Beckman’s Caitlin Kennedy learns to thrive with diabetes

DYERSVILLE - You know that feeling you get when you're sitting in a doctor's office and are about to get a shot or finger prick? How your stomach feels queasy and your heart races? How you hate getting a couple of shots every few years?

As a Type-1 diabetic, I can only wish I didn't have to face this reality each and everyday. I can only wish that instead of five shots and eight finger pricks every day, it would only be an annual occurrence.

Although I wish for these things, I do not wish for anything less than the changes I have made as a person because of this chronic illness.

Type-1 diabetes is state in which the body does not properly process food for energy use. Most of the food eaten is turned into glucose, or sugar, for the body to use as energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help the glucose get into the cells of our bodies. With diabetes, the body doesn't make enough insulin or cannot use its own insulin like it should. This causes sugars to build up in the blood.

There are many serious health complications that come with diabetes, including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputation. These serious complications make diabetes to be the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. For these reasons, many life lessons are taught when living with type one diabetes.

We all think growing up means getting older, but in reality, growing up means maturing. Diabetes is definitely something that makes a person grow up. After being diagnosed, I started to grow up fast, and I did not like to ask for help. I thought I could handle all problems on my own. It was hard to learn when I didn't ask for help. I started to avoid my responsibilities of being a diabetic. I wanted to get rid of the differences that made me unique.

The questions of 'why me or why am I different?” started crossing my mind, and I couldn't seem to find the right answers. Then, I started to realize being different wasn't a bad thing. I realized life is rough, but I could always handle it. I realized asking 'why me or why am I different?” wasn't going to make it go away.

I began to realize my differences were not a curse. They were a blessing. I truly believe Type-1 diabetes has changed me and changed me for the better. I believe I am the person I am because I took a disease that is unfortunate and learned to turn it into something beautiful.

There is talk about future cures for Type-1 diabetes and, honestly, I cannot be cured. Physically, probably. However, after living like this for so long, a part of me always will be diabetic. Diabetes is not something I wish I did not have. It is something that has made me a stronger person and brought many new experiences in my life.

Life as a diabetic is quite hard, however, I would not be the person today if it were not for this devastating disease.

Complaining about being a diabetic does not make the burden go away, but having a positive attitude about it makes the journey easier.