Asha, 25
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at five years of age. While my family was well equipped to care for my (with my father also being a healthy Type 1), it certainly wasn't something they wanted for their daughter. Through adolescence my desire for movement and success in the performing arts kept me happy and busy, but it also became clear that my diabetes made me slow down usually when I was least ready to. I would also get sick easier and stay sick longer than my friends. As I grew older, life in my high school and college years became a struggle with body image and weight fluctuations.
This was also when I developed my shameful secret of overeating on all of the foods that had been "off limits" for so many years. To compensate for the overeating, I would skip my insulin so as to avoid gaining weight. Diabulimia began to shadow my life and I found it increasingly difficult to enjoy life the way I used to.
Change came in the form of meeting my future husband and rediscovering my passion for yoga. Along with the support of my family, I was able to overcome the fear of treatment and jumped headfirst into recovery, intent on living my life as passionately as I could in spite of my chronic illness.
Much has happened since my decision to seek treatment. I have returned to teaching yoga, offering love and appreciation of the body to all of my students. I have returned to the stage and have found a new appreciation for acting and dance. I have also become an advocate for Type 1 diabetics suffering with eating disorders and have been interviewed about my recovery by local newspapers and Fox 9 News. I speak out about diabulimia openly and passionately in order to spread the message, "There is a way out. You can have your life back."
This was also when I developed my shameful secret of overeating on all of the foods that had been "off limits" for so many years. To compensate for the overeating, I would skip my insulin so as to avoid gaining weight. Diabulimia began to shadow my life and I found it increasingly difficult to enjoy life the way I used to.
Change came in the form of meeting my future husband and rediscovering my passion for yoga. Along with the support of my family, I was able to overcome the fear of treatment and jumped headfirst into recovery, intent on living my life as passionately as I could in spite of my chronic illness.
Much has happened since my decision to seek treatment. I have returned to teaching yoga, offering love and appreciation of the body to all of my students. I have returned to the stage and have found a new appreciation for acting and dance. I have also become an advocate for Type 1 diabetics suffering with eating disorders and have been interviewed about my recovery by local newspapers and Fox 9 News. I speak out about diabulimia openly and passionately in order to spread the message, "There is a way out. You can have your life back."