My name is Wendie and I have been a Type 1 diabetic since 1994. I was diagnosed just after I graduated from college and right before I got married.

It all started when I was 22 years old. I started feeling really run down, extremely thirsty, had to use the bathroom alot (because I was drinking so much soda, which was unfortunately making it worse, but I didn't know that at the time), and suddenly my perfect vision went blurry. I was driving home from work and realized all the road signs were blurry as were the license plates of the cars in front of me. I didn't know what was going on. I called my mom and she suggested I go see my doctor.

When I went to the doctor, he immediately tested my blood sugar and then asked me if I had eaten anything in the previous few hours. I told him no and he looked very concerned. He said that I likely had diabetes.

I was then sent to an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in diabetes. He did bloodwork and confirmed that I had type 1 diabetes. I was put on insulin shots and had to start checking my blood sugar via finger pricks several times a day. This was December 1994 so there were no facebook groups to join, no social media of any kind and I felt so incredibly alone. I didn't fit the mold of the child being diagnosed with diabetes and I wasn't a fat older person either. I was 22 years old, a recent college grad, and was about to get married. I thought my life was over.

On St. Patrick's Day of 1995 I married my boyfriend of 4 years, James. We had a small ceremony with family and a reception at my mom's house. We had a short honeymoon at Walt Disney World in Florida. All the while I was learning how to balance life with diabetes.

In late 1995 I got pregnant with our first son. I immediately became a "high risk" pregnancy due to my type 1 diabetes. I had to prick my finger 9 times a day to check my blood sugars, including 2am, while doing insulin shots several times a day. I was told my baby could have all kinds of issues if I did not take care of myself. And the bigger I got, the more insulin I had to take.

On 8/1/95 I went to the hospital to be induced as I had not gone into labor and it was now my due date. I had insulin in one IV and glucose in another. After 13 hours of induction attempts, nothing happened. We decided that I would have a c section. I was tired, hungry, and just wanted to see my baby.

Our son was born late that night, on his due date, via c section. He was healthy but had low blood sugar as I was not allowed to eat while they induced me. I went low as well. He was 8 lbs, 3 oz and had no issues, so we were happy.

After he was born, about a month actually, Hurricane Fran hit our area in NC. We lived in a mobile home at the time. Tornandos spawned from the storm and high winds caused trees to fall on our mobile home. Suddenly we were homeless with a 1 month old baby. We moved in with my mom and younger brother while we tried to figure it out. My diabetes was still an issue, just a smaller one for the time being.

The mobile home had been paid off months before the hurricane via a bankruptcy filed by my husband. He did the pay monthly bankruptcy and had paid as agreed, so the bankruptcy was discharged in early 1996. But the company he bought the mobile home from decided that they deserved the insurance money and took it before we could get any of it. It was only $5000, but to us it was a lifeline to get a new place to live.

We ended up, with my mom's help, taking the mobile home company to court to get our insurance money back. They sent 5 lawyers. We brought one and the bankruptcy attorney, who confirmed the discharge that was done months before the hurricane. We won the money back and bought our first home in Jan 1997.

In the meantime, I had gone through using insulin needles, insulin pens, and finally got on an insulin pump. This was an adjustment, having a device attached to me 24/7, but so nice to not have to give myself shots anymore. I was still pricking my fingers to get readings and my poor fingertips were calloused from all the holes I had poked in them.

At the end of 2000, we decided to try for another baby. My blood sugars were good and I soon got pregnant with our 2nd son. This pregnancy was harder not only because I had a 4 year old to care for but also because I had ongoing false labor pains. My doctor took me out of work for the last month. We scheduled a c section for late September. I adjusted my pump settings as I got bigger and bigger.

On August 30, 2001, I was at the doctor, again complaining of false labor pains. The doctor decided that they should go ahead and do the c section that day. My grandmother was in town, had gone with me to the appointment, and was SO excited. So, soon after I had called all my family and my best friend, we were at the hospital, doing another c section. Our 2nd son was born at a very healthy 9 lbs 7 ounces, almost a month early! Diabetic moms tend to have bigger babies so they were not worried, but wow, was he big!

As the years went on, I did all the normal things that moms do. I worked, took care of the boys, went to their school and sporting events, cleaned the house, visited family, etc. All the while dealing with type 1 diabetes, 24/7. Always wondering when it would take a turn for the worse. The doctors told me I could have complications if I didn't keep it under control, so I did my best to do exactly that.

In late 2019 I got approved to undergo gastric bypass surgery. I wanted to lose weight so I could look and feel better. My diabetes would not go away as my pancreas still didn't work, but the hope was that this would improve my overall health.

I lost weight quickly after the surgery. So fast that I started having extremely low blood sugars, to the point that I started blacking out. No warning, no symptoms, just blacked out. It happened at home a few times and each time my husband would "bring me back" by pouring juice or sugar in my mouth. This was scary but the worst was yet to come.

In February 2020, just before the pandemic hit, I was driving home from an appointment. I knew my blood sugar was going low, but thought that I could make it home, it was only a few miles. What happened next was the scariest thing I have ever been through. I started seeing double and got really confused. I kept driving until I blacked out. I struck 3 mailboxes and a fire hydrant with my car. This broke my front axel and the car flipped over. I had my seatbelt on, which is probably the only reason I wasn't seriously hurt. My car called 911. I came to and saw people looking at me through the windshield. The firemen were trying to stabilize the car so they could get me out. I kept telling them I was low and they gave me a gel to eat. I spent the night in the hospital and found out I had a lacerated liver from the seatbelt but was otherwise ok. I was not able to drive for 6 months after that, to make sure I was safe and my blood sugars were under control. I don't drive if my blood sugar is under 70 now.

So fast forward to now, after having diabetes for over 30 years, I am having issues with not feeling when my blood sugar is dangerously low. My CGM (continuous glucose monitor) Dexcom G7, will alert me when I go low, but it is delayed. Therefore, my doctor has recommended that I get a diabetic alert dog (DAD) to monitor me and help me when I have a low so I can treat it before blacking out.

I have found a wonderful dog named Tux, through Medi Dogs in Madison, WI. However, I need money to buy Tux as his trainers have spent countless hours preparing him to help someone like me. I need money also to travel to WI from Florida to pick Tux up once his training is complete.

Any donations are greatly appreciated. And please, even if you can't afford to give, please share my story and page to help me to get the word out. Thanks for visiting my page. Please donate if you can.