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For the past few weeks, Zahni and I have been exchanging many an email and message working on an upcoming collaboration that we simply cannot wait to reveal. I feel honoured to have had Zahni contribute to this particular feature - getting really deep on certain topics. I hope you enjoy reading her story as much as I did hearing it.
Before we dive right in I just wanted to remind everyone that there are no two journeys the same and it's for this very reason that we like to share these features. It's to show all of us that the Type One Diabetes diagnosis is not specific to any one type of person. There is no discrimination and is unpredictable to say the least. There will be struggles along the way, and so too will there be triumphs.
Your diagnosis story
I would first have to go back about two weeks before I was diagnosed. They broke into our house and I woke up with the burglar still in the house. It was very traumatic and it was said that the shock caused me to become a diabetic. 2 weeks after the incident I started showing the usual diabetes symptoms. I was very thirsty, irritable and also lost a lot of weight. I remember visiting my father for the weekend and having an accident in my bed. He forbade me to drink anything after 7pm and I remember sneaking to the kitchen to get more water. There is a difference between being thirsty and having the diabetes thirst. Trust me. I went home the next day and my father told my mom that I was sick and acting strange. The next morning we went to the Dr. I was in my school dress thinking I would go back to school after the appointment, thinking it was only a bladder infection. They tested my sugar and it was extremely high. The Dr told us to go straight to the ER. I was so scared as no one was really talking to me or explaining what was going on. At the hospital they tried to force me to sit in a wheel chair, which I refused. I later realised that the wheel chair might have been my best chance of escaping. What do you do for a living? I studied Theology at Stellenbosch University, but after I was blessed with my daughter, I decided to use my degree to pursue another profession. I started teaching English online and that is currently still my full time job. I also started Sweetner Diabetes Accessories. The main purpose of Sweetner was to help afford my own CGM's, but it blew up to such an extent that I can now give back and help others as well. I am so extremely blessed with all the support I have received. I am also available to the parents if they need any advice or just need to vent a bit. I love having a personal relationship with each of my clients. I am hoping to grow Sweetner even more by adding new and affordable products every week. Diabetics have enough expenses already, making life a bit sweeter should not be another financial burden. I love making the orders feel like little gifts and not just more medical equipment. Sweetner really does make life sweeter. Noteable Hypoglycaemic Moments I have had more Hypo’s than your average diabetic, but I do not remember most of them. My mom recalled one time where I had a low at 3am and managed to call her to my room. When she got there my phone was covered in blood because I was trying to test my sugar on my phone screen. More recently I “came to” on the kitchen floor in front of my toddlers sweets drawer. She was not impressed with the damage I had done. I got and still get most of my hypo’s in the middle of the night. I would have snacks next to my bed, but by the time I wake up, I cannot reach for it. Those are the worst. A Funny High Moment This isn’t a hypo story, but rather a funny high story. When my sugar goes up, I get this “confidence”. Similar to being a bit tipsy. I got the courage to speak to a boy that I liked in Grade 9. He ended up asking me to go see a movie. I was super excited. The day we went to see the movie, he asked me what was wrong. Nothing was wrong, my sugar was just not high enough for me to not be my introvert shy self. So, I explained to him… He got up and went to go buy me smarties. I do not think he realised how much that had an impact on my little 15 year old heart and self esteem. But still, funny if I think about it now. As a child/teenager, were you confident in your diagnosis or did you have moments of feeling ashamed? I wouldn’t say I was ashamed, but I was in denial. The doctors used to tell my parents that I have not accepted my diagnoses. I did not want to be different or stand out in any way. I would sit in a class and go low, because I did not want to be the only one eating in class. I would go low during a test, but try to power through it, because I did not enjoy the mean comments from my classmates calling me out for “faking” to get out of a test. I loved learning, even at university, still do. So I would prepare everything to be able to study and then comes test day and my sugar goes completely “whack” because of stress and I end up not being able to write. It’s really unfair. 
What was the most difficult thing to overcome when you were first diagnosed, and how do you feel now about the same?
When I was younger, I think the biggest obstacle was letting go of some of my favourite foods. We did not do carb-counting back then and worked according to a sliding scale. All sugary and yummy foods were out and I was forced to eat a lot more than I wanted to. As I got older and technology improved, carb-counting became a thing and diabetics aren’t as restricted with food as back then. It really is great to be able to eat whatever I like, but everything in moderation of course. I like having control over the carbs I eat and having the knowledge to carb count.
In the above story shared on Facebook, Zahni goes into detail about how a culture of fear is shaped amongst Diabetics with the likes of Diabetic posters that show a skewed outlook for all the negative implications of the disease.
Navigating school/work place with T1D? Before my insulin pump, Diabetes completely took over my life. I was not anything other than my diabetes. I missed a lot of school, was constantly feeling sick and could not get anything done. Starting the grown up life, my diabetes management did not improve, only difference was, I had to do the things that had to be done, regardless of how I felt. Now, with the insulin pump, diabetes feels like only a small part of my life. It is just something I get to live with. I no longer struggle with everyday tasks and I have more energy to be the best person and mom I can be. There are bad days, as with everyone, but my life quality has certainly improved the last 2 months.
Most annoying things people have said about your Type 1 Diabetes:
I wouldn’t say it is annoying, but rather that a lot of people do not educate themselves over the proper care and protocol when it comes to a diabetic in need. I had an anxiety attack a few weeks ago. I was sitting in the back of my car, trying to calm myself. A very sweet lady saw that I was struggling and came over to help. My friend told her that I am a diabetic and that I was feeling anxious. She immediately starting shouting that I need sugar. I tried to gesture that my sugar is not low, and my friend even told her that my sugar levels are fine, but she was adamant that I need sugar. She even called first aid at the mall to come give me sugar. I understand that she was trying to help and I am extremely grateful, but had they given me sugar, it would have made things so much worse. I read that around 4,5 million people in SA has diabetes (type 2 included). Surely there must be a way to share the proper information. Share, share, share, we are everywhere! What are your common hypo symptoms, if you can feel a low coming on? My legs go numb. I also start feeling sweaty and anxious. Favourite hypo snack I love green Fizzers. I also sometimes have a few sips of Steri Stumpi. My favourite go-to is regular Coke. I think it might be a head thing as well, but I just feel more at ease when drinking a bit of coke to fix a hypo. Also, super c’s. What do you do to stay active? Before two months ago, I did the bare minimum. Most days I did not have energy to get out of bed, let alone exercise. But, having better control over my levels now had given me the opportunity to start getting active again. I came into the habit of going to the gym every morning. Some days are better than others. Even if I cannot do a full workout every day, I still go to keep myself motivated.
Best part about being type 1
Diabetes taught me very important life skills. I can multi task and plan ahead. It helps we stay organised, for the most part, and forced me to grow up a bit sooner than I would have liked. In the end, it made the person I am today. Unfortunately stressed for the most part and filled with anxiety, but I get things done and I work very hard to achieve my goals. Hardest part about being type 1 The hardest part must be when you have plans and things need to get done, but your body is just failing you. You go low, or you go high or you are still recovering from a low or high. All of the above. I have always been a worrier and I would stress my sugar to the 30’s. I remember entering a debate competition in gr7, winning, but having to be rushed to the hospital in DKA straight after. Tests, deadlines, anything remotely stressful would turn me into Snoop Dog. The emotional aspect that comes with diabetes are also terrible. When you are low, you feel low, when you are high you feel irritable and angry. It is difficult to deal with the ups and downs. These days, the hardest part is definitely the consequences of not looking after myself in my teen years. I suffer from kidney disease, retinopathy, and neuropathy. I promise you, it’s not pleasant.
One thing you would like non diabetics to know about type 1 diabetes
It is not contagious, and we are not being punished for eating too much sugar. I cannot stress this enough. It is sad that so many people still live under this impression. Also, do not just give us sugar when we are in distress. Rather seek medical help immediately please. Also, it is not your diabetes or our diabetes, it is MY diabetes. If you see a diabetic eating a piece of cake… I am sure they injected for it, and if they didn’t, I am sure they are low or maybe just haven’t had cake in a long time. And even if it none of the above, it is not your place to scold or judge. For the most part, we know what we are doing. Just be present and be supportive, that way a diabetic will feel safe enough to confide in you when they are really in trouble. A message for newly diagnosed families Just be supportive. Do what you can to make it “nicer” and lighter. That is what Sweetner is about as well. Making things a little lighter. The little things matter and can make a world’s difference. Also, new diagnosed families can reach out to me. I am happy to chat and be supportive and give advice where I can or help you get in touch with someone who can help. Be involved in the Diabetic community. Share your worries and your successes. Try to get your kids to go to diabetic camps. I still have diabuddies that I met at camp 10 years ago. It is different connecting with someone in a similar situation.
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