Amshi’s Story

I was diagnosed with type one diabetes my freshman year of college on December 17, 2011 at 18 years old. I was the healthiest in my family and was super involved with sports growing up. My T1D story began during two-a-days at Texas Tech University, where I played D1 volleyball. I found myself losing weight rapidly, extremely thirsty, and taking bathroom breaks all throughout the day (Sometimes not even making it). I went to the on-campus doctor where they misdiagnosed me. In the back of my mind I knew I had T1D because I watched an old teammate go through the same symptoms and get diagnosed when we were thirteen playing club volleyball.

It wasn't until I graduated college in 2015 and started my blog, Living Diabetter, that I finally accepted the fact that I had T1D. I was ashamed and embarrassed to say the least. How could an active, athlete like myself get diabetes? I ate right, worked out, never drank soda... Diabetes had the wrong person!

I took ownership of my diabetes and "came out" to my coworkers and friends (my best friends/teammates already knew) who never knew because I would always hide and sneak away when it was time to give myself insulin. Originally, my blog was supposed to be somewhat of a diary for me accepting the fact that I was living with this incurable autoimmune disease, but it quickly turned into a platform to help and inspire others living with type one and type two diabetes. My blog talks about the highs and lows of T1D, while providing tips on living a better lifestyle.

I'm now very open and honest about my T1D journey and share my story on my social media channels (@LivingDiabetter) and social media panels, like the recent JDRF Dallas Summit!

“I have diabetes, diabetes does not have me.”

Amshi Humphrey