The Diabetes Story of Anna Koon & Margaret McElwee

In our Diabetes Stories series, people living with diabetes open up about their journeys, challenges, and the experiences that shape their lives.

Hello! Who are you? And tell us a little bit more about your diabetes.

Hey everyone! Our names are Anna Koon and Margaret McElwee. We are 26 and 23 years old and currently live in South Carolina. We have had type 1 diabetes for 11 and 4 years, respectively.

We are sisters and type 1 Diabetics. Margaret was diagnosed at 11 years old and has had type 1 diabetes for 11 years. Anna was diagnosed at 21 years old and has had type 1 diabetes for 4 years. We grew up in South Carolina and are super fortunate to have both parents in the medical field who somewhat understood type 1 diabetes whenever Margaret was first diagnosed. Margaret had been a type 1 diabetic for 8 years when Anna was diagnosed, so we were able to help each other and learn more together. That’s how Sweet + Sisters was born in 2016. Now, through social media and our blog, we hope to create a community of people who care about the type 1 diabetes lifestyle.

I (Margaret) grew up with diabetes, being diagnosed at 11 years old. I didn’t hide my diabetes. I’d let friends help me take shots, and certain friends kept snacks on them for when I went low. CGMs weren’t around when I was a kid, and I mostly did injections (3 months, I had an Omnipod), so from the outside, you couldn’t really tell I was a diabetic.

This was difficult emotionally for my family because the parents wanted to see their child put a needle into them 4 to 6 times a day. We are extremely fortunate to be able to afford diabetic supplies, however there are still some things I don’t get because our insurance won’t cover them, and they are too expensive.

“I didn’t hide my diabetes.”

Your treatment

How do you treat your diabetes, did a lot change over the past years and are you able to manage it well?

I grew up with two amazing nurse practitioners. They took such good care of me and were invested in my diabetes care. They knew and trusted me that I was taking care of my diabetes and doing the best I could, even if my sugars weren’t perfect. As sisters, it is nice that we both know what the other is going through, and we can go through it together. We are a great support system for each other, and working on Sweet + Sisters together has been an incredible way for us to support each other.

We both receive multiple daily insulin injections and use a Freestyle Libre CGM. I (Margaret) tried an Omnipod and a T-slim insulin pump. I really loved the T-slim and used it for two years, but I found that injections work better for my personality and lifestyle.

We both use Humalog log short-acting, and then I (Margaret) use Tresiba long-acting, and Anna uses Lantus long-acting. We’ve used Humalog, Novolog, Lantus, and Tresiba, and we’ve even been on Metformin for a little while.

Growing up, I (Margaret) played competitive travel soccer, so I was running and exercising frequently and at a high level. It just isn’t realistic to keep up that level when you’re no longer playing, so it was an adjustment to regulate my sugars when I wasn’t exercising as much and as hard. I had to get used to upping my insulin.

We are very well-managed diabetics. We don’t neglect it. That said, even when managing it as closely as we can, our sugars aren’t perfect.

Can you recognize the symptoms of a low/high blood sugar? Do you test often and can you tell a bit more about your experiences with low blood sugar?

Yes, I can recognize them. Getting dizzy, shaky, and sweaty when I have low blood sugar. When I get high blood sugar, I get confused, can’t connect thoughts, and get thirsty.

The CGM is the best invention in the world. So we both really rely on that and actually physically check our blood sugars if our CGM says we’re really high or really low, just to double-check before we treat it.

To treat a low blood sugar I eat a granola bar and wait to see if I need more food.

Food and diet

How does your diabetes affect your eating and do you find being on a diet restrictive?

I eat a fruit smoothie for breakfast, usually some type of bowl for lunch (sweet potatoes, black beans, quinoa, veggies) and dinner is usually veggies and protein (tofu, beans).

We both follow the Mastering Diabetes approach to eating, so we eat high-carb, low-fat, whole foods—essentially low-fat and vegan. Truffle fries are one of my favorite foods, and I love to go out to eat at Chipotle, Thai, and Greek restaurants.

I never skip any meals, and for snacks, I love Skinny Pop popcorn, pretzels, hummus, and RX bars.

If food has the same amount of carbs as a healthier food but a higher glycemic index, then I’ll take more insulin for it and vary my regular dose.

I drink around 2 liters of water a day. I keep a water bottle at my desk and drink throughout the day.

For me, being on a diet is restrictive. I eat healthy food all day, including almost all types of food. I even eat mostly vegan; if somebody makes bacon and I want some, I will eat the bacon. A restrictive diet only leads to you falling off and feeling guilty over something you shouldn’t feel guilty about.

When people ask me about certain foods I can or can’t eat, I get a bit annoyed! I appreciate the concern. However, we are both very responsible type 1 diabetic who, 80% of the time, eat very healthy. The other 20% is left for treats, so let us enjoy the treat. No one should feel like they can’t eat a certain food whether you are a type 1 or not.

Do you believe that a plant based diet can improve diabetes? Did you ever experiment with this?

Yes. We both eat plant-based as best as we can.

Do you have a hard time eating out in a restaurant? And what are you thoughts on making this easier?

No, there is always something you can find to eat at a restaurant. MyFitnessPal also gives plenty of info on most restaurants and foods if you can’t figure out how many carbs are in a meal.

“Do YOUR best and have grace with yourself.”

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Exercise and work

Does your diabetes restrict you from exercise or your daily job?

We both run and do some form of HIIT at least 3 times a week, and we both work in commercial video production. It does not affect our diabetes.

Final

Do you have any positive or negative effects because of your diabetes?

To manage my diabetes better, I do my best to eat well and work out.

The hardest part is having to think about it 24/7. But the best part is getting to connect with other type 1 diabetics who are going through the same thing. It’s a cool bond that other people can’t relate to.

My diabetes is not causing any other problems than the normal ones.

What is the best advice that you can give to non-diabetics, new diagnosed diabetics and diabetics?

We are thinking about it 24/7. Even if our sugar is perfect, we’re planning for what we will eat or do next and how it will impact our sugar.

It will get easier! You will learn the carbs in your food and how your body reacts to them. You will get smarter and it will help you!

Do YOUR best and have grace with yourself.

What would you ask the other diabetics?

Are you thankful for diabetes?

Share your thoughts in the comments—I can’t wait to hear from you!

Ready to share your story with the world?

At Diabetic Me, we dive into the real-life stories of people living with diabetes, uncovering the challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. Through these powerful stories, we aim to shed light on what it truly means to live with diabetes, offering understanding, inspiration, and support.

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