Peer Support Communities
Mila Buckley is a positive, vivacious and energetic woman who grew up in a home with several family members who lived with diabetes. She recalled that her mother and grandmother took multiple daily injections of insulin, but she doesn’t remember either of them talking about their diabetes management or how it affected their lives. It was simply never discussed or acknowledged.
At 26 years old, Buckley experienced debilitating exhaustion, frequent urination and unquenchable thirst. Her husband was concerned about the recent changes in her mood and decreased activity level and encouraged her to visit her doctor. Extensive blood work revealed that her hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and blood glucose levels were very high, and she was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes. While the diagnosis was upsetting, the news was made worse when her trusted healthcare professional told her that the delayed diagnosis “was her fault,” as she should have known the signs and symptoms and taken better care of herself. In truth, Buckley had been eating well and exercising, and these comments left her feeling overwhelmed, unsupported, judged and guilty. She felt alone and longed for support from others who had a similar lived experience.
