Meet Megan: Embracing Life’s Challenge with Type 1 Diabetes

I didn’t know how to start this because I feel like I almost don’t have the experience to talk about what I went through / am going through. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on the 5th of September 2023 at 24years old, when I was admitted into hospital with DKA. Scary… but a blessing is I don’t remember too much of actually being there and I got the help I needed to fully recover and live my life. After being diagnosed I was excited! Strange right, happy to have an answer to feeling miserable and eager to take this on with confidence! I dove straight onto following people on social media who documented their own journeys and quickly learnt some tips and great health advice from both media platforms and the doctors who were working with me.

I still feel hesitant to share what I’m going through because I so badly don’t want to mislead people who are going through this or be told I’m going about my own diabetes management wrong from those with more experience or those that don’t understand what I’m going through. Even though I’ve felt only nothing but love, honest advice, and encouragement it’s still daunting opening up with what works for me.

The best advice I could offer based on where I am today is to be open. Be open to being flexible with your insulin, still eating foods you enjoy and learning how to take insulin for it. Be open to advice from people in the diabetes community, be open to sharing parts of yourself when you’re ready to learn more on ways to manage your diabetes. Be open to change in your life. Be open to hearing bad advice and choosing to make choices for yourself by listening to your body. Embrace your goals of staying in range when you know you’re trying your best. Have a cry when things are hard, to not block out your diabetes but understand and feel that it is hard, but it will be okay. Tell someone close to you how well you’re doing when you’re proud of how you’re doing! Little victories matter!

Being a newbie to this incredible community is something I am so thankful for. I really hope this is able to help you, even if it makes you feel good for a short moment. There is so much I am still learning, still feeling and with that being said, I am proud of my diabetes, who I am, and I know I’m doing my best and that matters to me🩵 I am still driven to giving myself the life I want with that spark from day one and I hope you find that too.