DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES IN 2000

On Being Diagnosed

“One day about 20 years ago, I had a stomach ache. I woke up the next day and I still had the pain. I remember I was so thirsty. So I drove myself to the doctor, and the pain was getting worse while I was sitting in the waiting room. They had me there for six hours and I was wondering what was happening. They were taking tests and then they turned to me and said, ‘We’re admitting you.'”

“I was petrified cause I didn’t know anything about diabetes. I thought you automatically lose limbs, that you automatically die. I thought about all the things I didn’t do, and now the end is near.”

“I was in the hospital three or four days, and when they released me, I was going shopping and reading all the labels and everything has sugar in it. I didn’t know what to eat. It’s like your mind is a shot glass and they have a pitcher of information.”