Zoey’s Story

Hi my name is Zoey Dean. I am 21 years old and am currently a Senior at Western Carolina University. I have only been living with type one diabetes for 3 years now. 

During finals my freshman year of college my life was changed. I was having all of the typical diabetes symptoms but I thought it was nothing. I would go to class and just crash after. I would constantly sleep, eat milkshakes and use the bathroom! One day, I told my mother what was going on and she told me I need to go to the doctor..so I did. The campus doctor then checked my blood sugar and it was 400 with no food in my body at the time. I thought they were kidding when they told me I had diabetes. I had no idea what type one diabetes even was. Of course as the typical story goes on.. I was rushed to the hospital were I gave myself my first insulin shot and all I wanted was a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich! Which I never got cause my parents were flipping out! 

Fast forward to the now. Living with type one diabetes has taught me so much. I had to gain a new style of confidence for myself and learn to just live my life and not care what others thought of me. I had to adjust my entire lifestyle and begin a new health journey. Because of my diabetes I am the healthiest I’ve ever been! I am now going to school to be a Health and Physical Education Teacher to show other children that it’s okay to be different and promote healthy living. I couldn’t imagine life without type one diabetes now. But, I can honestly say.. that it has shaped me into the person I am today.

Zoey Dean