7 Advantages (Blessings) and Disadvantages (Burdens) of My Life With Diabetes

These are the 7 advantages and disadvantages of diabetes according to my personal experience:

ADVANTAGES:

1.       Made me realize that I needed overall discipline in my life.
2.       I eat the way everyone is “supposed” to eat (food group portions).
3.       To be organized.
4.       Being responsible for getting what I need (insulin, food, syringes, testing supplies).
5.       Allowed me to open up to people that were going to be around me and that needed to know what diabetes is and how it affects me personally.
6.       I am under constant medical supervision.
7.       Allowed me to be aware of others in similar conditions and give advice.

DISADVANTAGES:

1.       Not being able to eat candy or sweets as much as I would like to.
2.       Extra things to carry around (insulin, syringes, glucose meter, testing strips).
3.       Health risks from High Glucose levels in the blood (Hyperglycemia).
4.       Health risks from Low Glucose levels in the blood (Hypoglycemia).
5.       The memory of my grandfather dying from diabetes complications.
6.       The frustration of the disease having “No Cure”.
7.       Constant medical supervision and supplies are very expensive.

I hope these advantages and disadvantages from my experience with type I diabetes give some insight as to what diabetics feel sometimes.

The Discipline That Gave Me Life

Ever since I could remember I wanted to play soccer. I saw the Mexican professional soccer league and I always wanted to know what it felt like to play and get paid at that level. I would go see my favorite team “Pumas” play and practice as well. It was amazing to think that someone would get paid to play soccer. That was what I wanted to do but I had a medical condition that needed to be taken care of first so that I could live and continue to dream.

I was diagnosed with type I diabetes when I was 10 years old and at the time the disease did not make sense to me at all. The first few years I was diagnosed with type I diabetes I was angry. I was upset at the world because I had to deal with this disease. I did not want to follow my doctor’s orders and I would eat all the candy and snacks that I wanted; why not, I was a kid. What I did not know is that I was slowly killing myself by doing that. I was eating what I wanted and felt good at the moment but what I did not know is that I was preventing myself from realizing my dreams.

I had blood glucose levels around 300mg/dL to 500 mg/dL because I ate whatever I wanted to eat. Most of what I ate at that time was not a diet suitable for a type I diabetic. At this point I was feeling the same way as I did right before I was diagnosed because the insulin that I was taking was not enough to lower the glucose levels in my blood. This made me feel tired with no motivation to do anything,  and began to  feel indifferent to my dream of playing soccer.

Once I realized I was not able to play soccer because I was not taking care of myself, I was determined to get back out on the soccer field. This meant that I had to take care of my diabetes by doing the following:

·         Take my insulin shots at the appropriate times.
·         Eat a reasonable diet of foods low in glucose.
·         Exercise regularly (Easiest part of my new regimen)
·         Get adequate rest

Once I started doing these 4 easy things in my life, I was able to better concentrate in school, able to train better during soccer practice and games: I was able to do more with my life. Once I had control of my diabetes, I was able to have the following accomplishments:

1.       Finished High School and played in the District 1-5A playoffs for soccer.
2.       Played for UTEP men’s soccer club while attending UTEP for a BS in Kinesiology and Sports Medicine (2000) and a MS in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology (2005).
3.       Became a Licensed massage therapist in 2000.
4.       Started playing professional soccer at the age of 19 with the El Paso Patriots on the USISL A-League.
5.       Played for the Volcanes de Colima in Colima, Mexico (2000) and then promoted to Tecos de Guadalajara team in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico (2002).
6.       Became a Personal Trainer on 2005.
7.       Coach with the Premier Panthers Soccer Club.
8.       Director for one of the Recreation Centers in the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department.

These are only professional accomplishments that I am very proud of. The four changes I made in my life allowed me to accomplish my dreams and helped me realize personal achievements. Everything that I have done in my life personally and professionally, is due in part to being disciplined and determined to control my diabetes. Once in control of my disease, I was able to do what I wanted to do and the result could not have been any better.

Juvenile Diabetes: The Personal Triumph of a Determined Diabetic Athlete

I have always been a very active individual. I participated in sports and extracurricular activities every opportunity I had.  Growing up, I was one of those kids that would hurry to get home so that I could finish my homework and go out and play or practice soccer with my friends. I was always one of the first kids from the block to come out to play and the last kid to go home.  I loved playing any kind of sport and as long as I was active I was content.


At the age of 11, I no longer felt the desire to go out and play or even go to soccer practice, which I could never get enough of. A very strange thing was happening. I was always tired and sleepy, which was not the norm for me at all.  Every day I felt more and more exhausted even though I had not done any sort of physical activity.  I realized that part of my exhaustion was due to my lack of sleep. I was losing sleep because I was getting up every hour on the hour to go to the restroom. I had never had that problem before and really did not think much of it. I did notice that I developed an unquenchable thirst and of course, the more liquids I drank, the more I needed to go to the restroom.


My mother noticed a change in my energy, constant thirst and increased bathroom trips, and as any mother would, she became worried. After a trip to my pediatrician and a hospital visit for lab work, I was diagnosed with type I diabetes. Little did I know that the burger, fries and soda I had that day was the last meal I would have as a presumed non-diabetic. I did not know, nor did I understand what type I juvenile diabetes was. I began to realize how serious my diagnosis was based on my parents’ reaction to the news and knew it had to be serious enough after I was admitted to the hospital for several days. Being told that I could no longer eat candy, cookies, chips, or anything sweet for that matter, is not something an 11 year old wants to hear.  I remember the doctor saying that if I took care of myself, I would have a 99% chance of living a somewhat normal life, if not, I probably would not see my 21^st birth day.


From that point on I have tried to keep my body in good physical shape with exercise, proper nutrition and physician prescribed medicine (insulin).  I am now 35 years old and have learned that many factors can negatively affect my glucose levels. Forgetting to take my insulin is one obvious factor, (which on occasion has been known to happen) but other factors may not be as obvious. Stress, depression, and even anger can affect glucose levels. Following my doctors’ orders has helped me reach all the goals I have set for myself. Not only did I graduate from high school, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Sports Medicine, as well as a Masters degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology. My accomplishments were not limited to education but also extended into sports. I participated in my high school’s soccer playoffs my senior year, participated in the National Soccer Club Association (NSCA) with UTEP and played 2 national tournaments. Professionally, I was part of the El Paso (Texas) Patriots Pro Soccer Team. I also played for the Volcanes de Colima in Colima Mexico and was later promoted to first division soccer with Tecos de Guadalajara, also in Mexico.
I am now coaching youth soccer with the Premier Panthers Soccer Club in El Paso and hold the position of director for one the many recreation centers in El Paso’s Parks and Recreation Department.  I could not have reached my goals if I had not taken care of my diabetes properly. Understanding how my body reacted to exercise, food, stress, and other internal and external factors helped me gain control of my type I diabetes. I did not let my disease interfere with my love of soccer nor did I let diabetes prevent me from living a long, full life. I took control of my diabetes and so can you.