Help A Mother Fight Diabetes: Nicole’s Journey
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Hello, my name is Nicole Snyder. I have lived in Port Orange Florida my entire life and love this town. I am 38 years old and have lived a pretty healthy lifestyle up until late December 2020, this is the dreaded date I got the news. The ER diagnosed me as a severely uncontrolled Type One Diabetic! I didn’t know what to think or how to feel I just remember everything I heard going from an active and busy emergency room, to still and silent. I think that I was in shock, however little did I realize that this news would change my entire life.
So since my diagnosis in 2020, I am still considered to be an highly uncontrolled type one diabetic.
So let’s go back to the beginning, My very first appointment with an endocrinologist. This happened to just be a virtual visit. I still don’t understand how someone who has just found out they were a diabetic, can be fully seen through a camera screen. I was prescribed a ton of different insulins and to this day we still don’t have an insulin that works for me, nor do we have my glucose levels under control.
My current A1C WAS A 13.9 and it’s never been this high in my life. It actually started to drop when my endocrinologist prescribed Mounjarro 5 mL for me. Very similar the ozempic shot, Mounjaro
an For the most part, I am usually extremely high in my glucose numbers, but there are many many occasions where I have dropped extremely low where I’ve needed assistance in even getting a drink for myself. When I am really high, my side effects are terrible, including awful mood swings sweating Amongst many others, which I will go into a little bit more details down below...
I was diagnosed with this disease in late 2020 when a ton of new symptoms appeared almost out of no where. MY SYMPTOMS: The first symptoms of all types of diabetes are: Excessive thirst Urinating more often Increased hunger Blurry vision Unexplained weight loss Since being diagnosed, I have been struggling with anxiety and severe depression and I am struggling with it more these days due to the fact that I am out of work because my doctor stated that with my glucose being so uncontrolled, I should work from home only as to not inconvenience employers by me not showing up to work or having to leave early if a diabetic attack occurred. The particular struggles all started when I was taken off of Medicaid here in the state of Florida because my husband supposedly made too much money which is so far from the truth it’s unfathomable. This is when I realized that I was not going to be able to afford all of my diabetic needs. it’s not only myself that struggles, as my son and my husband also share this exhausting disease with me emotionally. We are all finding it very hard to live normal happy and healthy lives. This is because of the physical symptoms that I have and the most important the mental and emotional symptoms that I have. Most recently this has been snapping at my family members for no apparent reason at all. My doctor told me it was because people with T1D, may have irritability and anger manifest quite often. Because it may involve actions you're not consciously aware of, called "diabetes rage" which can be emotionally and potentially harmful. Anger, anxiety, or despair might result from blood sugar fluctuations, spikes, or drops. The worst part is, I didn’t even realize that I was doing this to them until my brilliant and loving husband finally recorded one of my episodes. Seeing myself acting that way was overwhelmingly disgusting to me and all I could do is cry.
I know that my husband and my son know that this is out of character for me and don’t take it to heart, which I’m forever grateful. I’ve been told by many people that, “It’s been 4 years you have to come to terms with the fact that you are a diabetic!” However, I’m honestly still extremely overwhelmed by this fact daily, and wonder what I could have done differently. I know this won’t be an easy thing to do, but for my mental well being, I have to accept the fact I’m going to be a type one diabetic for the rest of my life.
That is why I have decided to start a GoFundMe donation page. I am a very big believer in donations, and helping those less Fortunate than you are if you have the means. I have been donating to my local humane society’s nonprofit organization for many many years. Any donations that are graciously sent will be put towards all things medically necessary to help try to control my diabetes and to help me get back on my feet financially, psychically, and emotionally. EXPENSES I NEED HELP WITH: Here are just a very few expenses that I am having trouble with. •Paying for the actual doctors appointments •Medication •Fast acting and long acting insulin •Mounjaro- Mounjaro, an injectable medication for diabetics, works by mimicking natural incretin hormones to improve blood sugar control. It stimulates insulin release when blood sugar is high, reduces liver sugar production, and slows down digestion, which helps manage post-meal blood sugar spikes and promotes satiety. I actually was on this medication for two years when I had insurance that was covering most of my diabetic expenses, and it was with this medication that I started to see changes for the positive with my symptoms and glucose readings. •A Continued Glucose Monitor or CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor.) A CGM is a device that continuously monitors blood glucose levels in the interstitial fluid just beneath the skin, according to the American diabetes Association. It provides real-time glucose data every 5 minutes, which is then transmitted wirelessly to a receiver or compatible smart device, allowing users to track trends and receive alerts for high or low glucose levels. •A Glucose Pump which I just found out would cost me close to $6000. Yes, I do believe 100% that this would make me feel better and eliminate the steps of having to worry about what my numbers are and actually taking the insulin itself, as a connected glucose pump automatically knows when my body needs insulin. In case there are those reading that do not have or know somebody that has uncontrolled tape and Diabetes. I wanted to add a little bit of information on what it is and what it can do to your body if left uncontrolled. Uncontrolled Type 1 Diabetes (aka T1D:) Uncontrolled T1D is characterized by persistently high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), can lead to various serious health complications over time, including heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage, and foot problems that can result in amputation. If not managed and controlled those suffering with it may experience persistently high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and can lead to various other serious health complications over time, including; heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage, and foot problems that can result in amputation. I just want to sincerely and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for you taking the time to read my story. Your support can help me manage the immediate challenges of Type 1 diabetes but can also give me hope for the future. The funds raised will be instrumental in helping secure the essential medications and all insulin and equipment I need as a type one diabetic. The funding will also cover past due and late very urgent medical bills, as well as all of the medical doctor’s appointments and bills that I have for the future. I just want to be who I was before. A healthy mommy of one little boy who knows how to light up the room with just a smile. I want to wake up, feeling no pain, fearing no stress, and being able to leave the house again to go wherever I want whenever I want without fear of losing consciousness or being able to drive because I cannot see due to blood glucose levels. I will be so deeply grateful for each and every donation, and I'm excited to see how this will positively impact my life and my journey towards managing my T1D becoming happier and healthier. I will continue to share updates on my progress as it comes my way. As of right now, in about four hours, I will be seeing a new endocrinologist who can hopefully look at my feet for neuropathy, discussed my options with me, and most importantly, get me on the right insulin. I will always be grateful for all continued support. If you'd like to learn more about Type 1 diabetes or how to help others in need, please feel free to reach out. Thank you again for being a part of this journey with me.
With Heartfelt Gratitude,
Nicole Snyder
Organizer
Nicole Lastinger
Organizer
Port Orange, FL