Diabetes Adventures, Pregnancy with Diabetes

Update 1 – 2023

Hi! I haven’t posted anything in a while and I apologize! Things have been crazy, but in a good way. I finally was able to make time to post an update!

On Jan 7, 2023 I spent time with my sister and mom. Since my sister and I moved out of our parent’s home last year, it was very rare that only the three of us spend time together. Usually dad is with us or the whole family is together (my husband and my sister’s boyfriend included).

My sister drove us around that day and I had asked for us to stop by CVS as I needed to pick up my insulin and test strips. We parked at the pharmacy and I noticed the pharmacy was closed.

We were getting back into the car and I said “let’s get a pregnancy test.” My sister and mom said “okay, sure.” The reason as to why this didn’t come as a surprise to them was because my husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for the past year. I’ve taken a few pregnancy tests throughout the past year and they had been negative.

We (I) buy a two pack and head home.

Now, I had ZERO indications that I was pregnant. I literally just felt like taking one and expected it to be negative.

I pee on the stick, set it on the table in the bathroom, set a 3 minute timer and joined my sister and mom in my mom’s room. Timer ends and we all walk to the bathroom together.

Two lines are visible….meaning I was pregnant.

My sister immediately starts to inspect the packaging and starts reading the instruction booklet that came within the box. She asks, “Did you take it right?” I said, “Yes, you literally just pee on the stick.” My sister replies, “is it expired?” and checks the packaging. It is nowhere near the expiration date. My sister says, “take it again.” My mom chimes in and says “I want to see!” So there I am….in the bathroom…peeing on a stick…while my sister and mom are staring at me. I set the pregnancy test on the table and in less than 30 seconds, two lines appear again.

We all start crying happy tears and process the result of the pregnancy test.

I found out I was pregnant in the best way and in a way I never imagined would be possible, with my sister and my mom at my side.

My husband and dad had spent the day at our house as they were remodeling and fixing some things. I call my husband and do my best to act all cool and nonchalant and ask what they’re up to. He said they’re waiting for a table to eat dinner. I tell him I’m still with my mom and sister and he says “ok baby, enjoy” and we hang up.

I look at my mom and sister and say, “Should we surprise them?”

Awareness

World Diabetes Day

November 14, 2022

Today is World Diabetes Day.

A reminder that diabetes does not discriminate.

A reminder that diabetes happens in all corners of the world.

A reminder that diabetes affects all ages.

A reminder that diabetes affects all genders.

A reminder that diabetes affects all social economic statuses.

A reminder that diabetes exists.

World Diabetes day is every year on November 14 which is the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.

Prior to 1922, half of the people who received a diabetes diagnosis died within 2 years and more than 90% were dead within 5 years.

100 years ago, insulin was discovered.

100 years ago, insulin was first used to treat a person with diabetes.

100 years ago, insulin transformed the treatment of diabetes.

For the past 100 years, millions of people have been able to live life to the fullest.

The discoverers sold the patent for $1 each so it could be accessible to all.

Since the 1990s, the cost of insulin has increased over 1,200%.

https://www.t1international.com/usa/

When I did not have insurance, one vial of Humalog insulin cost me $300.00 USD (I live in Southern California in Los Angeles County for reference as insulin costs vary across states and countries).

One vial lasts me about 2 weeks. So if I weren’t able to afford insurance or get insurance, I would be paying about $600 USD per month.

For one year of insulin, I would have to pay about $7,200 USD

Next month (December), marks my 3rd anniversary with Type 1 Diabetes.

If I didn’t have insurance the past 3 years, I would have paid about $21,600 USD.

The $21,600 would NOT have included my primary care doctor visits, lab work that should be done every 3 months, my visit to the endocrinologist, the supplies I need to give myself insulin (either an insulin pen or insulin pump (which requires more supplies), my supplies for my meter (lancets, test strips), or glucose tablets/foods to help increase low blood sugars.

Living with diabetes is costly, in every sense of the word. There are many people who ration their insulin because they can’t afford to pay it and many have died because of it.

The cost of production for a vial of insulin averages to about $4.93 USD

Bringing awareness to diabetes is important to me and as I continue to learn more about my chronic illness, it is saddening learning about the hard and dark truths.

I am beyond grateful for having a good paying job, for having insurance, for living in a city that has primary care doctors and endocrinologists, for living in a city that has a pharmacy nearby, for having access to the resources I need to not only survive, but to thrive.

I don’t take what I have for granted and my heart breaks for those who have to ration their insulin, for those who live in underdeveloped countries, for those who don’t have insurance, for those who don’t have access to the care they need to live.

#insulin4all