Living With Type 1 Diabetes: My College Story
I was a freshman when constant thirst and exhaustion led to a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. This is how I learned to manage blood sugar while building a full campus life.
Something Felt Off
My first semester of college started with late-night study sessions, cafeteria pizza, and the usual mix of excitement and stress. Then the thirst hit. I was refilling my water bottle constantly, waking up three times a night to use the bathroom, and dropping weight even though I was eating more than ever. I told myself it was just the chaos of dorm life and too much caffeine.
Seeking Answers
By midterms I felt foggy and exhausted no matter how much I slept. A friend finally convinced me to visit student health services. The nurse checked my blood glucose and her eyes widened. She sent me straight to the emergency department. Within hours I was in a hospital bed learning that my pancreas had stopped making insulin.
Hearing “you have type 1 diabetes” felt like the ground dropped out from under me. I was nineteen, alone in a new city, and suddenly responsible for keeping myself alive with needles and numbers.
Learning the Basics
The diabetes educators taught me how to inject insulin, count carbohydrates, and check my blood sugar. At first every meal felt like a math problem and every high or low reading made me panic. I practiced on oranges in my dorm room until my hands stopped shaking. My roommate learned how to use my glucagon kit “just in case,” which somehow made me feel both safer and more vulnerable.
Adjusting to Campus Life
I met with disability services so I could keep juice boxes and my meter with me during exams. I found a grocery store that stocked sugar-free snacks and started meal-prepping so I could predict carbs better than random cafeteria trays. There were tough nights—hypos during group projects, highs after pizza parties—but each one taught me something new about listening to my body.
One freezing morning my blood sugar crashed to 48. I was shaky and scared, but I treated it the way I’d practiced, waited, and still made it to my 8 a.m. lecture. That was the day I realized I could handle this.
Finding My Rhythm
By sophomore year I had a continuous glucose monitor and a small pump that felt less like a medical device and more like a helpful gadget. I joined the campus diabetes support group, started running again, and even studied abroad for a summer after careful planning with my endocrinologist. Type 1 diabetes is still part of every day, but it no longer defines every moment. I’m graduating next spring with a degree, a solid management routine, and a lot more confidence than the scared freshman who once thought college and diabetes couldn’t coexist.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Medical Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 9, 2026. · Read our editorial policy