Kate Wallace, 21 years

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

I’m from London; I love sports, hanging out with friends, and traveling.

I was diagnosed at age 11 with type 1 diabetes. I didn’t hide my diabetes at first, but then began to as I went into my teenage years.

The hardest part was emotionally for my family; a lot of changes happened.

“I developed diabulimia at around the age of 13.”

Kate Wallace, England

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 get a lot of support from my boyfriend, family, and friends, of course!

I use an insulin pump with Novorapid insulin and a Dexcom G6 CGM. Before, I used Novarapid, Levemir, and Lantus insulin.

A lot has changed over the years. I developed diabulimia at around the age of 13, and then at 17, I was diagnosed with nerve damage due to poor control in both my legs. However, this made me realize how serious it is and important I look after myself. Now, I try my hardest with my control.

I think I manage my diabetes pretty well now.

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. When I have high blood sugar, I always get headaches and become thirsty. When my blood sugars are low, I feel shaky.

I test my blood sugar around 4 to 5 times a day.

To treat my low blood sugar, I use Glucogel.

Never have I fainted before due to low blood sugar. Thank god.

Food and diet

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

For breakfast, I normally eat toast or cereal, for lunch a sandwich and for dinner a salad, chicken, or pizza. Sometimes, I skip meals.

I love pizza, and I like to go out to eat at Nandos, Pizza Express, and any fancy restaurant. For snacks, I eat fruit, biscuits, and maybe some chips.

Normally I stick to my insulin schedule when I eat something.

I drink one liter of water per day.

Being on a diet can be restrictive, and I can get annoyed when somebody asks me something about a certain food I can or can’t eat. Being diabetic doesn’t mean you can’t eat certain foods; you just have to bolus your insulin correctly.

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

I have never tried this. But potentially, it could.

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

I used to have a hard time eating out while I was on injections. However, now I’m on an insulin pump, my life has become so much easier!

“Talk to other diabetics! It really helps.”

Kate Wallace, England

Exercise and work

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

I run, cycle and swim. I exercise about 5 to 6 times a week.

Just about to start my new job as a police officer! I don’t let my diabetes affect me in any job I’ve done.

Final

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

To manage my diabetes better, I try to keep good control of it.

The hardest part about having diabetes is that it gets really lonely, and no one that close to me understands what I go through daily.

But the best thing about it is having friends who are diabetic and all the amazing doctors and nurses who have looked after me!

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

We can eat what we want, which is just as serious as any other illness or condition.

It gets better over time, and you will learn to live with it!

Talk to other diabetics! It really helps.

What would you ask the other diabetics?

Have you heard of diabulimia? If so, how did you find out about it?

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

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