I am not a stranger to a lot of you but this is my new home. This post here I wrote a while back somewhere else but thought it fitting for my “opening statement” here.

 I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 5 years old which was also many years ago.  There was no blood testing with glucose meters instead there was mainly testing blood sugar levels by using urine strips; there was no multiple daily injections (MDI’s) management instead there were 1 or 2 injections of NPH and Regular insulin; there was no “carb counting” just doctor’s instructions to stay away from foods like candy and pizza.  I cannot tell you how much I have seen diabetes management change in the past 28 years.  Not only am I now using an insulin pump after being on MDI’s for what seemed like forever, I am using a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) which constantly measures glucose levels from interstitial fluid.  Wow.  But almost as important as the technology available to diabetics to manage their condition, is a network of support to help cope with the emotional challenges that come along with it.

It wasn’t until about 3 years ago that I really met other people my age with diabetes.  There was actually this diabetes community out there that I never knew about!  I thank modern technology for helping me find these people :).  Initially, the diabetes myspace group members I connected with offered me so many tips and advice about things that I really thought I should have known.  These online contacts grew into friends that I truly cared about even without ever meeting them in person.   Then I was lucky enough to meet a few who lived in my area and they are now not only my “fellow diabetes” friends but true friends of mine.  I have learned so much from them and can’t even describe the connection one feels when sharing similar experiences.  The people in the diabetes community have become a very important part of my life and knowing that I can share both my diabetes struggles and accomplishments with people who can completely relate is such a good feeling.  I can only wish that every type 1 finds support like I have.