure.
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