A Life with Diabetes
"The first thing I had to change was my attitude"

(Like many people facing diabetes, Melissa had a hard time coming to terms with her diagnosis. If you're just joining us, read the rest of her story.)

The Final Chapter
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005

I did end up buckling down and getting a "real job" with great health benefits, although anything could have been seen as great based on my former "plan." Once my benefits kicked in, I was quickly at my new endocrinologist's office. After reviewing my history and listening to my various seizure stories, he quickly recommended an insulin pump.

Although I was eager to get my diabetes under control, I wasn't at all eager to have a beeper-sized device on my body at all times. I just didn't want anything on my body that constantly reminded me of my diabetes. Not a very smart way to decide on a serious health issue. Clearly, this thinking needed to change.

Today, with my pump in tow, my control is better than it's ever been. The pump, which I was sure was going to weigh me down, actually gave me freedoms I didn't have while taking shots. Now, I can throw away my syringes, eat whenever I want, and sleep late on the weekends. The pump is small enough to hide in most outfits, which eliminates hauling around a medicine cabinet-sized purse when going out on the town.

The best part, however, is that the seizures have stopped completely and my boyfriend's anxiety has decreased tenfold. I'm still not a perfect diabetic -- any one seeing me near a Krispy Kreme doughnut can attest to that -- but with my new attitude I am finally taking responsibility for my diabetes.

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Early Days

02/10/2005: The Diagnosis

02/19/2005: My First Seizure

Independence & Denial

03/03/2005: The College Years

03/09/2005: New York, New York

Unfamiliar Revelations

03/13/2005: Home Sour Home

03/29/2005: Taking Responsibility

04/02/2005: My Search for Control

11/01/2005: The Final Chapter