I became a Dexcom Warrior in 2021.
The Dexcom Warrior program is designed to help spread the message of strength, perseverance, and optimism for people living with diabetes. It’s a platform to educate, engage, and advocate for diabetes awareness (Dexcom, 2022).
Get to know my story below!
Dexcom Warrior
Diagnosis Story
For weeks I had been losing weight. My standard 100 pounds had been shaved to a mere 80 pounds. My hair was falling out, I couldn't focus in class, I was constantly thirsty, and it felt like I needed to use the restroom every half hour. I could barely participate in my 8th-grade physical exercise class. Along with feeling exhausted from vivid nightmares, I had severe cramps that would wake me up in the middle of the night, and my muscles were constantly sore.
On November 3, 2012, I woke up feeling like death. I could barely breathe, I was shaking, and my thirst was ravenous. I got out of bed and struggled towards my restroom. Maybe a shower would help, even though it had been weeks, and nothing seemed to help anymore. I was cold all the time, so I turned up the heat and crawled into the shower. Standing in hot water surrounded by steam made me feel lightheaded, but at least I was finally warm again. I barely had the strength to dry my frail, boney body, but somehow, I managed. Eventually, I walked down the creaky stairs to the kitchen because I felt like I was starving, literally. Not one, not two, but three full bowls of cereal later with two large glasses of water weren't enough to satisfy my needs. My thirst was never satiable anymore, but my tiny body could only handle so much volume. I practically collapsed on the small burnt orange couch in the living room while waiting for my mom to get ready. Finally, she helped me climb into the car and drove to the emergency room. There, they checked my vitals but found nothing other than a ghastly-looking little girl who was just skin and bones at this point.
After what felt like forever, the doctor said they could not find anything wrong, so I was asked to give blood and urine samples for further examination. The doctor hurried in moments after my samples were tested and said an ambulance was waiting outback. My blood sugar was over 900mg/dL, and I had ketones spilling out of my urine at dangerous levels. The doctor told me that I have type 1 diabetes and will never again have a perfect record of health. Comforting, right? I cried as they took me to the ambulance. I remember that I felt incredibly alone and was so exhausted that I wanted to close my eyes forever. This terrifying moment was burned into my memory forever.
This is my diagnosis story.
Motivation to Start Using Dexcom
When I was a freshman in high school, I had barely been diabetic for a year, so I was still bitter about my diagnosis. I constantly asked myself, "why me?" and although I believe that there is a gift within every curse, I hadn't been able to find it yet. I have never been shy, so although I was ashamed of my diagnosis for a few months, I was still open about it with friends and family. Throughout 2013, I taught my friends how diabetes works and what to do in emergencies such as an extremely high or low blood sugar.
One day, my friend's mom called and said she had a story to share in person. Her story started with a trip to the craft store for her usual crafting supply needs. When she got to the checkout counter, she said the employee had been acting strange. Moments later, the employee collapsed, and she didn't know what to do until she saw the employee's medical jewelry and equipment. She told another employee to call 9-1-1 and to stay with their coworker. She sprinted to the cake decoration aisle and grabbed several cake gel packets. She opened them while sprinting back to the employee and put cake gel along their gums and tongue. The employee became audible a few minutes later and asked how she knew what to do. Christina told her that she doesn't have a medical background, but I had been teaching her how to handle emergencies for diabetics just in case something like this ever happened to me.
Her story brought me to tears. She told me, "You saved a life that day; YOU did." At first, I did not believe I had anything to do with it. However, I slowly started to think that maybe that moment was why I was diagnosed with diabetes. This thought practically dispelled my anger regarding my diagnosis. I knew that there was so much more I could do, so I decided to dedicate my life to helping more people with diabetes and their loved ones.
That day caused me to go into several healthcare organizations in high school, one of which was called HOSA, Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America. They had a healthy lifestyle competition that I participated in. I decided to start using a Dexcom and track a plant-based diet through the Cronometer app to understand how different macronutrients affect my glucose levels. So, the fall of 2015 is when I was genuinely motivated to use the Dexcom because I thought that understanding my diabetes would help me serve others in the future.
How Dexcom has Empowered me to Achieve my Goals
Some of the goals Dexcom helps me achieve are so small that I do not notice them. Thanks to my Dexcom CGM, I can accomplish daily goals like going to the gym, grabbing lunch with a friend, or general shopping. If I ever have to go without it, I am much more paranoid about my diabetes management and believe that my decisions need a much more conscious effort. In these moments, I feel more diabetic, helpless, and anxious than ever. The fact that my Dexcom also pairs with my Tandem t:slim insulin pump makes me feel free. I can travel and be active without worrying about keeping track of needles, syringes, or a glucose monitor, and it is a phenomenal feeling. For two and a half years, I was on the University of Alabama's competitive ballroom dance team. I was able to travel to competitions, practice for hours on end, and perform with grace due to the security that Dexcom gives me. Having a Dexcom makes me feel like I am driving a car with huge windows, stellar rearview mirrors, and a phenomenal camera system. Without Dexcom, I genuinely feel like I'm driving blind. If I had to choose between Dexcom and my smartphone, I would pick Dexcom every time. The empowerment I feel is unmatched by any other technology.
Diabetes and Dexcom are the reason I have oriented my life around health and wellness and the reason for the goals I have created. I was fascinated with understanding how my food-related to my health, specifically my blood glucose management in high school. I decided to apply for collegiate nutrition programs to further this understanding. After my first nutrition course during my freshman year at the University of Alabama in Fall 2017, I never looked back on this decision. I achieved my undergraduate goals and graduated with a 4.0 GPA in May of 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and a minor in Communication Studies. I also became a Registered Dietitian in August of 2021 and started my master's of public health with an emphasis on health education and promotion. My educational background and years of personal experience have given me a solid foundation for becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, my next academic and professional goal.
Many long nights of studying, walks to class across campus, and a collegiate dance career would not have been possible without Dexcom. It has done more to help me achieve my goals than even I will ever know.
Community Involvement Related to Dexcom
My involvement in the community occurs daily. It can be a small moment such as someone asking, "What's on your arm?" followed by me explaining the Dexcom, what it does, and whom it helps. It can also occur on a larger scale, such as teaching a class or volunteering.
In October and November 2020, I walked and raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with a 14 person team named Diabetthis at the University of Alabama. I raised $905 towards our $1000 goal. The team raised $1200 in total. I also walked 161 miles of our team's total 334 miles. Feeling like I contributed to finding a cure to type 1 diabetes is unmatched. Not only did I grow my support system through networking and fundraising, but my team's accomplishments contributed significantly to the future of diabetes.
My university experience also provided ways to expand on my education skills. One of my dietetic rotations for the Coordinated Program in Dietetics was for the Birmingham VA Medical Center during the spring of 2021. Here, I provided one-on-one counseling for type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. I discussed healthy habits, low blood sugar snacks, personal experiences, and more to improve their diabetes management, preventing future hospitalizations. Working with the veteran population as a military brat was a special experience that I will always be grateful for and learned a lot from.
I have also been a guest lecturer for Dr. Amy Ellis' NHM 363 Medical Nutrition Therapy I course for four years at the University of Alabama. Each year, I have been invited to a 50 minute class period to describe diabetes, feature medical devices such as the Dexcom CGM, and answer questions. My goal is to connect the class with real-world experience and give dietetic students insight into diabetes management that cannot be learned in a textbook. That way, they will have confidence professionally when working with people who have diabetes. Some of the topics I have discussed include my diagnosis symptoms, carbohydrate counting, insulin delivery, emergencies, and more. Students who have family and friends with a diabetes diagnosis usually came up to me to discuss personal issues or experiences afterward. I love education, so being a guest lecturer over the years has been a wonderful experience.
These opportunities have led me to develop a Youtube channel titled Cheever Wellness to empower diabetics and their loved ones further, improving their longevity and quality of life.
Community outreach related to Dexcom
I first realized that sharing my experience mattered in 2013 when my friend saved someone's life simply because I educated her on what to do in emergencies and was vulnerable about my diabetes. Opening up about my diabetes journey with friends, family, peers, employers, and anyone interested has improved my confidence and expanded my vision. Now, I am starting to use technology to further my outreach capabilities. I have created a YouTube channel titled 'Cheever Wellness' to educate and empower diabetics and their loved ones.
The video that has gotten my channel to over 1000 subscribers is titled Dexcom G6 CGM, a Step-by-Step Tutorial + tips. Tandem t:slim X2 Insulin Pump & iPhone Connected. The video details preparing, removing, connecting, and applying the Dexcom. I also provide general maintenance information and tips. As of November 2021, the channel became monetized, and this video has about 55,000 views and over 1000 subscribers and likes. Typically, it takes several videos to apply for this opportunity, but this video alone created enough channel traffic to reach YouTube's requirements. What set my channel apart is that I listened to viewers' questions, comments, and concerns and actively responded to almost every comment received. This channel not only contributes to my desire to help others, but it allows me to use my education and professional skills to help viewers take charge of their lives by improving their diabetes management. My passion is serving others, so I am thinking big and imagine great outcomes. In 2022, my goal is to post one, possibly two, videos per month that are filled with high-quality content to revolutionize diabetes care. I want to inspire confidence in viewers by letting them know that they are not alone, their concerns are valid, and that they can do anything. I want other diabetics to feel inspired and invisible like me by using a Dexcom.
As a Registered Dietitian with professional expertise, a diabetes network, a YouTube channel, and a dream, I can confidently say I make a difference in the lives of many people in and out of the diabetes community.
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