I was diagnosed on Friday, November 13, 1998 (Friday the 13th, dun dun dun). It was 4 days after my 18th birthday when I was a freshman in college. I actually was at the doctor to have a physical as I wanted to get on birth control. I pee'd in a cup, there were ketones, so they tested my sugar. It was 352.
In retrospect, I definitely had symptoms - lost a lot of weight and was urinating a TON. My father is also type 1, however being at college, neither parent really knew what was going on and I was so excited by the new adventures that I didn't really notice or pay attention.
I actually did not go to the hospital. I went home to my parents' and stayed there for a week with my dad keeping an eye on me. I started off on shots, went on the pump about 18 months later and stayed on the pump up until about 9 months ago. I am currently exploring my pump/CGM options as I anticipate going back on in the next 3 months.
Some days I find it hard to believe that I've been living with this disease for 14 1/2 years. Some days I forget what life was like before having diabetes. It's amazing how you just adjust and it becomes your new reality.
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