For as long as I can remember, my daily routine involved watching what I ate, when I ate, and then injecting myself with a syringe full of insulin. It also included pricking my battered fingers to test my blood sugar levels approximately six times a day. Due to the fact that I began these routines before I could even mutter a full logical sentence, I grew up believing that this routine was something that everyone did every day as well. I grew up thinking that my oddly scarred fingers and arms were ordinary and not unusual. But all of this changed when I entered the sixth grade. This naive belief of mine began to fade rapidly. Suddenly, I realized that not many people had to watch every piece of food they put into their mouth or have to be hospitalized when they catch something as common as the flu. Once I realized all of this, I wasn 't so open or forthcoming with the fact that I have type 1 diabetes. I didn 't want to share my story or show people my insulin pump. I became incredibly insecure and I began to hide my scars and my insulin pump. It was one of the worst feelings I have ever endured. This insecurity battle between my type 1 diabetes …show more content…
Growing up with this disease has been the most challenging obstacle in my life. It has taught me to be proud of who I am and as ironic as this may sound, it has made me a stronger person. It has also taught me that being strong has so many variables. It doesn 't just mean getting through the rough times, it means accepting yourself and appreciating every great moment given to you. Going through this journey has also taught me that everyone has their own insecurities and that you never know what a person may be going through. Therefore, you should always be kind to everyone. Having type 1 diabetes has been a part of me since I was two years old and it always will be a part of me. However, I will not let it define me or degrade my own personal image of myself. I am Brenna Lutz and I am proud of who I am, type 1 diabetes and