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My name is Oonagh Crotty. I live near Cork City, Ireland. I will be 12 years
old in January 1999. I have Type 1 Diabetes. I was diagnosed on 8th July
1998. I give myself two injections of insulin every day and do blood glucose
tests three or four times a day. I am the only one in the family with
diabetes. I have one older brother named Alan. I enjoy cross-country and
Track and Field Athletics. I am in the local Scout Troop. I learn keyboard
and I enjoy art, especially painting and colouring. I like soccer. I am an
Arsenal Football Club supporter. We have two dogs at home, Kesa, a Bernese
Mountain Dog and Buffy, a Corgi. I help in caring for them and enjoy taking
them for walks. I like listening to music. My favourite groups are, The
Spice Girls, Oasis, R.E.M. and All Saints.
Around the time I was diagnosed was the worst time of my life. I had been
away at Scout Camp and my dad, who is the Scout Leader, noticed I was having
difficulty keeping up with the activities. He was surprised because I should
have been one of the fittest at camp from my athletics training. I was
feeling miserable and tired most of the time. When we did water activities I
was shivering with cold. When I came home from camp my mother thought I had
lost a lot of weight even though I had been eating and drinking a lot. My
mother, who is a nurse suspected what was wrong and took me to the doctor.
While waiting for the test results she took me to town. She did not tell me
then but she was letting me have my last wild time with ice-cream and sweet
things. We had just arrived home and the phone rang. It was the doctor
confirming I had diabetes and he said I had to go to hospital straight away.
I felt terrible and cried my eyes out. My mum and dad comforted me and took
me to hospital where I was put on a drip. I had blood tests done every hour
for the first day. I was in hospital for four days. Eventually my blood
glucose level came down and on the second day I learned how to give my
insulin injection and do my blood tests. I did not like that at all but have
now accepted that they have to be done.
I am still getting used to my diabetes, especially balancing my blood
glucose levels. I do not miss sweet things too much as before running I am
able to treat myself to something sweet like chocolate as I use up that
energy while running. I have regained my fitness level now and am looking
forward to the track and field season in 1999.
I would like to get email from anyone with similar interests. I can be
contacted by email at my dad's address: jcrotty@indigo.ie
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My picture. Click to see a larger image.
Map of Ireland
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