 I was teaching life science and health to seventh graders and part of the unit happened to be on diabetes teaching it I had to talk about the symptoms and I noticed that I was just constantly thirsty I couldn't get enough to drink and everything else that goes with that the frequent urination and all of those things and when I had my appointment with my general physician I asked the physician to check me I said because I think I may have diabetes and sure enough so if it hadn't been for the fact that I had to teach the unit I may have gone on for a longer period of time I look at it as not being a diabetic or or having I know I have diabetes I look at it as living with diabetes I'm a patient at the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology Midtown Campus I have a wonderful team I have a nurse practitioner I have a physician I have a diabetes educator podiatrist it's actually a pleasure to go because they greet me like they've known me all my life we look at my numbers ultimately it's up to me to manage it but you need to know that you have people on your side to help you daily without my team I would probably be lost because they're like my inspiration it's an ongoing process we're constantly working on it and monitoring and figuring out the best way to help me manage my diabetes