My Insulin Pump is My Fashion Statement

Definition of Fashion Statement: something that you own or wear that is considered new or different, and that is intended to make other people notice you.

My insulin pump is my fashion statement. It's noticeable and it's something different. As a T1D I sometimes wish I could hide it because so many people stare, but I don't care anymore. It's something that'll have forever. Something that keeps me alive. Something that has to go with all my outfits. Something that I will wear and not be ashamed of. I feel beautiful when I wear it. I feel confident and strong wearing it. I am proud to wear my insulin pump and I will continue to show it off! I know it can feel lame or not cool to show it off but who cares what people think! This is you. Have fun with it and show it off! You're so strong, awesome, beautiful, handsome, and many more things while wearing your insulin pump! Now let me see those pumps!

~Stay Strong
Evelyn

"Every Little Thing is Gonna be Alright"

We all go through different challenges in our life whether it is a disease, taking a test, learning how to ride a bike, or dealing with family issues. This week has really been a challenge for me. This past week so many things are going on that I thought that I was about to go crazy. About 2 months ago someone drove into my parked car. Yes, you read that right. My PARKED car. So that has been a long going battle. After driving around with my damaged car, going through 2 flat tires, I finally got an answer about my car. The insurance company is giving me money for a new car. Which is all exciting but being a college student and having to make car payments isn’t that easy. I am also dealing with insurance issues about my diabetes supplies. Since I turned 21, I am not under BCMH so not all of my diabetes supplies are covered. Also while dealing with those things I also work 2 jobs, which by the way are amazing! I am so blessed to be working at La-z-boy with great people and also so blessed that I get to nanny my 2 favorite kids! Oh and since I have been stressing my blood sugars haven’t been the best. (YAY to crappy blood sugars!) This week has seriously made me think differently with many things in life. I have been blessed and thankful for my life but while going through these things it has really opened my eyes. Yes while having 2 jobs and dealing with problems is probably one of the most stressful things that I have done BUT I could be homeless, I could have no diabetes supplies at all, I could have no job, or I could have no one that has been there for me. I can not thank you enough for everyone who has texted me, messaged me, called me during this week. It has opened my eyes in seeing that I really do have the most amazing and caring family and friends in my entire life. I couldn’t have gotten though any of these things without you all! Next week I will hopefully get my new car and hoping that things slow down for me!  What a week and I hope that you all had a GREAT week with a great weekend to come!

~Stay Strong

Evelyn

3 Years of Having Diabetes

Tomorrow marks 3 years of me having type one diabetes. What a long 3 years it has been. It's weird to think that I forget what it's like not to be a diabetic, that was 18 years of my life so you would think that I would remember. When diabetes took over my life I didn't think I was able to do everything that I wanted, but that's not true. I can eat anything I want, I can do whatever I want, and I can be like everyone else. With this disease I have become a stronger and braver person. I've lost and gain friends from this. People have said that it's something that I want to brag about or even use for attention. Shame on them for thinking that. This is something that I have to deal with. Something I can't get rid of. Something that I wish I didn't have to take care of. I can't help to prick my finger or change my sites. I have to deal with this, but like I said it has made me a stronger person. I'm so thankful to have amazing people in my life who takes care of me and who is there for me. Even though I have this terrible disease, I love my life. My life is amazing. Here's to many more wonderful diabetic years!
~Stay Strong 
Evelyn 

 

A Week With Dexcom

So it’s been a little over a week with my new dexcom!! I  absolutely LOVE it! Sometimes the readings are a little off from my blood sugar but it’s still getting used to what my blood sugars are. So I have to have my mom put the dexcom in me because the device is somewhat big so I had her do it. The first time and my second time of putting it in, I have put it in my arm both those times. I’ve heard mixed feels of people putting it in their arm, but I personally like it! It sometimes gets in the way but I feel like no matter where I put it, it will be in the way haha. So I’m really loving it in my arm right now! In the beginning I wasn’t sure if it would hurt and I was asking around to everyone if they used numbing cream. Some people said to use the cream and then some people said that I wouldn’t need the cream. Well I didn’t use the cream and it doesn’t hurt that bad! I was really surprised! I had my mom pinch my skin up so there was fat on my arm of where she put the device and with her pinching my skin it didn’t hurt that bad! I’m in love this and I really recommend it to everyone! If you have any questions about the dexcom or any other questions just message me on facebook! I’d love to answer them!

~Stay Strong

Evelyn

 

Dexcom to the Rescue!

Yesterday was the day!! The day that I received my dexcom! I am so excited, happy, nervous, and impatient about starting it! So many emotions all at once! I feel like the dexcom is going to change my life. Even though I have only been a type one diabetic for almost 3 years now and my blood sugars aren't too crazy yet I still feel like I need the dexcom. The dexcom is used to monitor your blood sugars. It's a little device that can track all my blood sugars every minute of the day. With this, I will be able to see what where my blood sugars are going at all times. I'm turning 21 years old in less than a month and as some of you may know that alcohol can really mess up your blood sugars. So when I have a couple of drinks (which won't be a lot, I'm not going to get crazy with drinks lol) on my birthday I will be able to see my blood sugars and catch any lows that may be coming on or even highs. I feel so blessed to be able to have received this device. I will be able to feel more comfortable with my diabetes knowing that I have something that is keeping track of all my blood sugars. I'm so excited to start this new journey with my dexcom!

I am healthy

In 2012, when I was diagnosed with type one diabetes I only weighed 95 pounds. I was seriously all skin and bones. You could see every bone in my body. My hair was so thin (even though my hair is already thin ;) ) I was so weak and so tired. But for some reason I thought I looked okay. The thought of only weighing 95 pounds felt okay to me. The more I looked at myself the more I was some what worried but some what okay with it. When I started to take my insulin I could tell that I was starting to gain some weight. I started freaking out because I wasn’t 95 pounds anymore. I didn’t have a flat stomach anymore. I was just so used to seeing all bones. I thought it was okay to weigh 95 pounds. I thought it was some what healthy. (Obviously it isn’t lol) Every time I would go to the doctors for my endo appointment I would not want to see what I weighed. The more I looked at myself the more I was starting to think something. I was starting to think what was I thinking? 95 pounds isn’t healthy for me. That wasn’t okay to see every bone in my body. It’s been about 3 years and I now weigh about 115 pounds. I am okay with that! That to me is a healthy weight. I am perfect the way I am. I am now healthier than ever because I have my insulin. I am happy now that I don’t have a “perfect” stomach. I am so happy about my health, body, and diabetes. I think that everyone deals with body imagine issues, but just know that you are perfect in your own way. You all are beautiful people inside and out. No matter what you weigh, you are perfect. You are healthy. You are beautiful.

~Stay Strong~

Evelyn 

This was me in 2012. 95 pounds.

This is me now. 115 pounds. 

This is me now. 115 pounds.

What inspires me

So I just wanted to make a blog post about what inspires me. So many things and amazing people in this world inspire me to do what I do. I do have to say that diabetes is a huge thing that inspires me to do what I do. That all started when my sister Nora, was diagnosed. When she was diagnosed, even though I was only 10 years old, I also knew that I wanted to help people in some way. Then when my brother Jackson, was diagnosed with hemophilia, that made me want to help people even more. Seeing both my brother and sister deal with something so huge made me want to change the world in some way. Then I started dating my boyfriend Jacob, (who I am still with) in 2010. Jacob has a kidney disease. So with my siblings plus my boyfriend dealing with all those things really inspired me. Then June 1, 2012 I was diagnosed with diabetes. My whole life changed. With the people that were very close to me plus me having a disease I knew 1000% that I was going to do something with raising some kind of awareness for all of these diseases. I am majoring in Organizational Leadership, I interned at the American Diabetes Association spring semester 2014, and this is my second semester interning at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I am hoping that when I graduate with my bachelors I will work at either of those nonprofits, hemophilia, or the kidney foundation. I really want to work for a nonprofit and find a cure for any disease. I just hate seeing people struggle and not do well. I really want to make a difference in peoples lives. I hope that one day I will.
~Stay Strong~
Evelyn

My Vision

In my leadership class we were talking about how every leader needs to have a vision. This got me thinking about what my vision is. As some people may know, I am majoring in Organizational Leadership so I can work in nonprofits such as JDRF (some day) so I can help people like myself and also my sister. I started to think, how could I put that with my vision? In order to have a vision you have to set a goal, have a game plan, and then work towards your vision. So only having this class for about a couple weeks, I think that I have thought of my vision. My vision for my life is to help other diabetics. I want to work for a nonprofit and help people in every way that I can. I want to be that person that can be a role model. I want to be that person that can make a difference. I want to come up with ways to do fundraising so that we can have enough money to find that cure. My goal to achieve this vision is to graduate college (which is VERY soon) and start to work for a nonprofit to work for my dreams. My game plan is to never give up on my dreams and to keep going so I can do what I want in my life. I am never going to stop working for this huge vision. So to end this post, I want to end with a quote that I found in my leadership book. “A goal is more than a dream; it’s a dream being acted upon.”

~Stay Strong~

Evelyn

Here is a vision board to keep me going. It’s always nice to see positive words.