Tag: Diagnosis

Diagnosis Story

Diabetes I Diagnosis

Diana Barreto

I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in June 2010 when I was 20 years old. In December 2019, I was told that I had been misdiagnosed and I actually had Type I Diabetes.

The second time around felt less traumatic mainly because I had spent 9 years of my life thinking that I was a “bad Diabetic” because my A1C was never in range, my blood sugars were always in the 200s and the doctors always scolded me, so when I was told that I had been misdiagnosed, it was a relief because being “non-compliant” was not entirely my fault! I had been living without something my body needed to function properly which was INSULIN.

STORY TIME

My insurance had changed a few times since my diagnosis in 2010 so naturally, I was not consistent with my follow up appointments and/or my lab work. As soon as I had a new insurance, I would make an appointment with a doctor, I would let them know my medical history and they would just go along with it all. They would re-prescribe me my medication and tell me to get lab work done which I rarely did. That cycle was on repeat from 2010-2019.

In December 2019, I had an appointment with an endocrinologist – it was the second time in 9 years that I had an appointment with a specialist. My boyfriend (who is now my husband) was the one who told me to see a specialist! – I proceeded to share my medical history regarding my Type II Diabetes diagnosis with her. She said she wanted me to get lab work done before doing anything further and to come back in one week. I get my lab work done and I get an appointment scheduled within the week; the doctor held me accountable to making sure I got this done so I think that is why I followed through this time around.

I show up to my appointment one week later and she is reviewing my lab work and she goes “you don’t have Type II Diabetes, you are actually a Type I Diabetic.” She goes on to explain that I should have been diagnosed with Type 1.5 Diabetes but because that diagnosis did not exist when I was first diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, my lab work was more consistent with that of a Type II Diabetic versus a Type I Diabetic therefore I was given the diagnosis of Type II Diabetes.

I then began my life as a Type I Diabetic 🙂

Diagnosis Story

Diagnosis Story Part II

Diana Barreto

Hi everyone! Welcome back! I wanted to break down my diagnosis story into a few parts so here is part two!

Telling My Parents

My sister and I get home from the doctor’s office and I go to my mom’s room with the pamphlets in hand and she asks “are you pregnant?” I say, “No mom, I have diabetes.” I remember my mom replying, “Oh, that’s it? That’s okay, we can fix that.” I’m still trying to process everything so I don’t answer her. I then tell her I have to go back to the doctor’s office in a few days and she said she’d go with me.

My dad comes home later that day and I tell him I was diagnosed with diabetes – in all honesty, I have no idea what happened or what was said so that’s all I am going to say about that for now.

Back to the Doctor’s Office We Go

My mom and I return to the doctor’s office a few days after and during this appointment my doctor gives me my new meal plan. What did it consist of? Meat, fish, veggies and water. My doctor said I was not allowed to eat or drink ANYTHING ELSE as they were trying to figure out if I needed oral medication or could control my numbers with food. The doctor said I had to follow that meal plan for two weeks.

My doctor then introduces me to a glucose meter, test strips and lancets. I was told that in order to have my sugars in control/in range, I was going to have to use those tools. They proceed to show me how to use the tools and I immediately broke down crying when I was told I had to prick my finger for a drop of blood. I remember yelling out with big, fat tears rolling down my face looking to my mom and with such fear, “Please don’t let them do this! Please mom, I don’t want to do this! Don’t make me do it please, I can’t!” I remember my mom looking back at me with sadness and hurt in her eyes and not being able to say a word. All she could do was hug me and let me cry and cry with me.

[Remembering this memory as I write it constricts my throat because those feelings are still raw and it still stings.]

The Following Two Weeks

Since I was living at home with my parents, it was easier to follow my new meal plan because my mom was watching me like a hawk.

During these two weeks, I remember I was eating lunch and my dad decides to make some popcorn. I LOVE POPCORN. I STILL LOVE POPCORN. Anyway, my dad makes popcorn and the smell is just torturing me and making me salivate. I remember saying, “that smells so good.” My mom walks into the kitchen and tells my dad, “why did you make that? You know Diana can’t eat that.” My dad throws a popcorn into his mouth and says, “I’m not the one that has diabetes, just because she can’t eat it, doesn’t mean I can’t” and walked away.

I remember just feeling sad. I can’t remember what thoughts went through my head but I do remember feeling hurt. To this day, I never told my dad how that made me feel. Honestly, that comment comes to mind every now and then but I no longer feel hurt by it. Now, it’s just something my dad said.

After the two weeks of torture ended, we returned to the doctor’s office and they prescribed me metformin. They reiterated how important it was to watch what I eat and to mainly stick with veggies and meat. They then signed me up for outpatient care at a diabetes center where I would attend diabetes management classes, attend a diabetes support group and meet 1:1 with a dietitian.

It is surreal writing all this out! I find it fascinating how certain comments/remarks stand out for me that I haven’t forgotten even though it has been over 10 years!!