Sahil's Story

My name is Sahil Om Madan, 25. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on 5 sep 2011 at the age of 20. 

In August 2011 - I returned to college after my training, for the final year of my engineering degree. I had symptoms of diabetes from the past two months but I didn't consider them including my weight loss, thirst, lack of energy probably because I started working out at that time. But after a month on the morning of 3 September, I didn't have the energy to get out of my bed, one of my roommate(Ankit) dragged me to the lift because I wasn't able to get to the ambulance. I was hospitalised in the college hospital only, where the doctor put me on a glucose drip thinking I was low on energy and my friends bought me juices and fruits to help my body recover.(Tetrapack juices that are loaded with sugar). My condition deteriorated, so my friend(Ajay) called my dad and he was there covering 400 kms and decided to take me home. I was unconscious on my way back home. The next day, I was admitted in my home town but the doctor wasn't really sure of what I was suffering from. But when he randomly checked my blood sugar and the meter was able to track it showed TOO HIGH, I was then moved to Gangaram hospital, New Delhi. When I opened my eyes I realised I was in ICU, A cannula was attached to my hand but the drip wasn't the normal saline, I felt it in my veins. After a few minutes, dad came to see me. "You have been diagnosed with diabetes", he revealed. He also added, "there's nothing to worry about you just have to take insulin daily and that's it". I was okay thinking I will take the medicines and will be fine but I didn't have any idea what diabetes is all about. How my life is going to take a 360 degree turn. I somehow managed my days in the ICU and then I was shifted to a room in the hospital. Nurses would give me injections before meals and I was on a strict food plan, I wasn't even allowed to eat a cookie in addition to the diet planned. I was annoyed. One evening my mom and dad went downstairs to meet my relatives who came to see me. And as soon as they got out of the room, I attacked the almirah to fetch some cookies. Holding a cookie, I passed by the mirror and saw myself. I could not believe it was me, I removed my clothes and when I saw myself I felt like a loser (pale yellow face, no fat on my body). I was close to a skeleton. That was the time, I put that cookie back and promised myself to get back without telling anyone. I had no plan but I made up my mind. After a few days I was back home. I was taking 4 injections a day and everything I ate was monitored. The injections were given by my father. Then I asked my parents to let me go back to college but as the doctor said I can't live alone because as a 20 yr old, I won't be able to manage it. After a lot of discussions, my dad accompanied me to college sacrificing his job. So, I was there at the college with my dad. My dad tried to fix up everything in the hostel so that I could be comfortable but as a 20 yr old I was embarrassed because my dad used to accompany me to college. In between all this, I started reading about diabetes and stuff. After 3-4 months when my blood sugar were little normal, I asked my dad to go back. Finally, he went back but my family was really worried. Apart from this, there were rumours that my hospitalisation was because I wasn't able to handle a heartbreak which happened around my diagnosis. But leaving all this behind, I focussed on improving my health and studies. I started with morning jog and yoga. The zeal was so strong that at 5 am, almost at 2 degrees I was running in my campus to build my stamina. After few weeks, I asked my other roommate(Deepak), who was a fitness freak to help me start gymming. So I was running and doing yoga in the morning and gym sessions in the evening. Apart from it I was working on my diet plan as well. Slowly but steadily I recovered from the effects of the disease and had a normal physique. I was actually looking better then ever and I was filled with confidence. People near me weren'table to handle it. Because I was at my lowest just 4-5 months back physically and mentally. Then suddenly one day a girl named Arundhati whom I knew as my ex girlfriend's friend talked to me asking for my health. But eventually we started talking and in no time we became friends. The emotional cavity that I was having was filled by her. She told me things that made me value life and be kind( that I didn't did before my diagnosis). After those incidents I understood what life is all about. 

It's Dec, 2016 , more than 5 years to my diagnosis. It's been a roller coaster ride physically, mentally and emotionally. I had bad days when my blood sugars wasn't normal and ate random stuff but what important is that you fight back. You can't skip those days , just go through it. I won't be able to do this without the support of my family and few friends and specially my father. 

I am really glad that jake found something inspiring in my story and asked me to write it. Thanks buddy.

 Sahil Om Madan

Insta @sahil_om_madan