My name is Tammy, and this is my 19-year journey of living with diabetes.

It all began when I was pregnant with my daughter and developed what doctors call gestational diabetes. At the time, I believed that once my daughter was born,the diabetes would simply go away. I thought it was just something that happened during pregnancy and that life would return to normal after delivery. I had no idea that my life was about to change forever.

After my daughter was born, I was focused on learning how to be a new mom. Like many mothers, my days were filled with feedings, diaper changes, sleepless nights, and trying to adjust to this new chapter of life. But something wasn't right. I was constantly battling a severe bladder infection that seemed to get worse instead of better. Every day I felt miserable, exhausted, and frustrated. I kept telling myself it would pass, but it didn't. Eventually, the pain became so overwhelming that I knew I needed help, so I made an appointment with my doctor.

That visit changed my life.

My doctor told me that my A1C was 14. At the time, those numbers meant absolutely nothing to me. I didn't understand how serious it was. I didn't know that my blood sugar had been dangerously high for months. I didn't know that uncontrolled diabetes could damage my eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. I didn't know that I was putting myself at risk for a diabetic coma or other life-threatening complications. All I knew was that I felt terrible, and now I was being told I had diabetes.

I remember feeling scared, confused, and completely alone. I didn't know anyone who had gone through what I was experiencing, and I had nobody to talk to who truly understood. When my doctor tried to explain diabetes, it felt like he was speaking a different language. There were medical terms, numbers, and instructions that made no sense to me. My mind was overwhelmed with questions, but I didn't even know what questions to ask. All I really heard was, "Take this medicine, and you'll get better."

So that's what I did.

But the next few months were some of the hardest months of my life. My eyes began to hurt, and sometimes my vision became blurry. I felt weak, tired, and drained almost every day. Simple tasks felt difficult. I was trying my best to care for my daughter while struggling to understand what was happening to my own body. I felt frustrated because nobody had explained diabetes in a way I could understand.

The truth is, I knew almost nothing about diabetes. I believed I could eat whatever I wanted and drink whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. No one had explained how food affected blood sugar or how daily choices could impact my health. Without realizing it, I was making decisions that were making my diabetes worse. I wasn't trying to hurt myself—I simply didn't know any better.

As the years passed, I slowly began to learn. I learned how different foods affected my blood sugar. I learned the importance of checking my numbers and paying attention to my body. I learned that diabetes wasn't a life sentence. It was something I could manage one day, one meal, and one choice at a time. Most importantly, I learned that knowledge replaces fear. The more I understood diabetes, the more confident I became.

Looking back now, I often wish someone had handed me a simple guide during those first few days after my diagnosis. I wish someone had explained diabetes in plain English. I wish someone had answered the questions that kept me awake at night and helped me understand what was happening inside my body. I wish someone had shown me that I wasn't alone.

That's exactly why I created Your First 7 Days With Diabetes.

I wrote this guide for the person who has just been diagnosed and feels overwhelmed. I wrote it for the person who is scared, confused, and searching for answers. I wrote it for the person who feels like their world has been turned upside down and doesn't know where to start. Most of all, I wrote it because I never want anyone to feel as alone as I did when I first heard the words, "You have diabetes."

Below is a photo of me when I was first diagnosed and my A1C was 14. When I look at that picture today, I don't just see a young woman. I see someone who was scared, confused, and unsure of what the future would hold. But I also see someone who refused to give up. If I could go back and talk to that version of myself, I would tell her, "You are stronger than you know. You will learn. You will grow. You will take back control. And one day, your story will help someone else do the same."