Hello,

My name is Ross, I am a junior at the University of Florida, and have been a diabetic for 13 years. My onset occurred when I was on vacation in Arizona. Throughout the trip, I was very thirsty, sleepy, and needed to use the restroom frequently. I was drinking so much water, that I got sick of the taste and for the first time in my life was introduced to regular soda (which we later realized was a huge mistake!) After our vacation my mom took me to the doctor who immediately recognized that I portrayed the symptoms of type I diabetes. After a simple blood test, I was diagnosed with type I diabetes.

Like many younger kids, I hated needles. After my first blood test and shot of insulin, I remember the first question I had was, "How long will I have to do this?" I asked my mom and remembered her reply, "forever." I cried with my mom as it hit me that my lifestyle would be changed forever.

I'm sure many of you or a loved one share this story. The onset of diabetes is a scary commonality between all type I diabetics. The difference is what we do after the onset. If you are a recently diagnosed diabetic, I am telling take a deep breath, accept the situation and make the best out of it! You might be asking how the heck should I make the best out of such a miserable situation? Having to give myself shots, doing blood test all the time, not being able to drink regular soda - how can this possibly be a good situation?

Well, believe it or not, but diabetes makes you unique, and you should use your uniqueness to your advantage! For example, in middle school and high school I would always tell my teachers the first day of class that I was a diabetic and explain to them what diabetes is. Doing so early in the year always helped allowed me to form a close relationship with the teacher which proved useful for recommendation letters, if I turned in a homework assignment in late, ect. In high school I started a school wide fundraiser and invited my classmates to come out to a JDRF walk. Not only did I raise over $8,000 in one year, but I made new friends, used this experience in my application to college, and utilized this experience to get more involved with JDRF. Going to a college where some classes can have over 100 students, I was able to become really close with my organic chemistry teacher because we have had numerous discussions about the stereochemistry of the molecule insulin. Since we have gotten close he feels comfortable enough to write me a recommendation letter for Medical School. For my personal life, I cannot express how great of an icebreaker it is to tell someone I am a diabetic and that I have to give myself shots and blood tests. Girls think it makes me look brave and responsible. Knowing that I have to take care of my health, I go to the gym regularly and am in good shape which is motivated by my diabetes.

So, don't let diabetes hold you back but use it to your advantage!