Living with diabetes since birth

Being born with diabetes is one of the worst things that can happen to you. It’s like running a marathon with weights tied to your legs. You never asked for it, you didn’t prepare for it, and yet, you have no option – You have to keep running to win.

My name is Harsh Mishra, I’m 21, and I was born with type 1 diabetes.

Others talk about the moment they were diagnosed. I don’t remember mine; it’s all I’ve ever known. Diabetes isn’t just the worst chapter in my life; it’s the entire book.

However, I’ve still managed to write a story I’m proud of.

My childhood, with a condition I didn’t understand

My earliest memories are of needles, insulin vials, and my mother’s eyes filled with tears as she watches a glucometer.

Other kids woke up to cartoons and cereal. I woke up to finger pricks and carefully measured meals. Birthday parties were less about fun and more about managing risk – Would there be sugar-free options? Could I eat a slice of cake or not? If I did, how would my body react to it? Should I carry my own snacks? How would people react if they saw me doing this? Should I even go?

In the early stages of my life, I didn’t know what diabetes really meant. All I knew was that my life came with rules and regulations that I had to follow:

• Don’t eat that food.
• Check your sugar regularly.
• Carry your insulin needle.
• Be prepared for emergencies at all times.

It wasn’t until I was older that I started to realise those rules weren’t just instructions – They were lifelines that I had to follow if I wanted to live a healthy life.

The daily struggle that most people don’t see

The hardest part of diabetes isn’t the injections, or the medications, or the handling of emergencies. It’s the war you fight every day, with every action.

Eating, sleeping, walking, even stressing out… All these things can affect my blood sugar levels. And if I don’t maintain my lifestyle, it can affect my health badly and unpredictably.

But even sticking to a rigid routine isn’t necessarily the answer. Because one day a certain breakfast will work fine. But the next day, the same food rapidly increases my glucose level, and I immediately have to go to the doctor.

I’ve had days when I felt exhausted before 10am because my sugar crashed overnight. I’ve walked into exam halls feeling shaky and confused, my body screaming for sugar while my mind was supposed to focus. And I’ve smiled through dinners while quietly monitoring my glucose level, calculating carbs in my head like a mathematician, hoping through my shyness that no one sees me doing it.

There’s no break from diabetes because it isn’t curable. It doesn’t take weekends off, and it doesn’t matter if you have a date, job interview, or exam, or if you’re attending a funeral or on vacation – You live with it every single moment. Because that’s your life, and you can’t change it.

The sacrifices no one sees

I sacrificed my childhood and further sacrificed almost everything across all aspects of my life.

• I can’t join a friend for lunch without thinking about timing my insulin.
• I can’t stay out late partying without planning for low glucose levels.
• I’ve given up foods I used to love (like soft drinks, sweets, and fast food) because a moment of joy isn’t worth the days of imbalance that follow.

I’ve made these sacrifices because if I lived like others, my diabetes would eventually kill me.

Social life? It’s complicated. People don’t always understand. I’ve lost friends who thought I was being too ‘picky’ or ‘dramatic’ about food or not spending time with them at night.

Dating has been awkward, too. Because no one understands your problems except your parents, and it’s hard to explain on a first date that you might have to inject yourself in the middle of dinner.

I’m not saying no one understands – Some people do. But the majority don’t.

Freedom is the biggest sacrifice. While others take their health for granted, I walk a tightrope every day. One wrong move and everything is gone. And I’ve had emergency hospital visits to prove it.

But still, I rise

However, despite it all, I’ve never let diabetes stop me from doing anything I’ve excelled in, including academics and sports. If anything, it’s taught me more about life than any school or college ever could. I’ve learned discipline, empathy, self-belief, and strength.

I’ve been able to keep my motivation high. Here’s how:

Knowledge

I read, research, and stay up to date on diabetes management. Understanding my body helps me maintain a healthy lifestyle. And that keeps me empowered.

Fitness

I exercise not to look good but to keep stable. For me, it’s not about being able to flex my body on social media or in front of girls. It’s about being able to keep my sugar in control and my mind clear. Physical exercise gives me that opportunity.

Routine

I follow a schedule. I eat, inject, and sleep on time. And by building my life around a routine, I get to stay grounded. And that means I can actually enjoy my life.

Support

My parents (especially my mother) support me a lot. They’ve been with me through the tough times and are a constant source of comfort and support. Also, my close friends now know how to recognise when my blood sugar is low and what they can do to help. Everybody who loves me cares for me.

Gratitude

It might sound strange, but diabetes has made me thankful. It’s made me more aware, more careful, and more grateful for the little things in life, the small joys. It’s shaped who and what I am.

My message to others

To anyone newly diagnosed or raising a diabetic child, know this – It’s hard, but it’s not the end of your life, and it won’t stop you from living it.

With the right care and mindset, you can still chase your dreams, fall in love, travel the world, and live a full and meaningful life.

Don’t ever lose hope. You’re here to fight, not fall into depression and give up like a coward.

You, me, and others may all have diabetes. But that doesn’t mean diabetes has us – It doesn’t have me.