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This is one of the contributions to:DIABETES ESSAY AND POEM COMPETITION 2009
Hi my name is Aimee, I am 11 years old and I am diabetic. People sometimes feel sorry for me but I’m not special, I’m the same as every one else. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 23 months old. I caught a viral infection, which triggered the diabetic gene. My father and my grandmother on my Mothers side are also diabetics. I am one of six children; I am the third youngest and the only one with diabetes. All I can remember when I was young was hiding under the table when my Mum took my jab out, because I knew it was the only place she couldn’t get me. It frightened me because I knew it was going to hurt, since I was only young and I did it in my bottom. I do have some nights where I just burst into tears knowing I’m going to be doing this for the rest of my life. I do feel resentful for being a BIT different to my brothers and sisters. But there are some good things which come out with it, such as: I get to eat biscuits after P.E and other things.
When I turned 10, my consultant told me I needed to do my jabs myself!! But I was just too scared. I am Diabetic and I am afraid of needles! Once the check up was over, I was sitting in the car with my Nan and Mum. My Mum was talking to my Nan about how much she wanted me to do my own jabs. I could see she was getting upset, and that I was letting her down. So when I got home I went upstairs to my parent’s bedroom with my Dad and tried doing my insulin myself. I was shaking a lot and in the end I started crying, but my Dad encouraged me, so I got the jab held it and put it gently in my leg. It didn’t hurt a bit! Actually it hurt less than doing it in my bottom! I told my Mum and family and they were so proud of me, I have not looked back since. From then on I have done my jabs three times a day. I got even MORE anxious when my nurse said I had to go on to having 4 jabs a day rather than 3. My nurse said it would help me to grow, because I am small for my age. So I thought !
If I do this, I could be the average height for my age! So I was willing to do it. My nurse said she was proud of me because it was a step to being where I wanted to be. I feel very proud now, I feel OK and I know I’m growing up, and this is what I need to do! The diabetic nurses have spoken with my school regarding me doing my insulin and blood tests during school hours. We have agreed a plan of action, they have even let me go to the front of the dinner queue, and I can take one friend. I am not worried about doing my injection at school if it helps to control my blood sugars better, there’s nothing worse than feeling bad when you are having a hypoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic episode when you are in school. It can be difficult for people who do not understand diabetes to realise how you are feeling, especially with a hypo.
So being diabetic isn’t really bad. It just means you have to take a little bit more responsibility. Now I can do it by myself I can do more things such as, sleeping round my friends, go on school trips, go to parties and lots, lots more! My feelings towards being diabetic are that it can get distressing and it does feel like you’re very different, but you’re not really, look at me for instance I’m happy and I have diabetes!