Yesterday, 16.10.2021, was my second birthday this month. Today is my 23rd DIAversary. I still can’t believe that so many years have passed.
Since the beginning of the diagnosis, I have had over 70,000 blood sugar tests and 40,000 injections. And I am only 29 years old. A lot of people who are living with diabetes will agree with me that diabetes is hard. But they would also agree that we are more than a disease or a sickness. We are children, young people, adults and parents with love in our hearts and beauty in our souls.
My 23rd DIAversary – What I have learned?
I the past 23 years, I have learned a lot. Below, you can find the most important things for me.
My health is my number 1 priority
Without it, nothing in life is fun or enjoyable. Staying healthy requires constant effort. To be honest, sometimes that effort requires far greater commitment in the face of pleasure and convenience.
I accepted myself and enjoy my life
Yes, living with type 1 diabetes has taught me to be not only healthier but also happier. I feel very good in my own skin, constantly energized and always ready to do a lot of things. I also exercise and enjoy eating healthy food.
Diabetes does not stop me from doing anything
I have done many things in my life. And I’m grateful for that. Of course, this would not have been possible without the support of my parents. Living with type 1 diabetes gives me the strength to do whatever I want and motivates me to enjoy and rejoice even more.
23rd DIAversary to me – The celebration
In order to mark this day, I decided to try the famous Tiramisu Vegan Cheesecake from Healthyish.healthyish. Mmmm, it is so delicious
I have the power and my health is in my hands. Also, I won’t let diabetes rule me. I have done a lot so far and I will still continue doing a lot of things.
As a person who has been living with type 1 diabetes for almost 23 years, one thing is sure. Every time when my blood sugar level drops down, my body sends me some signals. Usually, my hands are shaking, I start to sweat and tremble. But I have never imagined that one day, I might not be able to feel anything while my blood sugar level decreases. And then for the first time, I faced the long-term effects of COVID-19.
I was tested positive for COVID-19 in April 2021. During those 3 weeks, my blood sugar level was too high. But thanks to my regular control on a daily basis, I managed to bring it to the normal ranges. Few weeks after I recovered from COVID-19, I am facing a lot of post-COVID-19 consequences. Now, I don’t feel anything when my blood sugar level decreases. And for someone like me, that is very scary.
The first Long-Term-Effects of COVID-19
To be even worse, in May 2021, in one week, I lost myself twice. Do you know how I felt in those moments? Scared. Very scared. The first time, I thought it was strange and even, I thought that I might give myself a higher dose of Bolus insulin. But, the second time, was very scary. I knew something is not okay with me. The people who were by my side (Thank God they were next to me, I will always be thankful to them for that), explained to me that I was awake, but I couldn’t respond to their questions or I was talking about something that was not related to the topic. I don’t remember anything. When they managed to wake me up my blood sugar level was 1,4 mmol.
The solution – FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor
After realizing that I don’t feel anything, I reached my endocrinologist. She explained to me that a lot of people with diabetes around the world are facing the same problem. When I asked her what should I do in order to prevent the previous two situations, she suggested me getting the FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor. I knew it will cost me a lot, as this sensor is not available in our country.
And for one, I will say only one thing. Since I started using FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor, my life has changed dramatically. Stay tuned and wait for my next blog post, where I will provide a deeper explanation about my experience with FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor.
Although I received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 27th, a week later, on April 3rd, I started having a fever. The day before, my father was tested positive for COVID-19, so I assumed that I was positive on the virus too. The same day I went to do a test. Two days later, I received a positive result. Carry on reading and find out more about how did COVID-19 affect diabetes.
Symptoms
When it comes to the symptoms, I had the following ones:
- Fever (between 38 ° C and 39.5 ° C)
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Tiredness
After three days, I had a loss of taste or smell. My nose started to get stuffy. The temperature was rising and then falling, and I was constantly experiencing the previously mentioned symptoms.
Tips
Are you still wondering how did COVID-19 affect diabetes? In the next section, I will describe what I did in order to prevent developing serious complications. If you have any complications, consult your doctor about what to do.
Every morning was starting with a glass of lemonade. My blood sugar levels were usually higher, in the range of 12-19 mmol / L. Half an hour later, I had breakfast and after breakfast, I took the prescribed pills.
During the day, I drank between 5 and 6 litres of fluid. I was drinking tea, fresh juices, boiled water with onion. I also ate chicken soup.
Since I had a sore throat, I did inhalation 3 times a day. I put half a litre of water in a pot and added a spoonful of sea salt. After the water boiled, I removed the pot and added 2 drops of wild oregano.
I was checking my blood sugar at least 10 times a day. Since it was higher, I had to measure more often and make corrections with a bolus insulin. Fortunately, after the 5th day, I managed to bring it back to normal before bed (5-7 mmol / L.)
As a person with type 1 diabetes who belongs to a group of people with chronic illness, it was very important for me to protect myself from the coronavirus. After several consultations with my endocrinologist, I decided to get the vaccine. Thus, on Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Serbia, I received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Before getting the Аstra Zeneca vaccine
Although there are a lot of people from the Balkan region waiting to get their first dose of the same vaccine, it was surprising that my parents and I got the vaccine and finished the process in less than an hour. When it was our turn, the doctor first asked us a few questions to determine if we could get the vaccine.
The doctor asked me the following questions:
- “Do you have a chronic illness?”
- “How long have you been living with type 1 diabetes and how often do you control it?”
- “What was your HbA1c in the last 6 months?”
- “Do you take any other therapy/pills?”
- “Have you had any surgery on your breasts, uterus?
- “Are you pregnant?”
After this, they entered our information into the system, then they vaccinated us and finally, we sat down for 10 minutes, take a rest, just in case if some reactions occurred.
Side effects of the АstraZeneca vaccine
It’s normal to experience side effects after the vaccine. It shows the vaccine is teaching your body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease, however not everyone gets them. For any negative consequences you might have, it is best to consult your doctor. I will only talk about AstraZeneca and how my body reacted to it.
- 12 hours after I got the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, I had the following side effects: tenderness, swelling at the injection site, headache, chills and fever (the temperature was 38.6 °C). The blood sugar levels were in the range of 8-12 mmol/L. I took paracetamol. The doctor told me to take paracetamol if the temperature is above 38.0 °C.
- The next morning, Sunday (28.03.2021), I had a temperature of 37.2 °C, while my blood sugar level was 8 mmol /L. I also had pain and swelling. In the afternoon, after 17:00, the temperature increased to 38 °C, and in the evening, at 22:00, it dropped to 37.2 °C. My sugar during the day was in the range of 8-12 mmol /L.
- The day after (29.03.2021, Monday), the temperature was 37.2 °C. After 15:00, the temperature dropped above 38 °C. I still had swelling and redness at the injection site. My blood sugar levels throughout the day were in the range of 6- 10 mmol / L.
- These days, Tuesday and Wednesday, I have no fever at all, but I still have swelling, redness and pain at the injection site. I also have a headache. The blood glucose levels are still in the range of 8-12 mmol /L.
These days, due to the swelling and redness at the injection site, I can’t exercise. That’s why I go for a walk. I should take the second dose of AstraZeneca for 12 weeks.
On 16.10.2020 marked my 22nd DIAiaversary. I still can’t believe that 22 years have passed. Every year, this day reminds me how strong am I.
During these 22 years of living with type 1 diabetes, I have been facing a lot of challenges: regular controls, highs, and lows, sadness, tears, happiness. Also, a couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, which helped me realize which consequences may occur if I don’t control it regularly.
But, having diabetes has positive sites as well. Here are the things that I consider beneficial:
Diabetes made me more compassionate
One of the biggest positives of living with this disease is becoming a more compassionate person. Diabetes has helped me understand that you just don’t know what people are going through – and how a simple act of kindness can make someone’s day even better, Diabetes helps me understand what’s important, what matters and what doesn’t. I try not to get stressed about everything because my health will suffer. Because of that, I learnt to set boundaries and cherish the simpler things in life. Diabetes helped me understand that it means a lot to help people. Although, there might be a vulnerability in sharing your story. But, in the end, there is also so much power in it.
It helped me understand what it really means to be healthy and happy
It might sound crazy, but I’m happier and healthier today with diabetes. It’s about feeling good in your skin, having energy, being fit, having a healthy diet, sleeping well, etc. Also, I’ve discovered which food groups affect my blood sugar levels. Lastly, I’ve discovered ways to improve my insulin sensitivity and ultimately reduce my overall insulin requirements.
The most important, it doesn’t hold me back
I have never let diabetes hold me back. In spite of my diabetes, I’ve done so much throughout my life. And I’m grateful to my parents for that. Whether it’s festivals, travelling or getting through stress or trauma – having diabetes gives me a lust for life and the motivation to go out and experience as much as possible.
Happy 22nd Diaversary to me! Cheers to many more!
Hello. My name is Tanja, I am 27 years old. I have been living with type 1 diabetes for 21 years. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar level. Hyperglycemia, or increased blood sugar levels, is a common complication of uncontrolled diabetes. Unfortunately, if left untreated for a long period of time, causes serious damage to the organs, especially on the nervous system and blood vessels, and in the worst case, causes death. With other words, as long as I regularly control my blood sugar, I will live a normal and happy life like the other people.
Why did I choose to stay at home?
The COVID-19 outbreak has been declared an international public health emergency. People with diabetes, especially people above 65 and those that don’t manage their diabetes well and experience fluctuating blood sugar levels, may be more vulnerable to the severe effects of the virus. In those situations, our body is not able to fight off an infection. That’s why I would like to ask you to think twice before going out these days. Please stay home and spend more time with your loved ones, read books, watch series, listen to music, learn something new, do something you’ve always wanted to do… Protect yourself and other people around you, especially your family and friends. Demonstrate social responsibility and empathy for others. Stay home to stop COVID-19 spreading
Yes, I have been facing many difficult situations. But, I have learned that there is only ONE LIFE. Yes, just ONE! And I really want to LIVE IT!
Do you know what day is it today? It is the 16-th of October, the day when 21 years ago, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. And yes, today marks my 21st diaversary. 🙂 I feel that each year that passes while managing Type 1 diabetes is an accomplishment Moreover, it reminds me of how strong am I.
During my first 12 diaversaries, this day the 16th of October was simply too hard, especially for my parents and sister. I can’t imagine how hard it was for them to try and accept that I had to live with a life-changing condition. They felt angry that they couldn’t take it away. They also felt sad because, in the beginning, our life revolved around learning about carb counting, fasting, insulin adjustments, and hospital appointments. But, I know that my family has always been amazing and so supportive. And I will always be thankful for that.
Each year, this day reminds me of the strength that I have. Moreover, how far I’ve come and that I take diabetes in my stride. I consider my diaversary as the birthday of my journey which has defined me and my determination. I like being the Queen and having two birthdays (especially in the same month)! 🙂
Inspirational thoughts for my 21st diaversary
For my diaversay, I would like to share some thoughts with all of you. No matter how hard it may seem:
- Always look on the bright side of life.
- Love your broken pancreas.
- You were given this life because you’re strong enough to live it.
- I believe that we’re about to accomplish something amazing.
- Life is not over because you have diabetes. Make the most of what you have, be grateful.
- Don’t forget how strong you are.
I am wondering what the following year will bring in my life. We will see. Until then..
HAPPY 21ST DIAVERSARY TO ME! 🙂