
It was a very difficult time for us. We were just coping with the grief of losing my father. The news that I had type 1 diabetes shattered my family. My mother was shocked. We knew so little about the disease that we felt helpless at that point of time. Initially, hope seemed bleak but my mother is a very courageous person. She took charge, and from my doctor learnt everything about the disease and how I should manage it. She was determined to not have this disease hamper my life and wanted to ensure I led a normal life like any other child my age. My mother and doctor helped me accept, manage and control my diabetes. They showed me how to take medication, especially insulin, on time, supervised my diet and made me exercise regularly till it all became a normal routine.
Prior to going on this trek, I was shy to tell the world I was a type 1 diabetes patient. This trek changed it all! I felt so positive that I wanted others to experience this too. What started as one trek led to a series of accomplishments that I am proud to boast of. In 2016, I completed a Mt. Abu trek with 20 type 1 diabetes patients. Then in 2017, I participated in the ‘OneUp’ trek organized by Sanofi, Diabetes India and Udaan and climbed Kalsubai - Maharashtra’s highest peak (1646 mt.), and sometime in 2018 I will be going for a trek to the Himalayas.
Initially, being a type 1 diabetes patient was a challenge for my family and me. Today, I hope my story inspires other youngsters that overcoming these challenges is a gradual but not impossible process.