I Finally Declared!

Like a proud sophomore going in to see his college advisor my blood finally declared that I have Type 1 diabetes. Sure all the symptoms have been there for at least a year, the high blood sugars leading to DKA before my diagnosis, the constant thirst and the blurry vision then once I was on insulin those symptoms swiftly disappeared. But until Friday no doctor was 100% sure that I did in fact have Type 1 - 99% sure but there was that 1% doubt that it could have been something else, a tumor, a thyroid or pituitary issue or a host of rare disorders that can present themselves with the same symptoms as diabetes. But when Dr. Baker walked into the exam room on Friday he triumphantly declared - "you have antibodies." I now have the islet cell antibody confirming the diagnosis and leaving no question that my diabetes was caused by an autoimmune disease. In my earlier blood work the antibodies were absent.

Knowing that my diagnosis is confirmed brings me great peace of mind. No matter how remote the possibility was that my symptoms were caused by something other than Type 1 the hypochondriac in me wouldn't let that idea rest. I visited websites such as wrongidagnosis.com to see if it could be anything else since doctors were only 99% sure. My blood finally declaring the antibodies lets me rest a bit easier.

Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas!