Prepare to be deeply moved, as we explore the raw and personal journey of Dominic Stone, a nine-year veteran of diabetes. We navigate through his emotional roller coaster, from his harrowing diagnosis as a four-year-old and his mother's relentless advocacy to his current challenges and aspirations. Dominic's vulnerability is heart-wrenching, yet inspiring, offering hope and community to anyone dealing with diabetes.
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Speaker 2:
Welcome back to another episode of the Healthy Diabetic Podcast and another episode of the Campaign Way series. I got to sit down with Dominic Stone in this conversation or this episode, and before I get started, I just want to say to him, if he's listening, thank you, dominic, for coming on to the show and being very vulnerable. Vulnerability is okay. It's okay to get upset about your diagnosis. It's okay to get upset about diabetes. It's okay.
Speaker 2:
We all go through so many emotional things in this condition and our day to days. And when you take that step and you're vulnerable out in the world and you see the support that you're going to get from other human beings that maybe don't have diabetes and people that are diabetic or people in the diabetes community, it really makes you feel empowered and it really makes you feel like you can do anything with this condition. So I wanted to leave you guys with that. So, as always, please remember that nothing that you hear on this podcast should be considered medical advice or otherwise. Always consult your medical team before making any changes to your diabetes management. That was really weird to say after I basically did the intro. So, yeah, let's just get right into it. We're going to get right with Dominic. Without further ado, let's get with Dominic Stone.
Speaker 1:
Hi, I'm Dominic Stone. I've been diagnosed for nine years. I've been coming to Camp Hamway for five.
Speaker 2:
Okay, so nine years.
Speaker 1:
I was diagnosed when I was four.
Speaker 2:
Nice. Do you remember what it was like not having diabetes?
Speaker 1:
Yes, unfortunately it's hard sometimes, but yeah, what's your diagnosis story?
Speaker 1:
When I was four, I went to this preschool in Old Dublin I don't remember the name of it and one of my teachers was paying close attention to me because I was going to the bathroom a lot and one day pulled my mom aside and was like you should take him to urgent care because he's showing symptoms of diabetes. And then I don't remember when, but we went to urgent care and they were like, oh, he has nothing, nothing. And then my mom was persistent and eventually they were like, oh, he needs to go to the hospital, turns out I was sorry, this is kinda hard for me. I was one day.
Speaker 1:
I was walking with death basically.
Speaker 2:
I was about gonna die Like 800.
Speaker 1:
I was in the hospital for two months, I think.
Speaker 2:
Wow.
Speaker 1:
So yeah, no, it was hard.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, now were you in the hospital for two months because they were trying to get your levels down.
Speaker 1:
Or is it just?
Speaker 2:
education. It was getting my levels down and trying to yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1:
I think it was like two months or a month, I don't exactly remember. But yeah, it was hard during the beginning but I took according to my mother, I took control really quick when I was younger. Yes, I tried to be really independent.
Speaker 2:
Do you feel like you have control now?
Speaker 1:
It slips every once in a while.
Speaker 2:
It's hard sometimes what's the hardest thing that you run into right now.
Speaker 1:
It's always keeping your blood sugar in check or always doing insulin. Sometimes it's hard.
Speaker 2:
Are you on MDI or are you using pump?
Speaker 1:
I use insulin. I'm trying to get on a pump right now.
Speaker 2:
Okay, are you on a CGM?
Speaker 1:
Yes, I just didn't bring any to camp this week.
Speaker 2:
Okay, how has that process been of getting on a CGM? Has that helped?
Speaker 1:
It's been rough going on a CGM because level like I've been finger pricking for so long.
Speaker 2:
And it's part of your routine.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and like I have trouble with adhesive and like you know, that type of stuff.
Speaker 2:
How do you feel like things are going to change, or either for the better or the worse, or for worse. Going on a pump.
Speaker 1:
I feel like it would be more helpful more control that type of stuff?
Speaker 2:
Do you know a lot? Have you been able to connect with a lot of people here at camp to talk about how they use their pump and that type of stuff?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I asked a few people about pumps and questions about pumps.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, love it. What's been a positive thing? What's been an impactful thing that you've learned with diabetes?
Speaker 1:
Asking helps. Okay, Like you always, if you're going through something, you always want to have someone to help you.
Speaker 2:
Who is that person? For you? My mother, okay.
Speaker 1:
G helps me out a lot with my diabetes. Like sometimes it's hard for me to be like open about it, but like I try and she helps out a lot.
Speaker 2:
How is the people at camp been this week?
Speaker 1:
Very good, I like it a lot.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, they've been very supportive and you've made some friends and, yeah, awesome, that's great. What's one piece of advice that you could give someone either newly diagnosed, been living with it for a long time, that's struggling. What's one piece of advice that you have learned that helps you?
Speaker 1:
It's always okay to ask for help. Like you don't have to always go through a loan. You can always have someone to lean on. It's fine. You'll always have to feel like you're alone.
Speaker 2:
I love it. Thank you so much for listening everyone. Again, it's been a pleasure continuing to build these episodes and create some really good content for you guys. So thank you again for tuning in every single week. Make sure you're subscribing to the podcast on audio form or video form. Make sure that you share the podcast with someone that is near and dear to your heart that you believe can get some really good value out of these conversations. I really appreciate everyone for sharing these conversations with someone very special. Thank you again for listening and I will see you next time. I'll see you then.