Eimear’s Journey with T1 Diabetes: The Chronic Diaries
Where are you based?
I am based in Limerick, Ireland.
What chronic condition(s) do you have? Please briefly describe what they are?
I have Type 1 Diabetes and Hypothyroidism.
What symptoms did you deal with before you were diagnosed?
I remember that I was in Sixth Class in Primary School. I had less energy than normal and I was sleeping and going to the toilet a lot. For the week leading up to my diagnosis, I was sleeping a lot and I felt very run down and upset. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me but I knew that my Mom and Dad were very worried about me.
How were you diagnosed? What was your journey to diagnosis?
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on the 8th May 2010. After a week of feeling unwell, my Mom, who is a retired nurse decided to go to the chemist for urine strips. After dipping my urine, she explained to me that we needed to go the hospital because she thought I had Type 1 Diabetes. The trip to the hospital and my first few hours in the hospital are a complete blur. I remember being in A&E in the hospital and then being moved to the High Dependency Unit in the University Hospital Limerick.
Did this journey have an impact on your daily life? Eg, dropping out of college, quitting your job/getting fired? Etc
While my diagnosis has an impact on my daily life, I don’t let it control me. I have days when I’m not feeling well and even the smallest task seems impossible but thankfully through proper and careful management, those days are few and far between.
Are you on any medications?
Yes, I am on an Insulin Pump for my Type 1 Diabetes and I take Eltroxin to manage my Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism can often go hand in hand with Type 1 Diabetes.
What symptoms of your illness do you deal with on a daily basis (even when on medications)? How do you deal with these?
Living with Type 1 Diabetes is challenging. No two days are the same. I have to manage Blood Sugars, Insulin to Carbohydrate Ratios, Insulin Basal’s and Bolus’s. I don’t believe that it gets easier over time but you definitely get used to it and you become more confident with your decisions.
What occupation do you have? How does your illness effect your job/employment?
I’m currently doing a Professional Masters in Education in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. I also completed an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Care and Education in Mary Immaculate College. My job requires me to be organised and as a Type 1 Diabetic, I am used to making important decisions quickly and being organised. In the future, I plan on educating both the children I will teach and colleagues will work with.
How does your illness impact you mentally?
Like everyone, I have bad days. I’m very lucky to have amazing family and friends who do everything in their power to understand and support me. A love of exercise, especially running has helped hugely. I completed my first Half Marathon in May 2019 and I’m currently training for my second Half Marathon in May of this year!
How do you keep motivated dealing with your chronic condition in your daily life?
Type 1 Diabetes is a life-long condition that requires daily monitoring and decision making. If I don’t control it and make sure that my HbA1c is within normal range, I am leaving myself open to complications in the future.
Is there any advice you would like to give to people who are on their chronic illness journey?
‘Control It, Don’t Let It Control You!’
How do you encounter people having your illness? Do people understand? Are they ignorant? What level of difficulty do you have with this, if at all?
Most people don’t understand. They don’t realise the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and often speak or make comments without realising. Some comments can be hurtful but you learn to explain the difference. My aim is to make people more aware of the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.
Is there anything you want to say to these people? Or the general public who do not have a chronic illness?
I would ask that people do their best to make themselves aware of the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Often your comments can be hurtful to the person doing their best to manage their condition. As the saying goes, ‘If you don’t have anything kind to say, don’t say anything at all!’.
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