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Diabetes has plagued millions of people in the United States. Some of those people who are affected don’t know they have diabetes. So, it’s important to be attentive to your body and seek medical attention if something feels wrong.

TanTania Le’Shay Grier is a diabetic. Grier has a family history of diabetes mostly on her maternal side of the family. She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes through a preventative wellness check in 2016 at the age of 25. Some of her biggest symptoms consisted of urination and constant thirst. Grier stated, “Education is so important when discussing a chronic illness with a pt.”

Grier has been attentive with her diet regime once she found out, but until a few months ago she was hospitalized because her body went into Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis (EDKA). She learned that she had a new diagnosis of Ketone-Prone diabetes. Ketone-Prone diabetes is typically seen in obese middle-aged men with a family history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Grier stated that she was extremely embarrassed of her diagnosis, “When I first found out about my diagnosis I was extremely embarrassed. I was so hard on myself, asking myself ‘how did you fail your body?’ It wasn’t until I started being honest with myself and my treatment team that I began to get the help I needed.” She continued. “I attended diabetic education classes which helped me because I didn’t feel so alone. I began to work with diabetes educators and dieticians in order to get my diabetes under control. I had to change my diet and my lifestyle. Several different factors play into the rising and falling of a glucose number.” Grier’s life journey with this new diagnosis made her take control of her life. “Learning my diagnoses helped me with taking accountability and pushed me to take charge of my life. Even with diabetes you can still live a healthy lifestyle.”

In the beginning, Grier changed her physician three times due to not feeling “heard or seen or judged because of being diagnosed at 25.” She also had a difficult time with a medication regime that would help her condition. She’s taken several medications for the past eight years, but with her current treatment team she has found medication that has worked for her.  Additionally, she has monitoring devices that have helped her monitor her glucose levels throughout the day. Also, Grier’s physician that diagnosed her provided her with a list of items that she could not eat and scheduled her to follow up with them in three months.

Today, Grier has a three-year-old daughter that is thriving and happy. Grier stated that she is keeping watch of her daughter’s health to make sure she’s not showing signs or symptoms of diabetes. “I have a three-year-old daughter, and I definitely don’t want her to go through that experience. Her pediatrician is aware of her family’s history, and she attends her appointments regularly, and I monitor her and look for symptoms that I experience before being diagnosed.” She continued. “My daughter is my best friend, and I do understand that lessons are caught before they are taught. I make sure my daughter eats a well balanced diet and gets enough exercise throughout the day.”

Due to Grier’s history on health, she would like to encourage everyone to establish care with a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and get an annual check up to make sure they are healthy. Grier stated, “Living with T2D is a fight. Some days I feel like I have this under control and some days I feel like it’s controlling me. But everyday I am taking the necessary precautions to make sure I am not going backwards. I feel healthier. You have to advocate for yourself. No one knows your body better than you. Ask questions and never leave an appointment confused. Your treatment team is there to work for you. Find a physician that you can trust. I have diabetes, but it doesn’t have me.”