The Day I Became Diabetic

March 18, 2002

The following story was written by Jenffer A. Jay from Whitehorse, Yukon. Jenffer has been going to Yukon Learn ever since 1985 when it was known as Project Wordpower. She is very pleased and honoured to have her story chosen for Story of the Week. Jenffer has been writing stories and songs for many years and also draws her own comic strip called "Miss J and the AM". Her stories and cartoons have been printed in the Learner to Learner Newsletter. She enjoys volunteering at many Yukon Learn events including the PGI Golf Tournaments.

by Jenffer A. Jay

About sixteen years ago my dad got diabetes. Ever since I have worried that I would also become a diabetic. I was a student at Yukon College. After school one day in September my legs stiffened up so much I could hardly walk. I was very thirsty and drank a lot of pop, more than usual. Something was very wrong with me and I didn't know it just yet. After five days the pain was too much to bear so I went to the hospital. At the hospital some blood tests were done. Then I got some bad news. My sodium was very low. Then they hit me with the really bad news. My blood sugar was really high.

I spent about a week in the hospital. First my sodium was replaced. Then they started me on insulin. Soon my doctor gave me a glucose-testing machine to test my own blood. I was given two insulin pens. One of them is for fast-acting insulin that I take during the day when I eat. The other is slow-acting to use before I sleep. I also take a pill when I eat.

Over the next few days I got better. The pain in my legs was gone and I could take my blood sugar readings. I also learned to give myself the insulin needle. With a no or low sugar diet, I got well enough to go home. About four months have passed now and I am doing fine. I take good care of myself and I have stopped being angry. With the help of my friends I will go on living a full life.

[This story was taken with permission, from the Yukon Learn website, Story of the Month.]