Justin Santana, 20 years

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

I grew up with diabetes. It was easy at first because my mom was helpful for the first few months. Then my cousin, who was also a type one diabetic, gave me so many tips and helped a lot along with my aunt. I tried to hide it for a while. It’s only been recently that I tell people I’m diabetic. I used to only tell people when it was necessary.

The hardest part for me was I couldn’t understand why I was treated so differently. I didn’t want to be different from anyone, and that’s how I felt all the time. In school, it was worse because they never let me do anything and I started to get sad even at a young age, I just started to stay in a lot. In middle school, I went out more because I wanted to break out of my shell. But during high school, I just didn’t want to go out. I got depressed, and I gained a habit of stress eating. Financially, to my knowledge, we never had problems. My mother never complained about that type of stuff.

“The hardest part for me was I couldn’t understand why I was treated so differently.”

Justin Santana, United States

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 use an Omnipod. I get 1.50 units from 12 am to 12 pm and from 1.75 units from 12 pm to 8 pm. I also have a Dexcom G6 that I use to manage my sugars. I use Humalog insulin and used to have Novolog. But it didn’t agree with my body, so I went back to Humalog

A lot has changed. My weight fluctuated so much. It got worse with the stress eating. It’s kinda bad still, but I’m working on it really hard. I got depressed and still am over the years. Just didn’t know how to deal with being different from everyone, it sucked so much out of me.

I think I manage my diabetes well because my sugars are well controlled. My A1C is at a 6.5. I get support from my girlfriend heavily now. My family knows I have diabetes, and I guess they just don’t worry as much. My girlfriend, on the other hand, is super-duper on top of me 24/7, making sure I’m healthy mentally and physically.

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?

Sometimes, I can recognize them. When my sugar levels are low, I get cold sweats and sticky skin, oddly. My heart rate goes through the roof. When my sugar levels are high, my mouth is dry. I get an awful attitude automatically, and I’m really sluggish.

My glucose levels are constantly monitored with my Dexcom.

I eat anything I can get my hands on to treat a hypo.

I fainted once because my school nurse thought it would be good to have me walk to the elevator instead of using a wheelchair, so as I was walking, I went head first into the floor. It was a sucker, but I got up a few seconds after on my own the school’s staff was of no use when that happened.

Food and diet

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

Breakfast depends. It could be a fruit bowl. Eggs bacon with toast. Bacon, egg, and cheese from the bodega or cereal. Sometimes I don’t eat. It’s really hard to pinpoint. Lunch isn’t even something I can put my finger on. Sushi, ramen, Thai, Chinese, Halal, Spanish, or corner store sandwiches. It’s hard to pinpoint, and it’s the same with dinner. Sometimes, I skip meals. Sometimes I eat snacks, depending on if the meal wasn’t enough.

I do drink lots of water, a gallon a day as crazy as that sounds. I don’t find being on a diet restrictive. It’s only restrictive if you don’t find things to eat. Or find different ways to eat it.

I often tell people it’s none of their business when they ask about what I eat. I had to tell my teacher to go “F” himself because he kept pressing me about it so much, and it wasn’t even big things. Fruits or even a candy bar I was splitting with someone. I find myself having to snap at people who don’t get the point. It’s my body. I control this!

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

I experimented with it, and it helps out a bit more. The carbs aren’t so complex, and it’s easier to dose and know the right amount.

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

I do sometimes. A lot of the meals I eat have so much stuff going on that you can’t pinpoint the actual carbs and have to guess from Google. I think all restaurants should have a carb list for the meals. Mandatory everywhere. We deserve that because having to guess if 93 carbs is a lot, and then it is not enough for the meal is ANNOYING.

“I’m a ‘good’ diabetic.”

Justin Santana, United States

Exercise and work

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

I exercise 3 times a week for an hour, maybe 2 hours. I’m a freelance designer and videographer. It actually helps my diabetes because all the movement is good. Also, almost all the sets I’m on have amazing lunches with very low carbs, and a lot of the time, it’s vegan, which is so good.

Final

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

I think I’m heavily on top of my diabetes so other than my eating habits when I’m stressed. I’m a “good” diabetic.

The hardest part is the depression. It affects all of us, and it sucks. There is no real place to go that’ll understand you because therapists don’t even try to understand your point of view. There is no best part in my eyes.

The amount of foods in New York City kinda have negative impact because there are so many cultures here. You don’t know what to eat or how many carbs are in the food.

I don’t have the feeling anything else is causing problems.

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

I would like them to know that it’s not like your grandma’s diabetes. It’s not like your aunt’s. It’s my diabetes. All of us are different, so treat it differently. Also, I can eat what I want as long as I get my insulin and Dexcom. Leave me alone already!

The piece Of advice I can give is to get an insulin pump and CGM. Also, don’t let allow your self to slip into the ditch of sadness we all get. Pick yourself up and take care of yourself.

What would you ask the other diabetics?

Did diabetes affect your eyes, toes, or fingers?

Share your thoughts in the comments. I cannot wait to hear from you!

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