On this episode we get to have a conversation with Dominique. Dom has been living with diabetes for 20 years, diagnosed at age 7. No one in her family knew what diabetic symptoms were, as she remembers getting sick and being lethargic. Her grandmom told her mom to not wait to take her to the hospital. When she got to the hospital and they withdrew blood, little Dom fainted! Her blood sugar was 825. At the time she questioned, why they couldn't just give her medicine so that she could go. Her family recalls only being given maybe 30 mins of education. Even at the age of 7 she wanted to be the leader in her management, and this included giving her own insulin.
Diabetes didn't really hit her until she went back to school and having to make pitstops to the nurse's office.
Her mom loves telling the story of how she would get hostile and tell everyone to leave her alone and that she would handle it on her own. She truly accepted her diagnosis at the beginning. Dom also feels as though diabetes did not stop her from being a "normal child."
In middle school having to now disclose her diabetes to other teachers she felt as though they tried to coddle her by saying she couldn't do certain things
such as having goodie bags. In Highschool she learned that her nurse had t1d and that the nurse's daughter also had t1d. before then she knew no one her age with diabetes.
Dom felt as though she was navigating it alone. She now enjoyed going to Highschool and to the nurse. Those were great years until college.
While in college diabetes did have some negative impact and consequences on herself. She feels as though she neglected her health during these times.
In college is where she started declining her insulin pump.
She got sick a lot in college, but her roommates were always there and really held it down. She feels as though she has an amazing support system especially those college friends. During those times she never had an issue taking insulin, just checking her blood sugar.
At 20 and completing college she recalls fighting with pharmaceutical companies while figuring out life as an independent adult and then working in NY, which was a great experience.
In 2023 she found out that her kidneys were failing. Doctors didn't mention to her
about her creatinine levels being off during routine blood work. One day he went to the er complaining of chest pain and breathing issues
and they noticed her creatinine levels were elevated and actually asked her if she was on dialysis. That March 2023 she was diagnosed with CKD.
Not once did she ask anyone in her family for a kidney, but everyone lined up to get tested! She never even started dialysis. She fought for those 4 months to avoid dialysis.
A few months later she received a kidney transplant from her "sister-cousin."
Recently, Dom celebrated her 1-year transplant anniversary. Diagnosed with CKD in March and transplanted in July.
On the day a cure is here, Dom says that it will truly be a day made in Heaven for everyone.
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