A Mother's Perspective: Polishing Off Juvenile Diabetes

My Life with Diabetes… We Need to Find a Cure!

Hi my name is Abbie Boettcher. I´m 12 years old and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on March 18, 2008. It has really changed my life in many difficult and scary ways. Not only has it changed my feelings about other kids I know with diabetes but made me eat a lot better than I did before (eating potato chips and drinking a Dr. Pepper on the couch is a no-go now).

I can still remember the day I went into the doctor’s office thinking it was nothing… but then when I walked out I was headed to the Barbara Davis Center for Juvenile Diabetes, which is a center here in Denver that specializes in diabetes. At that time I had no clue at all what diabetes was. Of course I have heard of diabetes but would have never imagined I could get diagnosed with it. I was in shock not knowing what I should do, or even what I should say to the doctors when they asked how I was….I was speechless. I found out that I had to prick my fingers 6-8 times a day and take insulin shots before every meal. That was the toughest part…I hated shots, but it feels like a little mosquito bite or a little pinch that your little brother or sister would give you. My whole family has learned to give me shots. I am hoping to give myself shots fairly soon…I am just a little scared right now, it is a little weird trying to give yourself shots, but I know I will be able to do it soon.

After about six months I am better then ever. Before I had diabetes I was 105 lbs. Now I am down to 87 lbs. One of the symptoms for diabetes is weight loss, but I am also losing weight because I am eating a lot healthier. I am in a love-hate situation or bittersweet…whatever you want to call it. I always think that diabetes has made me eat healthier and made me a lot closer to my friends since they want to take care of me and know everything about diabetes. Even though having diabetes is hard, I know that God gave it to me for a reason, and I am waiting to find out why. Please help me and all the other diabetic children and adults find a cure!