Excerpts
Young Voices: Life with Diabetes
“They share their stories for one reason and one reason only: they want to raise awareness throughout the world of what living with diabetes is really like, because only awareness generates the power to create change.” Hala Khalaf, Author, Young Voices: Life with Diabetes
Voices from the US:
“If you educate one person about diabetes, then you have really educated 20 others, because people pass their knowledge along.” Clare Rosenfeld, age18, type 1 diabetes
“Diabetes forces me to be healthier than I ever was before. I help myself by fighting it, and I reap the benefits.” Erik Dunham, age 20, type 2 diabetes
“I’ve figured out that diabetes is a balancing act. You have to figure out how to take care of yourself, but in the end, to make diabetes fit into your life.” Kelly Hansen, age 19, type 1 diabetes
Voices from Russia:
“We have a lot of other interesting things to talk about. We can’t waste what little time we have together talking about diabetes!… We talk about boys and music and clothes and movies and school. And boys!” Katja Kornilova, age15, type 1 diabetes and Sasha Koryako, age 15, type 1 diabetes
“Even though I have diabetes, there is nothing I cannot do.” Katja Kornilova, age 15, type 1 diabetes
“Diabetes does not restrict me in any way. It just makes me more careful. It helps me. So the truth is I should be grateful to it!” Tamara Tutarauly, age 13, type 1 diabetes
Voices from Denmark:
“Sometimes I feel angry, like when I am high or low. Sometimes the insulin injection hurts and other times I don’t feel it at all.” Victor Martin Jensen, age 10, type 1 diabetes
“You don’t die from diabetes; you die with it.” Merete Breth Jensen, Victor’s mother
“We are in control now. Diabetes does not control us… I don’t look upon his diabetes as a disease anymore, not really. Instead, I think diabetes is a good reason to have a healthy lifestyle.” Merete Breth Jensen, Victor’s mother
Voices from Thailand:
“I want to have more friends who have diabetes so I won’t feel all that different.” Parojn Chalermrojin, age 10, type 1 diabetes
“For us, diabetes is a constant learning process.” Preecha Chalermrojin, Parojn’s father
“I don’t feel sick, but I know that I may become sick if I am not careful. As long as I am careful, I can do all the things I like, so I do not have to feel sad about having diabetes.” Parojn Chalermrojin, age 10, type 1 diabetes
Voices from the UK:
“It would have been good to talk to someone else about diabetes… I’ve never talked to anyone my age that has diabetes. I just want to know that I’m not alone and that I’m not the only one with it… because sometimes, it feels that way.” Natasha Vye, age 16, type 2 diabetes
“I wish I could go back in time and change my lifestyle.” Natasha Vye, age 16, type 2 diabetes
“I think everyone should know about diabetes and know how to take care of themselves, so they don’t ever get diabetes.” Natasha Vye, age 16, type 2 diabetes
Voices from Jordan:
“The problem is that I don’t feel sick; I don’t feel anything. It’s easy to forget yourself if you have type 2 diabetes. That’s the problem with diabetes. It’s a disease that’s like a double-edged sword. If you know how to deal with it, then you’re okay. If you don’t, then it’s as dangerous as cancer.” Deeb Kameel Ghnnma, age 22, type 2 diabetes
“I’ve stopped hiding my diabetes like it is something to be ashamed of, and instead I talk about it to my friends. They know I have diabetes now, which is a great help… Their encouragement is appreciated. So is my parents’, I just wish it wasn’t so constant!” Deeb Kameel Ghnnma, age 22, type 2 diabetes
“He hurts himself more than anybody else by ignoring his diabetes, and his parents ache for him to realise that.” Young Voices: Life with Diabetes (p. 103)
Voices from Tanzania:
“One day, I am going to be cured, right? And when that happens, you will let me go to school, right? Because right now, you are not letting me go to school because I am sick, right?” Happy Matanje, age 5, type 1 diabetes
“Diabetes is something you get used to.” George Matanje, Happy’s father
“Her uncle laughs a deep, hearty chuckle. He lifts Happy up into the air, cradles her in his arms and looks down at her with tenderness. ‘It is very sad and disturbing that this small child has such a disease,’ he says, speaking to himself. ‘But still, we are very thankful to God for everything.’” Young Voices: Life with Diabetes (p. 113)
Voices from Mexico:
“I know I have something called diabetes, but I’ve always had it! Since it was always there, I don’t think about it much; I just do what I have to do to take care of myself.” Andrea Monjarás Taméz, age 9, type 1 diabetes
“I take care of diabetes because it is part of my body and I have to take care of my body. It’s just like brushing my teeth. I take care of my teeth and I take care of my diabetes.” Andrea Monjarás Taméz, age 9, type 1 diabetes
“We don’t want the diabetes to prevent her from doing whatever she wants, so we want her to be ready.” Carlos Monjarás Taméz, Andrea’s father
