My Story

When I was six my mom was worried about me. I was loosing weight, drinking lots of water, always hungry , wetting my bed and falling asleep in class. She took me to the Doctors and they wanted fasting blood work to check for diabetes. The next morning Mom took me to the lab to get my blood drawn which I hated very much. Mom works in the cancer clinic down the hall from the lab. She was working to make up time she had missed because I missed lots of school. After about a couple hours she looked on line at my lab results and I could tell she was not happy. She looked at me and said with a smile ‘honey put the coke down!” Then she called the on call doctor. It seems my fasting sugar was 395 and I was admitted that very hour up to ICU and put on an insulin drip. My blood sugar upon admission was 800. I really did not under stand what all the emotions were but I soon was greeted by nurses and such being poked and prodded. Blood draws, IV’s and turmoil was everywhere. I felt so awful that when they tried to start my IV I just did not care. It took them 4 tried to get a vein. I was in ICU for 3 days. Then I was sent to a pediatric endocrinologist office to teach my family and me how to take care of diabetes. They did not want to keep me as an inpatient like mom thought they would so we went back to her hospital and she refused to take me home. She was not comfortable taking care of me she actually thought she would kill me. We stayed in a private room over night so Mom could count the carbs and get comfortable with me checking my blood sugars. I would not let any one check my sugars I had to do it myself.!
It was a struggle at home for a few weeks. I was upset with my diet but soon got use to eating healthier. I went back to school and was actually surprised at the support I received from my friends and teachers. The nurse was great. She actually went to our pump classes with us to learn about it.
Even with the support of every one I still felt isolated and different. This is a small town and I am the only kid who had this disease. People felt uncomfortable with me staying after school, playing sports, and going over to friends houses. They were scared that something would happen and they would not know what to do. I started making excuses why I could not go places. Mom then signed me up for a diabetic camp in New Hampshire called Camp carefree. I was able to experience camp and I actually was not the odd ball but we all were alike. They helped me become more independent. But something was still missing. I was watching you tube and looking up my favorite singer Nick Jonas and watched his diabetic video where he told his story. I was so upset to here he had diabetes also but yet I was happy…. I was not alone!!!!! My idol has diabetes. I felt that I was now more special which sounds weird but I had something in common with Nick that only him and I could understand. All my other friends who knew and liked him would not experience this bond that I felt we had. His speech inspired me. Why let this keep me down. Nick is a singer who is living his dream so why can’t I do fun things with out feeling scared of the lows. I now play soccer, basketball and softball. I no longer am as afraid. I just check my sugars before and in between a game. I have juice on hand to drink if I am low or getting to low to finish a game. I even attend sleepovers . I am 12 now and can take care of myself.
I have walked for the ADA for the last 3 years, and raised over 10,000 dollars. I have made many diabetic care packages, for Maine Coast Memorial Hospital to show them that they ARE NOT ALONE! I am trying to be positive about diabetes by spreading the news around and helping others who are just diagnosed with diabetes.



Tori Lynn Jones