Diabetes is a battle fought every single day. Some days feel like victories, while others feel like setbacks. But for those who refuse to give in—who learn, adapt, and push forward—the war can be won.
Emily’s story isn’t just about managing diabetes. It’s about reclaiming life, proving that the disease doesn’t have to define or limit what’s possible. Her journey has been one of struggle, discovery, and ultimately, triumph.
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Emily was 27 when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Before that, she had lived a completely normal life—never worrying about carbs, insulin, or blood sugar crashes. Then, over the course of a few weeks, everything changed.
She was constantly exhausted, drinking water like crazy, and losing weight without trying. At first, she brushed it off, blaming stress or a busy schedule. But one night, after nearly passing out from dizziness, she went to the doctor. A few tests later, the answer was clear: Type 1 diabetes.
“I remember feeling completely blindsided,” she says. “I didn’t even really understand what it meant at first. But when the doctor told me I’d have to take insulin for the rest of my life, it hit me—this wasn’t something I could fix. It was something I had to learn to live with.”
That was the moment everything changed. The carefree approach she had to food, exercise, and daily routines was gone in an instant. Instead, every meal, every workout, and every decision would now require careful thought and planning. It was overwhelming, to say the least.
The First Battle: Learning to Take Control
The first few months were some of the hardest of Emily’s life. She struggled to adjust to her new reality, feeling frustrated by the constant blood sugar checks, insulin doses, and the anxiety of not knowing how her body would react on any given day.
She remembers one particularly rough night when she experienced her first severe low. She woke up drenched in sweat, heart racing, barely able to think clearly. She managed to grab a juice box she kept by her bed, but the experience left her shaken.
“That was when I realized how serious this was. This wasn’t just some condition I could ignore or brush off. I had to be on top of it all the time.”
Rather than letting fear consume her, she decided to take action. She threw herself into learning everything she could about diabetes—reading books, listening to podcasts, joining online support groups, and connecting with others who had been living with the disease for years.
“I realized I had two choices: let diabetes control me, or take control of it.”
Finding Strength Through Fitness
Before her diagnosis, Emily had been a runner. She loved the feeling of hitting the pavement, clearing her mind, and pushing herself to new limits. But after diabetes entered the picture, she hesitated to lace up her sneakers again.
Doctors warned her that exercise could cause dangerous blood sugar drops, and that fear held her back.
“I didn’t want to end up passed out on a running trail somewhere,” she admits.
But after months of feeling like diabetes was running her life, she decided she’d had enough.
“I missed running. I missed feeling strong. So I told myself I’d start slow and figure it out along the way.”
She began with short walks after meals, then light jogs, carefully tracking how her blood sugar responded. Soon, she was running full 5Ks again, adjusting her insulin and food intake to keep everything stable.
It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Running gave her a sense of power she hadn’t felt in months. Instead of feeling like diabetes was limiting her, she felt like she was in charge again.
Making Everyday Life Work
With fitness back in her life, Emily set her sights on another challenge: making sure diabetes didn’t stop her from doing everyday things—like cleaning out the garage, going on road trips, or simply spending time with friends without worrying about sugar crashes.
One particular Saturday, she decided it was time to tackle a long-overdue project—cleaning out the garage. She knew it would be hours of heavy lifting, sorting, and hauling junk, but she was determined to handle it on her terms.
Planning ahead, she adjusted her insulin, packed a few snacks, and made sure she had plenty of water on hand. Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, she focused on the task at hand.
Midway through, she realized something—she wasn’t just surviving with diabetes; she was thriving. She had the energy to get through the day, she wasn’t sidelined by blood sugar crashes, and she was proving to herself that she could take on any challenge.
To make the project easier, she and her family rented a 15-yard dumpster from QRI Waste, and it made all the difference. “It was a lifesaver,” she says. “We were able to toss everything quickly and not worry about multiple trips to the dump.”
The day ended with a cleared-out garage, a huge sense of accomplishment, and a reminder that diabetes wasn’t going to stop her from living life on her own terms.
Thriving, Not Just Surviving
Today, Emily doesn’t just manage diabetes—she owns it. Her HbA1c levels are the best they’ve ever been, and she feels stronger and more in control than she did even before her diagnosis. She’s completed multiple races, connected with an incredible support system, and now helps others who are newly diagnosed navigate their own journeys.
“There are still tough days,” she admits. “Diabetes is relentless. But I don’t let it stop me anymore. I’ve learned that I can do anything—I just have to do it a little differently.”
She has learned to meal prep in a way that works for her, plan out her insulin doses to match her lifestyle, and listen to her body when it needs rest or fuel. She’s even started a blog to share her experiences and help others feel less alone in their own battles with diabetes.
The War Isn’t Over, But She’s Winning
Emily’s story is proof that diabetes doesn’t have to be a roadblock. It’s a challenge, yes, but one that can be met with the right mindset, the right knowledge, and a refusal to give up.
Her advice to others?
“Learn everything you can. Be patient with yourself. And never, ever let diabetes tell you what you can or can’t do. This is your life—live it on your terms.”
Every day, Emily is winning her war on diabetes—not by eliminating the disease, but by refusing to let it define her. And for her, that’s the biggest victory of all.