Diabetes is a condition in which one’s pancreas produces little to no insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. This condition can come in two primary forms: Type 1 and Type 2. This November, both types are being recognized during Diabetes Awareness Month.
While diabetes affects millions worldwide, Miami Palmetto Senior High junior Catalina Restrepo has been dealing with it for a little over four years, navigating the challenges of managing it while striving to live life to the fullest. Restrepo discovered that she had Type 1 diabetes on what seemed like a regular day, marking the beginning of a journey filled with both hardships and resilience.
“When I first heard the diagnosis, I immediately started crying. At the time, I was very uneducated in diabetes, so I was very afraid of all the possible negative effects that the disease could have had on my body,” Restrepo said.
Learning something that will alter the rest of one’s life can be intimidating, but Restrepo and her family members were determined to educate themselves about diabetes as much as possible. Developing a condition like this requires no prior medical history, though a combination of genetic and environmental factors can cause it. In Restrepo’s case, it was autoimmune.
“My body’s immune system attacked my insulin-producing cells in my pancreas, causing my pancreas to not be able to produce insulin and not allowing it to regulate my body’s blood sugar,” Restrepo said.
Given that diabetes needs to be monitored at all times, it requires constantly tracking blood sugar levels, managing diets and frequently changing the location of the insulin pump. These demanding routines can take a tremendous toll on those living with the condition and affect their lifestyles to a great extent, especially at a young age.
“I have played soccer basically my whole life, so in an athletic setting, it is very difficult to manage my blood sugar levels as the adrenaline makes them go crazy. Also, in an academic setting, my anxiety has a similar effect on my blood sugar,” Restrepo said. “Many factors like this throughout my everyday life cause blood sugar fluctuation, which then trigger the symptoms. I feel dizzy, I get shaky and often get bad headaches, which could make it more difficult for me to live day by day. Thankfully, there is a lot of technology that makes living with diabetes easier and easier.”
Food is a major part of life; it connects people to different cultures and allows for the celebration of holidays with the meals that are anticipated each year. Many people are fixed on the assumption that consuming large amounts of sugar will directly result in diabetes, which is false. While it does increase the risk, those with Type 1 are still able to eat and drink freely, as long as they take the necessary precautions.
“The most common question I get asked is ‘What can’t you eat?’ My answer is nothing. Everything in moderation. I do not let diabetes limit anything I do. I eat whatever I crave, but I just can’t eat as much as I want, as there are carb limits,” Restrepo said.
As overwhelming as diabetes first seemed, Restrepo gradually adjusted and learned to accept and live with the daily responsibilities and challenges that it requires. By embracing her diabetes, she continues to discover strengths she never knew she had, refusing to let the condition define her.
“Diabetics are just as capable as regular people. My parents make a big effort to instill this policy into my life. I have done blue missions and sleep-away camps regardless of my disease, and I will continue to live my absolutely normal life,” Restrepo said.
