Laura Ely, Team Type 1, Triathlon Team
Guest Blogger – Laura Ely competes as a member of Team Type 1′s Triathlon Team. She works as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Marketing Coordinator for the University of North Carolina Diabetes Care Center Clinical Trial Program and is also a communication coordinator for DiabetesSisters, an online diabetes community for women. Laura was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four.
I have a very vague memory of my initial diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. I was four years old at the time. After showing the telltale signs of diabetes, weight loss and constant thirst, I was told by my mother that I would need to go to the hospital that night. I have a horrific memory of my four-year-old self, sobbing as doctors in a small room surrounded me. They tried to settle me down, gave me IV fluids and placed me in a room to try to get a good night’s rest. However, as soon as I arrived at that room, I looked down at my hand with the IV needle and saw blood seeping through the bandage and tape. More crying and horrific thoughts ensured and thus began my life with diabetes.
The next year was my first year in kindergarten. My mother came to school each day at lunch to check my blood sugar to make sure that it was at an acceptable number. As a pretty modest child, I did not like the extra attention. I refused to talk about my disease and refused to tell any of my friends that I had diabetes. I was convinced that if anyone else found out I would be a social outcast.
The years progressed and I continued to keep my diabetes a secret. At times I did not want to eat snacks during the day to avoid the stares from the other kids wondering why I could eat and they could not. I got low blood sugars during class and instead of treating them by eating a snack I would will my blood sugars to go up on their own. Obviously, that did not work and I’d finally give in when I’d be shaking so hard it was difficult to write, sweat dripping down my back.
My family tried to help me as best as they could. My mother, who quite conveniently is a registered dietitian, helped me learn how to figure out what I was eating in order to make healthy choices. But with all the help and support I still felt alone and isolated living with diabetes. My mother and endocrinologist saw that I continued to have a rough time and told me about a summer camp for kids with diabetes. I was hesitant at first – a whole week away from home without my parents. I did not know these kids or counselors. Why would I want to spend a week with people who all had the same disease that I despised? Well, to my many objections I was sent to camp in 1995 – the summer that would change my life with diabetes forever.
Contrary to my initial belief, being surrounded by other kids and counselors who also had diabetes, with whom I could share her feelings, made an amazing difference in my life. Instead of feeling alone and isolated with the disease, I finally owned it. I found comfort in the fact that others had high and low numbers – their hands shook when they had low blood sugars and they had headaches and were tired with high blood sugars. I did not have to explain to anyone what it was like to have diabetes, because everyone had it. Instead we were able to spend time talking and sharing our experiences with diabetes and learn from one another. They all knew what it was like to live with this awful disease and I no longer felt like I was fighting on my own. I learned what it meant to have a “positive mental attitude” or PMA.
I came home that week as a whole person. I vowed to check my blood sugars myself, learn more about giving my injections and become responsible for my life with diabetes. I began to talk about diabetes to my friends and relay the great experiences that I had at camp. My friends listened with open ears and asked me if they could come to camp with me next summer. I grinningly told them no, you could only come to camp if you had diabetes (making diabetes seem kind of cool!)
I took that attitude with me for the rest of my life. Growing up I was the go-to girl for other kids who were diagnosed with diabetes to help ease them into life with this disease. I stayed active with camp, attending it as a camper until I was 16 and coming back as a counselor when I was 18. I wanted to share my experience as that shy, unsure 10-year-old girl who came to camp and got her life back.
My passion for diabetes continued to grow through and after college. It was then that I became a part of a cause that is SO NEEDED and very near and dear to my heart.
About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it.I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Great blog Laura!
Laura,
I am so proud to know you. Thank you for all you do for so many! You continue to inspire and amaze me with your heartfelt words, kind acts, and strong leadership.
Be well my Friend.