Accepting Reality…

My 11 year old sister, Natilee, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about two years ago. When we first heard the words “diabetes” we were in shock, Natilee is a very active and playful child. How could she get diabetes? Was it from eating all that junk food over time? Maybe we did not have a healthy enough diet set in place. In actuality it was not anything we could control, type 1 diabetes is completely unpredictable and can occur from something as basic as ones genes. Type 1 diabetes is a result from the body’s immune system attacking and destroying insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Constant blood sugar checks, carb counting, limitations on when to eat, insulin shots, lantus shots, etc. All became apart of me and my family’s daily lives. Am I upset? I know everything happens for a reason and God does not make mistakes, but I just wish it could have been me instead. No child should have to wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning just to make sure their blood pressure is not too high or low. No child should have give themselves a shot every time it is time to eat a meal. No child should be told they cannot eat certain things because it is not for your blood sugar. However, there are children being told this everyday, and now I am able to witness it. This is our reality, and we living, learning, and laughing through it still.