In our Diabetes Stories series, people living with diabetes open up about their journeys, challenges, and the experiences that shape their lives.
- Type 1
- Type 2
- LADA / Type 1.5
- Type 3c
- Gestational
- Prediabetes
Hello! Who are you? And tell us a little bit more about your diabetes.
Hey everyone! My name is Kimberley Katerberg. I’m 23 years old, and currently living in The Netherlands. I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes for 14 years.I was diagnosed when I was nine years old. It has been a really tough journey throughout the years, especially because of the complications I got. I’m fighting severe neuropathy, a permanent feeding tube over the smaller intestines due to gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), and I’m wheelchair-bound. My diabetes broke down a lot of nerves and muscle tissue, which made me unable to walk around normally.
I never hid my diabetes, but since my glucose levels were never manageable, I got a bad burnout and depression. I’ve been in hospitals a lot of times because of ketoacidosis, dangerously low sugar levels, and complications. This made my life often unbearable. Luckily, now I have good doctors, an amazingly good working insulin pump, and proper helping aids. Life got a lot easier and more manageable, just like my glucose levels.
Mostly emotionally, it was a hard time—my parents were often crying because they almost lost me several times. I am still scared that I may die a lot sooner than I wish, but it has now given me the strength to make every day count and spread more awareness. But mostly support and love for other diabetic warriors who are going through the same things.
“My diabetes broke down a lot of nerves and muscle tissue, which made me unable to walk around normally.”
Your treatment
How do you treat your diabetes, did a lot change over the past years and are you able to manage it well?
Currently, I use insulin with a Kaleido insulin pump, a Dexcom G6 CGM, and lots, I mean LOTS, of glucose tablets. Haha! I take Fiasp insulin. I went through so many before: Tresiba, Novorapid, Humulin, Actrapid, Levemir, Novomix, Insulatard,… almost every possibly existing kind!
Over the years, a lot has changed. I went from an active girl that went to college to a girl that spent most of the time in her house. Diabetes tore down my physical health drastically, but it also taught me how to enjoy and appreciate the little things more.
Currently, I am managing my diabetes very well! My HBA1C dropped from 9.1% to 6.0%, so I’m really proud of that. I have a huge team of professors, doctors, caregivers, and mental health services. They all work amazing together and try to give me the best & pain-free life possible. I wouldn’t know what I’d do without them. They saved my life several times and made things a lot better to handle. They’re my heroes!
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. I have hypo unawareness, so I won’t feel low until I almost pass out. I only feel the higher levers when I’m over 20 mmol/l (360 mg/DL).
Before I had the Dexcom G6, I used to test myself 16 to 20 times a day. Now, I test myself just 2 times a day to make sure the Dexcom sensor is still accurate.
To cure my low blood sugar, I use Dextro Energy sugar tablets! Lots and lots of glucose tabs. Haha!
I passed out lots of times. I got a few times unconscious for more than 7 hours. It was terrifying to experience it when waking up in a hospital and feeling the emotional and physical it left behind.
Food and diet
How does your diabetes affect your eating and do you find being on a diet restrictive?
I can’t eat due to my gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). I get my food intake via tube feeding.
Via the tube I drink about 3 to 5 liters water a day, otherwise I get dehydrated.
Before I got sick, I got sooooo angry when people pulled food out of my hands while they said, “Dude, you got diabetes. You shouldn’t eat Dextro Energy glucose tablets!” while I had a freaking low level. I don’t know how I managed to let those people still live! Haha!
Do you believe that a plant based diet can improve diabetes? Did you ever experiment with this?
I have no idea.
“The best part is, I got amazingly good at doing math!”
Exercise and work
Does your diabetes restrict you from exercise or your daily job?
I can’t exercise or work due to my physical health.
I care for my two rabbits 24/7 since they’re free-roam bunnies.
Final
Do you have any positive or negative effects because of your diabetes?
The hardest part for me is the constant fear of dying early. I’m constantly worried.
The best part is I got amazingly good at doing math!
Diabetes causes lots and lots of other problems, as I described previously.
What is the best advice that you can give to non-diabetics, new diagnosed diabetics and diabetics?
It’s not because of a bad lifestyle. You don’t get it from eating too much sugar, and surely not from vaccinating!
If you have questions you can hit me up. At the start of the diagnosis you get so much information already. I just leave it at them so they can study/ask at their own pace and needs.
It’s okay to not be okay. Don’t punish yourself or get angry at yourself for having a bad glucose level. It’s not your fault, and you’re definitely not failing.
What would you ask the other diabetics?
What’s your favorite thing to do to forget your diabetes for a little while? (Like hobbies and going out)
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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not to sound rude or anything, but how come it took so long to get things under control? werent there signs that the treatment wasn’t working right? feels like maybe the doctors could’ve done something sooner.
That’s a common question, Marc. Managing diabetes, especially with complications like Ely has described, can be exceptionally challenging. Each patient’s body reacts differently, and it can take time to find the right approach. Not to mention the continuous advancements in medicine.
Reading your story, Ely Fornoville, truly moved me. It’s incredible how you’ve turned your struggles into strength. Keep spreading that positivity and awareness.
got good at math, huh? Guess every cloud has its silver lining then… or should I say, every insulin pump has its plus side? lol
hey, readin this made me wonder, how does the insulin pump work? never really got how these things help
the pump mimics the way a healthy body releases insulin, small doses all day and extra at meals. pretty neat stuff tbh.
does it hurt wearing it?