Well it all started in November 2007, when the doctor gave me news that I have diabetes. She assumed that because of my strong family history and my weight that I was a type 2 diabetic, and she gave me medication.
Not even a year later I developed infections, a spinal cyst, and my blood glucose levels were out of whack. After my spinal cyst surgery, I was also shown that I had antibodies in my blood that was killing off my pancreatic beta cells. A sign of type 1 diabetes. I was thinking “Why me?”.
I had both of my parents die from type 2 diabetes complications, 2 of my 4 sisters living with type 2, and my granny lived with type 1 since she was a teen in the early 30’s. I spent a year in rehab learning to walk again. But my type 1 diabetes will never go away.
Did I give up? No, I did not. I used my pageant wins to spread awareness on diabetes and gave speeches on living with type 1 diabetes. I am a member of a online community, have a blog, and am a mentor for JDRF. At 43, my life was just starting. With God’s help I can fight like a girl!!
Pebbles Smith
Oklahoma
Submitted 5-10-2012
The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.
