After completing a tiring day at college I decided to relax in the way that I usually find most rewarding – baking. I absolutely adore chocolate cake but today was feeling more like cookie day. Perhaps more like an apple cinnamon cookie day! Off I went. Whisking and mixing and beating. Before I knew it, I had at least three dozen golden cookies emitting the most aromatic fusion of apple and cinnamon swirl. Yum. I will admit that I taste tested a few to make sure they were not poisonous (“wink wink”). As I went to eat my fourth, or maybe it was my eighth, my father stopped me. “Come here Antonia, we have to have a talk” he said. I thus diverted from my original plan to taste test one more – to make sure for definite that the cookies could be safely consumed by fellow members of the household – and joined my father in the study room. It was from that very moment onwards that my life would change forever.
All the symptoms were there but my failure to recognise what they were made me shocked about the diagnosis. Of course, now, it is painstakingly obvious. Having had a hospital appointment a few hours earlier, I had expected nothing of it. Boy was I wrong! Imagine what may have happened if I had downed another cookie… My instant thought was that I should have eaten it! Food freedom would be stripped from me and my possible last hurrah was now down the drain. “……..something something diabetes blah blah blah……..” I recall my father saying. I did not know what to say.
Here I am, a couple of weeks later, taking type one in my stride. No, I may not get to eat as many chocolatey goodies as I would like to. No, I may not be able to do sports whenever I fancy. No, diabetes is not a super power like flying or mind-reading but the truth is that I feel stronger than ever. It is already such a huge part of my existence so why not embrace it by sharing my stories with you? So I say, “Come at me diabetes! Whatchu got in store mah*?”
Antonia
*mah – Chinese question word/ local slang I have picked up
Glucose level upon publishing – 9.9 mmol/l
Insulearning with Antonia 
Loved it! Very clever, we clicked to accept ‘the cookies’. In accord, Bill’s blood sugar 9.3
Thank you so much Lynn for being the first comment on the first blog in my first month of diabetes
– a lot of firsts!!
Dear Everyone,
That’s my big sis you know!
Can’t believe it, we are so proud of you!
S.
Just asking(for a friend)…..would you possibly still have that cookie?😂
Dear Antonia,
You’re probably the only person in the world to make type 1 diabetes appear poetic and witty. I praise your humorous courage and amazing writing skills.
Keep on !
All the best
Jean-Brice
Meric beaucoup 😉
Very well written. Look forward to seeing more. My hairdresser was diagnosed with it when very young. She learned to live with it and the only real complication she had was during pregnancy. But I guess you’re not planning that just yet!!!
Thank you for your kind words Jurdy
Well done you Antonia! FairPlay for your way of dealing with diabetes. Your personality and character will get you through this learning period and I’m sure you’ll take it in your stride. Take care and keep writing as it will help you release your feelings and concerns while helping you learn to deal with it! You go Girl!
Obrigado meu amigo e continue seguindo!
Thank you Antonia for sharing your story! Stay strong and positive! Continue to write and bake as both are meant to be shared!
Best,
Shirley T – from San Francisco
Thanks Auntie Shirely – you are very right. Not sure everybody (the brothers) are up for sharing my delicious eggplant chocolate cake – that one is all mine to eat!