Exactly one year ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Today is referred to as my 1-year “Dia-versary.”

On January 5, 2017, my husband woke up to me barely able to lift my head off the ground and barely able to breath. He called 911 and an ambulance quickly got me to this hospital. The medical staff told him several times that I had almost died.

It was also my husband’s birthday.

This year I hope and suspect he should have a much better birthday!!!

Type 1 Diabetes = More Diaversaries

January 5th counts as the day of my initial diagnosis of diabetes.  However, because it was a misdiagnosis of Type 2, I have a couple of other “dia-versaries” as well.

May 28, 2017 was the day I diagnosed myself with Type 1 Diabetes (after my 3rd stay in the hospital from DKA!).  I stopped focusing on weight loss, and I started injecting myself with insulin.  Nice strangers on the Internet suggested that I demand a couple of tests (C-peptide and GAD) to officially confirm this suspicion.

On June 23, 2017, I was officially diagnosed correctly with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). T1D means I have anti-bodies that destroy all of my insulin-producing cells, so I must inject insulin continuously to survive.

I repeated all the stages of grief I had already gone through the first half of the year.  The entirety of 2017 was full of emotions and challenges.  On the bright side, I am now at a point where I can positively embrace Type 1 Diabetes.

Happy Libby’s Diaversary! A Day for Sharing

My poor husband now shares his birthday with my diaversary.  However, I view it as a positive thing. It’s a day for reflection, but it’s also a day for advocacy and knowledge sharing. I want people to know that misdiagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is common, and that T1D can occur in anyone who has a particular gene mutation.

Also, T1D isn’t the end of the world… initial diagnosis is physically and emotionally overwhelming, but things get better and better. I am enjoying wearing a CGM and a pump (See I am Becoming a T1D Cyborg!), and I am having fun with integrating with Smart technology.

So Happy Libby’s Diaversary!  Stay tuned to hear more positive, cool things in 2018!