About a month ago, I was diagnosed with Type 1. I am 29 years old. I have always had sinus difficulties, and these had intensified when I moved to an inland town. After struggling for over a year, my doctor finally decided to give me a high dose of cortisone (prednisone to be exact) for a week. He had previously tested me for glandular fever (mono in Americanese, I believe) and the test was negative. I started the treatment on Monday, and when I woke up on Friday my vision was blurred. I only really noticed it when I was driving to work (thankfully it's only a few blocks away). I assumed that I had somehow switched my contact lenses. I went home during lunch, and found I was short of breath and switching my contact lenses and glasses did not help at all. I carried on as normal, feeling very tired, for the rest of the day. The following day, I woke up at 5pm. I still couldn't see properly, I was exhausted and was struggling to breathe. I didn't have the energy to shower or bathe. I called my cousin for help, and she tried to find the after hours number of my doctor. It was not available at his practice. Out of desperation, and not wanting to risk the dodgy public hospital (at which it could take a day or two to get help) she drove me to the local university's sanitorium. The nurse at the sanitorium phoned the doctor on duty, who was with my doctor, and was told to give me some sinus medication, some vitamin C tablets and some cough syrup. The nurse failed to tell him about my blurred vision. However, I managed to get my doctor's telephone number from her. On Sunday I phoned him for help and explained the situation. He came to my house, did a number of tests (blood pressure etc) and finally did a urine test. It showed that I had a urinary infection, in addition to my now infected sinuses, and that my blood sugar was 16 (288). He told me I was diabetic, and phoned the doctor on duty at the hospital in my home town to have me checked in. I think I was experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis. I phoned my mom, and she drove up to come and fetch me and took me straight to the hospital (mom's ambulance!). When I arrived at the hospital my blood sugar was 20 (360). It was all very sudden, and very scary, but I was glad that someone was finally taking it seriously after the vitamin C pills!!!
My life has completely changed, and I'm suddenly having to cope with all sorts of new things, while working full-time and doing a masters degree part-time.
