Wesley Rolle

By the first grade, kids are tying their shoes, brushing their own teeth, reading sentences like “the cat ran by the road,” and attempting difficult arithmetic such as “13-3”. But when I was in first grade, I was reading nutrition labels, counting carbohydrates, portioning my meals, drawing up precise doses of insulin, and poking and prodding myself with needles over half a dozen times a day.

When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease where food is not processed into energy for the body properly.

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the pancreas, an organ in the body stops producing insulin, a hormone in charge of transporting glucose from the bloodstream into the cells to be converted into energy. Type 1 Diabetes is most commonly diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults and only accounts for approximately 5%-10% of all diabetes diagnoses.

The remaining 90%-95% of diagnoses are Type 2 Diabetes, which is caused by the body’s resistance to insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is mainly diagnosed in overweight people over the age of 40, and it is becoming an epidemic in the United States today.

Over 1.4 million people are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes each year, and over 86 million people were labeled as pre-diabetic in 2012 alone.  Diabetes is a contributing factor to other health conditions such as heart disease, and it is the seventh leading cause of death in America.

I have had Diabetes for eleven years now. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally difficult. It not only affects me, but my friends and family too.

Janessa Walls, a senior at Big Sky High School knows the struggles of Diabetes, “I’m not going to lie, I’ve been in the hospital a lot,” she says.

Two weeks before her 10th birthday, Janessa was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Now, having lived eight years with the condition, Janessa has worked Diabetes into her normal, daily routine.

“I usually wake up at 5:30 and check my blood sugars, and I cook breakfast for myself. I come to school and do my normal classes. Sometimes I check before the second period of the day, depending on how I feel before lunch. Then I check at lunch and adjust depending on what my blood sugar is and what I’m going to eat,” says Walls.

Other than checking when she wakes up, a few hours later, and before lunch, she also checks at the end of the school day, at dinner, and before bed; she has to adjust each time to treat herself appropriately.

Having diabetes makes Janessa’s life a little more involved than most would perceive as normal. Many diabetics, especially those diagnosed as minors, have a difficult time with keeping up with the task of managing their condition.

Beverly Wiazek, a school nurse, believes that diabetic students can struggle with fitting the time it takes to deal with their diabetes into their routine. “In the school setting, the interruption in their daily schedules is a challenge, especially in the younger grades.”

Diabetes is a challenge, but it can also prove to be a huge obstacle, standing in the way of achieving necessities or simple pleasures. Think of birthday cake: somethings that non-diabetics see as a rite of passage, and those with diabetes, like myself, see as a true privilege.

A driver’s license is an example of this.

Before diabetics are permitted to hit the open road by themselves, their doctors must approve. Each doctor has a certain goal for their patients to hit in regards to their A1C test. An A1C test shows the percentage of attached glucose to a person’s red blood cells. Since the typical lifespan of a red blood cell is ninety days, most Diabetics have this test done once every three months. It’s an appointment that many dread, afraid of what the results may be and possibly, what consequences they might receive.

For many diabetics, they are required to keep their A1Cs under 8%-9%, a challenging task in the grand scheme of things, which is why many diabetics, including myself and Janessa Walls, can’t drive, “Yeah, mine’s definitely not there, it’s like a 10% right now,” Says Walls, referring to her A1C goal of 8%.

Struggles like this can make it hard to find motivation and drive, especially when goals aren’t met. Mentally, over time, these things take their toll on the mind and body.

“Some days I’m depressed and I’m like, ‘Wow, I really don’t want this, and you know, it’s my life, I have to do this, but I just can’t right now,” Says Walls, reflecting on how emotionally grueling diabetes can be.

She’s not alone. Numerous diabetics around the world share those same feelings which is why there are people who are willing to give their support.

Doctors and professionals are here to help. They want to see their patients succeed and be happy and healthy.

“There are resources to help, don’t be afraid to use them. Knowing that people are there to support you, help yourself by using your resources; it will help in the long run!” says Danyelle Walker, a health assistant stationed at Big Sky.

Not only can diabetics seek guidance from professionals, but they can also help each other.  Speaking with others who share the same disease can provide insight, wisdom, and encouragement to those struggling from their condition.

Already, after speaking with Janessa, only a single other diabetic, I feel more motivated and encouraged to take better care of myself and my condition. Knowing that there are others like me, going through the struggles and making it out okay, it has given me the boost to move forward in life and find success in my ambitions, without the weighted shackles of diabetes holding me down.

Janessa offers an uplifting piece of advice to all those who are struggling with diabetes, “You’re not being punished. I know it may feel like that, but you’re not. It’s just something that God gave you for a reason. Just stay on top of it and do what you have to do to survive.”