T1D Lifestyle

Life has a way of changing in the blink of an eye. One moment everything feels predictable, and the next, everything shifts. I learned that lesson when I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at nine years old. But years later, life would remind me just how unpredictable it can really be, this time through my best friend…

If you’re new here, I was diagnosed with Type One diabetes when I was nine. Type One is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. No one knows exactly why it happens, and it can occur in anyone, at any age. But to understand this story, we have to rewind to the very beginning.

My best friend Ryley has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, literally. Our moms were best friends in high school, and they both had us in the same year, 2000. From the very beginning, we grew up side by side. Our moms dressed us up together as babies, took endless pictures of us, fed us side by side, and planned playdates before we were even old enough to ask for them.

The world felt big, but I always knew I had a built in best friend for life. We understood each other in a way that only lifelong friends can. Our moms are still best friends to this day, and we even grew up living just up the street from each other. Honestly, it always felt like our lives were meant to be connected.

Fast forward, and the year is 2018. It was a year full of excitement and big changes. Ryley and I had just graduated high school. She was heading to Rutgers University, while I was starting at community college. Even though our paths looked a little different, we knew that nothing would change our friendship. An hour commute definitely wasn’t going to stop me from seeing my best friend.

Like most people starting college, we were nervous but excited. It felt like the beginning of a whole new chapter. We were ready to explore the world, figure out who we were, and hopefully discover what we were passionate about along the way.

The summer after graduation flew by, and suddenly we were starting college. The first semester was nerve racking, college is very different from high school. But whenever I could, I would drive up to Rutgers and spend the weekend with Ryley. We had always been each other’s support system, and that didn’t change when life got busier. Even during stressful times, I knew I always had someone to lean on. Ryley is incredibly smart, and being around her motivated me to push myself and always do my best.

As the semester went on, though, something started to change. Ryley began noticing unusual symptoms. At first, it was constant fatigue, she was always tired and needing naps. Then came frequent trips to the bathroom, constantly having to urinate. Soon after, she couldn’t stop drinking water but still felt a thirst that was unquenchable.

When she described the symptoms to me, something in my mind clicked. I even remember saying to her, half joking, “Maybe you have Type One Diabetes like me.” We used to joke all the time that my diabetes was “contagious.” (Just to be clear, diabetes is not contagious.) Ryley would laugh and say, “Don’t give me your diabetes.”

Well… I guess the universe took our joke a little too literally. One day I got a text from her saying she was on her way to the hospital. Not long after, she received the diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes at eighteen years old. The same disease I had been living with for years.

Naturally, we asked the same questions everyone asks. How could this happen? What are the odds? Why us? It almost felt like the universe was playing some kind of strange prank.

In some ways, it was comforting to know that my best friend would now understand exactly what I had been going through all those years. But at the same time, my heart hurt for her. I knew firsthand how overwhelming and exhausting this chronic illness can be. I knew the daily mental and physical work it takes to manage all of its challenges. But if anything, this moment only strengthened our friendship even more. I knew I would always be there for her, to support her, to listen, and most importantly, to understand exactly what she was going through.

Fast forward to today, and Ryley is stronger than ever. She manages her diabetes like an absolute boss and on top of that, she became a nurse. She made it through college and nursing school while learning to manage a brand new chronic illness, which is something I will always admire about her.

Type One Diabetes does not define us, and it certainly does not control our lives. It’s simply one part of our story. I’m incredibly grateful that I get to go through this journey with someone who truly understands the daily challenges that come with it. We uplift each other, support each other, and motivate each other to keep doing better every day. Our moms being best friends gave me a built in friend for life. And together, I’d say we make a pretty great diabetic duo!

But this story is also a reminder of something bigger. Life can throw challenges at you when you least expect it, and sometimes those challenges can feel unfair or overwhelming. But the people we have beside us can make all the difference. Having someone who truly understands what you’re going through can turn something difficult into something a little more manageable.

If you’re living with Type One Diabetes, just know that you are never alone. There are people out there who understand the struggles. And if you’re lucky enough to have someone by your side who supports you through it all, hold onto that friendship tightly. Sometimes the most unexpected parts of life bring us even closer to the people who mean the most. And in our case, it just so happens that we’re navigating it all together, one blood sugar check at a time.

Before you go, I’d love to hear from you. If you’re living with Type 1 diabetes, do you have a friend or support system that has helped you through it? Or have you ever experienced a moment in life where something unexpected actually brought you closer to someone?

Feel free to leave a comment below and share your story. I really love connecting with others in the Type One community, and your experience might help someone else feel a little less alone!