by Carole McDaniel
Includes photo of Carole McDaniel.
I was born in Rowan County, Kentucky, right outside of Morehead, in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. I was 14 years old when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Of course I had all the usual symptoms--but I didn't know what they meant, and I got sick, very sick, and my stomach was hurting. I ended up in the hospital, which was about 65 miles from Morehead, on Thanksgiving day. They put me in the pediatric ward.
At first, the doctors thought I had appendicitis. It took a few days for them to check my blood sugar, and then, of course, they found it: I had diabetes.
I know some doctors, especially back then, could be pretty negative, but mine did it right. He said that although most diabetics (at that time) did not live long lives, if I took care of myself, I would have a better chance of survival. What he was saying was positive; take care of yourself and follow your diet. He told me it was up to me.
So, from that very day, I did what I was supposed to do. I watched the diet, and I took the insulin. And it was very difficult at first. One doctor I had said: "Now, Carole, you will have to give your own insulin shots before you can leave the hospital." They gave me an orange to practice on.
It was really scary when it came time to give myself shots. The first one was in my leg, my right leg. I remember that quite well. I was taking Regular insulin, three shots a day. I did that for approximately four years.
At the age of 18, the doctor had me enter the hospital (Morehead now had a hospital) to switch my insulin. He replaced my three shots of Regular per day with one shot of Lente. My doctor was wonderful and supportive. He understood how important it was for me to continue, as close as possible, an everyday "normal" routine. He also knew how important exercise was to me. When I was in the hospital, I asked him if I could go outside, to the parking lot, and play badminton for exercise. He agreed. I asked my mother to come with me. It was right at shift change, and I told the nurse on duty, but she forgot to let the others know, so they put out an alert, when they found me gone. They were wondering, "Where did she go?" And I came dragging in with my mother, badminton rackets in hand. They were just a bit upset, but I told them my doctor had given me permission.
The doctor just switched me back to a multiple-injection schedule, about a year ago. I take four shots a day now. Sometimes it takes five injections, if my sugar does go up high. Then I'll take Humalog to cover the higher sugar level. I'll take Humalog insulin before each of my three meals, and then at bedtime it's the Lantus.
My doctors have learned that, after having diabetes 46-plus-years, I'm very aware. I attend a diabetes support group, and I read a lot about the latest research. In fact, I am the liaison for the support group, and I work closely with my diabetes educator. The doctors tell me: "You know what you're doing. Do what you need to do." And I do it.
This is a funny story. When I was a junior at school, a new girl moved into town and we became friends. She didn't know I was diabetic--I thought she knew, but she didn't. She would hear me say to one of my friends, "Well, I've got to take my shot," or sometimes I would say, "Well, I've got to go shoot myself." I noticed she was suddenly not as friendly to me as she had been, because she had been a real good friend. I think she heard that I was taking shots, and she thought I was "shooting up" or something. I thought, "I've never taken a drug in my life!" Anyway, we have laughed about that many, many times.
Now, because of my diabetes, I have autonomic neuropathy and diabetic gastroparesis. One of the problems that I'm having is, although I eat what I'm supposed to, and I take my insulin like I'm supposed to, I really don't have all that much control anymore, because of the unpredictable way my food empties into my stomach. Sometimes it will metabolize faster, and sometimes a lot slower. Sometimes when I eat, my blood sugar jumps really high, and sometimes it goes really low, and then I can experience hypoglycemia.
Some of my friends, when they're around me, can tell when I'm too low. They'll say, "Carole, you're getting loony toons. You need to eat." I've been very blessed. I've had good people around me. I have really close friends, and the support of my mother and father. There's something else I think diabetics should do. Let all of your friends, associates, and everyone around you know what to do if you have low blood sugar symptoms. That's something I think is very important. I educated everyone I was around. And they were so sweet (no pun intended). Every one of them kept something around for me, in case I spaced out: peanut butter, orange juice, a candy bar. But now the diabetes educators say you really shouldn't eat peanut butter, or a candy bar, to treat hypoglycemia, because of the way they are metabolized. Too much fat; too slow. "Use orange juice instead," they say. So I don't do the peanut butter anymore. But I love peanut butter!
I've been an educator all my life. I taught high school, grades 9 to 12. And I worked basically with special needs children and teenagers. They had physical, mental and emotional challenges for the most part. But I also taught regular Business classes. I majored in Business and Special Education.
I'm "retired" now, but all that means is I'm doing a lot of volunteer work instead. I haven't quit working. I'm still very physically active as well. I think that's very important; it helps you control your diabetes. As an educator, I have traveled the state of Kentucky, conducting trainings on dropout prevention, developing self-esteem and humor.
My interest in Special Education has led me into working with victims of child abuse and spouse abuse. I've done a lot of work in this area, and I'm still at it. I speak at civic clubs, schools, and churches, regarding safety for children.
I do a lot of fun things too. I enjoy dancing and I taught dance classes. I love to do crafts and I like to do woodworking. I have a workshop. I even design many of my own clothes, hats, and jewelry.
I believe whatever comes your way, just face it. Accentuate the positive, and have a really good attitude about things. I would suggest you watch your diet and medications; get your exercise and rest. And, work with your diabetes support team: doctors, pharmacists, diabetes educators and dietitians.
One of the things I've learned, and I use this in a lot of my talks, is self-esteem. Sometimes I have a horizontal day, a flat day. I want a vertical day, going up, really positive. There may be days we don't feel as well, but that isn't any reason not to enjoy yourself, have a sense of humor about things, and laugh a lot. Think vertically instead of horizontally. For example, back in 1983, I had a double mastectomy. I don't know if you remember the movie "E.T.," but E.T. had sort of a bony, flat chest. Well, the first time they took the bandages off and I looked at myself, I used E.T. as my crutch to make it a vertical day. I'm a Christian person, so I've always said "This, too, will pass" and "it will work out." Sometimes people have diabetes plus something else. But, again, it all goes back to the way you think.
So, stay positive, think vertically, and take care of yourself.