Meet Stephanie: Figuring Out College and Type 1 Diabetes

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes exactly three weeks after my 18^th birthday. It was during my first week of college in a brand-new big city. During this time, I was trying to figure out ways to adjust to being an adult on my own for the first time. Adding on a chronic illness diagnosis was something that made this transition so much harder, as I was now having to adjust to two new major life changes. This had a huge impact on my self-esteem, mental health, and academic career. I started to fall behind in school because of all the new appointments and difficult mental tasks diabetes gave me. I even lost a major scholarship due to my grades slipping. A week before my diagnosis, I was at band camp for my college's color guard team. I saw a girl on my team who wore a Dexcom and Omnipod proudly. At this time, I had no idea what those "things on her arm" were and I was quite concerned for her during that week. Little did I know, I would find out the hard way just seven days later what those devices are.

I am the second diabetic in my immediate family, following my older brother who was diagnosed at age 9 in 2009. Diabetes was nothing new to my parents and siblings, but it was unique to be diagnosed in young adulthood. That was an experience within itself. But, if I didn't have anything else, I knew I had my brother. During my first week of getting out of the hospital, my brother would be with me all times of the day to help me check my blood sugar, give insulin, and even figured out my first insulin-to-carb ratio! I was upset at having to wake up every two hours in the night to check my sugar levels, but he was always right beside me. I truly felt the most supported as one could in this situation. My transition to type 1 got easier because of the support system I had beside me.

I am now in my second year of college, and despite being a few credit hours behind and no longer doing color guard, I have gotten my personal and academic life on track. I now serve as treasurer for The Diabetes Link chapter at my university and take every opportunity to educate my classmates on what it's like to live with type 1 diabetes. I wear my medical devices proud, and I am only a semester away from getting that scholarship back!

During that first year, I had no idea what my life would look like now. I had no idea if or when I would be a dedicated student again. I have learned so much during this time. I am now dedicated to type 1 advocacy for the people who feel invisible or like they will never get through this difficult adjustment. I also love to educate non-diabetics too and take every opportunity I can to do so.

Diabetes is not easy, but it's given me strength and resilience I never thought I would be able to achieve. I am thankful for the opportunities, friendships, and love the diabetic community has given me, and I look for every opportunity to give it back.