My name is Shelley and I'm 17 years old. I've had Diabetes for nearly 5 years now.

I remember the first day so clearly, waiting in the doctors room holding my Mum's hand, yet slighlty angry at her for rushing me there so quickly, as I was being a stubborn teenager wanting to leave whatever illness I had, to clear up all by itself. I remember the panic in both our eyes as the doctor asked me for all these tests whilst I sat there white as a sheep and looking as thin as a twig. The doctor looked at me calmy as she said "I need to admit you to hospital, you have type 1 diabetes," the first thing that ran through my mind was "what the hell is that?"

As my parents quickly drove me to the hospital panic was kicking in and I was shaking with fear. I turned to my parents with tears in my eyes as we walked through the hospital doors, I laid on the bed whilst they attached a tube to my hand to take blood regularly out of my system to check my sugar level every hour. I then walked over to the payphone to phone my best friend and explain every little detail to her. As the hospital controlled my sugar levels and showed me how to inject regularly and take my sugar level regularly I was free to go home, and as soon as they said that I rushed out of that hospital. As I got home it took me a few weeks to settle down with my new regime but I managed it in about 4 weeks as my Mum scared me off by always saying "If you can't do your jabs yourself soon, I'll be coming to your sleepovers with you!"

As the months went on I found it harder and harder to control my sugar levels, especially adapting to not being like every other teenager and eating when I wanted or eating what I wanted. At times this was very difficult but my best friend always understood how difficult it could be and made sure she didn't eat these particular foods infront of me or when I was really in need of eating them she would make sure I gave the correct insulin amounts to allow for the food.

However one day I had a complete break down and just had no more energy in me to bother. I would replay in my mind all the things I had to do, all the things I had to look out for in foods and I guess I just got bored and lazy and didn't want this, what seemed to me, "abnormal" thing. I wouldn't think that it "wasn't the end of the world" but to me it seemed like it was. People would stare when I would inject or check my sugar levels, people around me would be eating the foods I couldn't anymore and I just wanted to change things to the way they were before all of this. Obviously times like these will occur on and off with any kind of condition so it's always good to talk to people, professionals or even family. I know the one question a lot of children/teenagers will ask is "why me?" I know for a fact that's a question I always used to ask myself, but at the end of the day we've just gotta remember its controlling and it's not life threatening unless you don't look after yourself.

As the years passed on I know i've grown up more and started to come to terms with my diabetes. I know my family and friends may not always think it but I do, do the things i'm meant to and I do appreciate there help, even if I do snap when they ask me if i've done my jabs or checked my sugar level. But the main thing i've learnt during these 5 years is when learning about diabetes and controlling it you always need someone there with you either to hold your hand and listen to your problems or to help you in the process. I found this easy and I'm sure alot of new comers will as it helped me with coming to terms with my diabetes.