Together we can

When I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, I was a slightly awkward, skinny 20 year old. No one in my family has any kind of diabetes, and I didn't know anyone who had it either. Despite the love of my family and close friends, I remember feeling incredibly alone. 

It wasn't until 4 years after my diagnosis when my hospital recommended I go on a carb counting course at the hospital, that I finally met a group of other Type 1 Diabetics. And I was excited! It was so relieving to see that just like in life, Type 1 Diabetics come in all shapes, sizes, colours and ages! Everyone I met was so nice, and it was comforting to talk to people who are experiencing the same things as you, so you know you're not alone in the up and down sugars, the night time hypos, the constant finger pricking and injecting or site changing. We all get lumps, and bruises, and its all ok. Now whenever I see another T1D injecting in public, or testing their bloods I feel that same sense of 'brothership', and I love talking to the T1Ds that I meet out and about!

For me, it's really comforting to be able to talk about it. And I think everyone should be able to talk about it, to spread awareness and also break a lot of the misconceptions there are about the disease, and the people who have it. If everyone knew the things we knew, maybe they would react better in an emergency, or even just think more carefully about the things they say. I think talking about anything is the key to normalising it, and making it more comfortable for those who go through it. That was really the idea behind the t-shirt line; so we can proudly wear our support for our 'Dia-Tribe' and get people talking!
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Love, Natalie x