Dear Mr. Wilson,
My name is Brittney Brown, and I’m writing today to provide you with information about my diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 (also known as T1D) is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin. Some of the symptoms of this disease are hunger, thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision. I am 11 years old, and I was diagnosed earlier this year, in April. Back around that time, I had been having to use the bathroom more frequently than normal and just not feeling very well. So after a month of spending every week at the doctor’s office, and my last visit being a diagnosis of Strep, I still was not getting better. Over the course of the weekend, my mom realized that this was not what I had. So that following Monday, April 18, 2016 we returned to the Doctor’s office for some much needed attention. The inaccuracy of the diagnosis became very clear when we saw Dr. Brock and he immediately smelled Ketones and referred us to Palmetto Children’s Hospital.There I received the diagnosis that would harshly alter my life. Type 1 was now more than a foreign concept for me; it became my reality.
My life is pretty different now. There are more things that I have to pay attention to, in order to feel my best. I have to focus on things that other kids my age don’t have to worry about. It’s sort of like having a 24/7 job, where I have to constantly think about and calculate my food intake. Every time I feel like eating and every night before bed, I have to prick my finger to check my blood sugar. It is not ever supposed to be at 70 or below, but if it is, that means I need sugar immediately. For this, I do what I call “The Rule of 15”. I eat 15 carbs every 15 minutes until I am above 70 again. After every meal or snack, I have to give myself injections of insulin into my thigh, stomach or bottom. It’s not fun to have to deal with and remember, and it does hurt a little bit. It’s just something that I have to get used to doing, because this is my life now.
That is what Type 1 looks like on a good day. There are, unfortunately times, where I hit my lows. For example, one day at school my blood sugar dropped down to 35. I remember feeling really dizzy, and I shook really hard and couldn’t stop. Sometimes when that happens, I get bad cramps and headaches as well. It’s kind of like my body is running out of gas. All of my energy just plummets, and it starts to feel like I’m going to faint. It feels really scary, and gives me a lot of anxiety. Usually when I start to hit these lows, I have glucose tablets that I can take to build me back up. If those aren’t available, I snack on Reece’s Cups or sip on Sprite. I have never had to use it before, but I also have a glucagon with me at all times, should my body shut down and I have a seizure.
Type 1 Diabetes research programs, as well as advances in technology are very vital to me. I can’t wait for the day that there is a cure for not only myself, but all the other lovely and undeserving victims of this disease. I can’t wait to change this disease from Type 1 to Type “None”. I dream about what it’ll be like to feel delightful every day, and not have to constantly check blood sugar levels and take injections. I can’t wait to have my normal life back, like every other kid my age.
I think the government should fund research for Type 1 because it’s not just an uncommon disease that a few people have. There are currently about 3 million cases of this disease in America today. 40,000 people are diagnosed every year. It is predicted that by the year of 2050, there will be up to 5 million diagnoses in America. Even though I have insulin injections, it is important to understand that this is not a cure. It also does not cure all of the more serious side effects that Type 1 can cause. Examples of this are pregnancy complications, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, and heart attacks.I am at risk for all of those terrible things without a real cure. I’ve done my part to help raise money with JDRF walks at my school, where we raised over $1,000. I’m very passionate about working towards a cure. When I grow up, I aspire to be a doctor who works with diabetics. If a cure hasn’t been found by then, I plan on being the one to find it myself. I will live to see the end of this disease, and I’m praying that you can help me to reach my goal. Thank you so much for your time and consideration, and for your helpful attention to the matter.
Respectfully yours,
Brittney Brown
