Hi! My name is Donna. I have diabetes.

On the evening of December 31, 1999, when I was 49, my doctor phoned with the results of my lab work and told me that I have diabetes. (With as much gusto he also said that informing me was the last thing he had to do before the turn of the millennium. I wasn't amused.)

So I started watching what I ate, cutting down on sugary foods and other carbohydrates, and took oral medications, Metformin and Avandia, designed to lower my blood sugar level (BGL). Doc evidently thought I had Type 2 diabetes (see below). The pills didn't lower my BGL, but I did get the morning dry heaves. Rumors of a fourth child started flying amidst muffled laughter.

My BGL remained off the charts at over 300 (normal is 90 to 100) and I was passing ketones as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which probably contributed to my rapid 30-pound weight loss. One of my well-meaning friends said, "I don't know what you're doing, but keep it up. You look great!" I didn't have the heart (or the linguistic ability) to tell her that it was dreadfully dangerous diabetes doing its diabolical death-dealing destruction!

To my dismay, nothing I was instructed to do was working to bring my BGL down. So I ate a piece of carrot cake out of spite. My diabetes educator told me not to be discouraged about my 300+ BGL, but how could I not be? I did everything I was told to do, but I still had more than three times the normal amount of sugar pulsing through my veins, clogging up my capillaries and nerves, and my cells weren't getting much—if any—of it to live on. Should I make an appointment with the surgeon now, or wait until my leg turns green? It was enough to bring down even the most intrepid Diabetic Diva.

I was quickly referred to an endocrinologist, who did further testing and found that I needed to be on insulin injections. I had antibodies indicating Type I diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM], or juvenile-onset diabetes, an autoimmune disease that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas), even though I'm the poster child for Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM], or adult-onset diabetes, brought on by insulin resistance). It was discovered that I produce no C-peptide, and where there's no C-peptide, there's no insulin either. A typical Type 1 scenario. Read more...

Testing also found that I have antibodies indicating Hashimoto's thyroiditis (hypothyroidism), an autoimmune disease that renders the thyroid gland incapable of producing its hormone, so I take thyroid medication, as do my mother and brother. I've had Raynaud's phenomenon (autoimmune-related) since I was a teen, at which time I had a bilateral lumbar sympathectomy to help relieve vasospasms that caused blood vessel constriction, then swelling, dark discoloration, and pain in my toes. For the past 25 years, although I didn't know what it was, I've had fibromyalgia, a rheumatic pain-and-fatigue sydrome which may be autoimmune in nature also (research continues). A rheumatologist who tested me several years ago confirmed fibromyalgia. HELP! My body is attacking me and trying to do me in! What did I ever do to incur such wrath? (Human imperfection) And why do I get all the fun? (Because I can take it, right?)

Well, this is the way I look at it: I don't have lupus (SLE), I don't have multiple sclerosis (MS), I don't have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and I'm not having a fourth child (4C). So I am thankful—because things could be a lot worse! My glass, although cracked, chipped in places and scratched all over, remains half full. (See Keep a Positive Attitude)

Armed with a vial of Lantus (a long-acting background "designer" insulin) in one hand and Humalog, later Novolog (fast-acting insulins to inject as a bolus at mealtimes) in the other, I found myself in the battle of my life—the battle for my life—waging war on the front line throughout the day, every day, day in and day out, month after month, year after grueling year. The instruments of war? Insulin syringes and finger lancets. Taking at least four shots a day, plus lancing my fingers more often to test my BGL (in order to know how much insulin to inject by puncturing myself yet once again)—this became my life. It has made me what I am today—a surviving Diabetic Diva! (Sorry, the human pincushion analogy just isn't funny anymore.) By administering the insulin as needed throughout the day, I was able to manage my diabetes and keep living—all limbs intact.

Whether you need insulin or diet changes with or without oral medication, you can do this thing! We can all do this thing together by meeting here on this website, sharing our stories and ideas, encouraging one another, enduring together, being 'successful female personalities' in taming diabetes—true Diabetic Divas!

In an effort to improve my health, I've been eating low GI (glycemic index) meals (see Recipes) and taking nutritional supplements. I have noticed improvement, which my recent lab results confirm. But one thing is missing—namely, exercise. Regular exercise. I know that exercise is very important in keeping healthy. So I started this website for Diabetic Divas and set up a Blog (short for web log) to keep track of my exercise progress and to hopefully give and receive encouragement to 'fight the fine fight of fitness'. Even if no one ever reads or comments on my Blog, hopefully it will motivate me to exercise so that I can post a positive report each day that I do. If it works for me, then it's a good thing. And if it encourages someone else to exercise, all the better. Check my progress!

Why not take a moment to review this website and my exercise Blog. If you have a diabetic story, tip or idea or a cheery "Atta girl!" for me and other Diabetic Divas, you are welcome to submit them here or on my Blog. Thank you very much for your support!

That's my story. Now send me yours!

Yours in diabetic care,


Donna Reddin
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I've had Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus since 1999, identified as Type 1 by my endocrinologist. I also have other autoimmune diseases. I try to keep a positive attitude by thinking about the good things in my life and by trying to improve my health with proper medical treatment, low GI meals, nutritional supplements, and regular exercise, which is why I developed this website. I hope to encourage other Diabetic Divas and be encouraged through personal life stories, suggestions, comments, and ideas that are submitted by you and published here at DiabeticDivas.com and on my exercise Blog. Thank you!