My name is Kendsie Hunter and I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of six.  I have had diabetes for almost 11 years now, and I can only remember one day living without diabetes: I remember going to the med center because my mom thought I had the flu.  I was always thirsty or going to the bathroom, and I lost a lot of weight.  My mom was getting worried, so she took me to the doctor and he told us that he wanted to take a blood and urine sample.  The doctor said that he would call us later that night with the results.  I was working on an art project for class the next day and my mom came into my room to tell me that the doctor called.  She looked very sad and told me that the doctor told us to go to the hospital.  My mom, dad and I drove to the emergency room where I endured a number of tests, pokes of an IV and an anxiousness that I had never felt.  I was definitely not used to being poked and little did I know that I would be doing it up to 10 times a day for the rest of my life.  I woke up in the ICU feeling better, but I knew something was wrong.

In the days after being diagnosed, I learned how to poke my finger, mix two kinds of insulin in one syringe, how to do a shot (although I didn't give myself a shot for a while), and what juvenile diabetes really was.  In just eleven years, diabetes care has come such a long way.  I have a pump now, and while testing my blood used to take 45 seconds, it now only takes five. But, there is still no cure.

            After being diagnosed, my life changed. My mom tried to find a reason why I had gotten diabetes- a relative, food, something in the air, something in our house- but nothing made sense. We came to terms with the disease, realizing that I would live with it for the rest of my life.  After a bit of researching, and talking to other people in the area with diabetes, my mom found JDRF (which was called JDF at the time). We found out that JDRF was committed to finding a cure for diabetes and from that day on we have been hoping for a cure by the time I go to college. It seemed like a long time when I was six years old, but I am headed for college next year.  We are still hoping for a cure within the next year, but in reality, we should probably adjust our hopes for a cure by the time I am finished with college.

            Diabetes is a time consuming disease.  I am 17 now and I have to test my blood sugar every time I drive, in addition to all of the other times I test my blood daily.  If I am low, that puts me behind schedule by at least 15 minutes.  If my blood sugar is high, I have to adjust my blood sugar by putting the number into my pump.  It stops my day, and I don't like that.  On a normal day, I lead a normal life.  I am a member of the Visual Unit for the marching band at school, I am the student director for my school's theatre program, I love to travel and learn about other cultures and I am the team leader of my walk team Kendsie's Cure Finders. Kendsie's Cure Finders has raised over $100,000 in the 8 years that we have been a team. One way that we decided to promote an understanding of diabetes is through our t shirts. Each year is a different color shirt with a logo on it designed by me.  It is a fun way to get people to walk, and make them aware of juvenile diabetes.

My friends and people that I meet ask me "how do you do it?" and I really don't have an answer.  I honestly cannot tell you how I put up with poking my fingers everyday or how I can force myself to stick a 2 inch long needle into my abdomen every three days.  People always tell me how brave I am and my family members tell me how proud they are of me but I really don't have a choice do I? Diabetes is just a part of my life and who I am.  It doesn't define me, but it is a part of me that is very important for others to know.  I know that without the support of my family members and friends, I would not be able to be as happy and safe as I am now.  I don't let diabetes get in the way, and my friends and family are always there to help me. Thank you.

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