A Mother's Perspective: Polishing Off Juvenile Diabetes

Never Lose Hope

My child doesn’t have type 1 diabetes, but I do. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four. That was more than 40 years ago and managing this disease was very different. I had to boil my insulin syringe and often take it to a pharmacist to be sharpened. The entire process was a tremendous scare to my family as I was the only diabetic in my school system. My parents had to be taught as I was taught how to inject myself with the insulin to stay alive. We practiced injecting oranges, to get the feel of the syringe, and my parents had to teach my teachers how to treat low blood sugar insulin reactions. I can proudly say that technology and research have come a long way since then.

Looking back on my struggle with diabetes, I will never forget my 35th birthday when my husband said, "Suzi, you did it, you have lived beyond your life expectancy." We were told that I would live until the age of 34 if I did all of the things the doctors had told me to do. I guess I've proved them wrong. I became a nurse to better understand this disease and illness, and I have participated in every research program that I was able to. My whole life, I've dreamed of a cure.

Despite following my doctors orders, I have developed complications from diabetes. I lost eyesight in my right eye 20 years ago after several surgeries. I developed neuropathy in my toes and had a silent heart attack at age 45. A few years ago, I was diagnosed as legally blind, which was a major blow to me and my family. The news left us numb. I did everything I was told to do and the bad stuff still happened. I had to train at a school for the blind, and all I could ask myself was, "What will happen next?"

Not willing to give up, I pushed on. I was raised by my parents that I can do everything that anyone else can do. My husband has encouraged me to strive to be the best that I can be. I feel that I am doing this by being a role model for other diabetes. I was so moved by Silpada's support to find a cure that I knew I had to become a Representative and be a part of this business. No one should have to suffer the effects of this chronic illness! I want to see our son get married, and I want to see our grand children. I have believed that a cure is just around the corner since age four and I still believe that to be true. I've never lost hope. A cure must be discovered!