I was 14 years old, about to enter my freshman year of high school in Lindale and I was getting prepared for football two a days. As we had to, all the team members had to get physicals at Dr. Hand's office. My test turned up an elevated blood sugar level.

After a visit with my dad's doctor (he's also a diabetic), I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. No more cake, no more Fruit Loops, no more regular Dr. Pepper. It was all diet sodas and sugar free stuff from here on out.

For the most part, I've done a decent job of managing it for the last 27 years.

About ten years ago, I got my first interaction with an insulin pump. It was awesome. My control was better. The freedom of no more multiple injections per day was great. But as life happens, I lost my job, and with that, insurance, and I had to go back to the old school ways.

Well, a month ago, I got training on a new insulin pump. The advances that have been made with the pump since I last had one are phenomenal. Attaching it to my body is pretty much the same. But one of the coolest parts is that the pump can now monitor my blood sugar levels 24 hours a day thanks to a blood glucose monitor.

Michael Gibson / Townsquare Media
Michael Gibson / Townsquare Media
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Now, it's not 100 percent accurate but it does give me a decent idea how things are going in real time.

One of the other fantastic advances is, in conjunction with the glucose monitor, the pump can deliver small doses of insulin throughout the day and night to keep my blood sugar at an optimum level, much like a properly working pancreas would do.

Michael Gibson / Townsquare Media
Michael Gibson / Townsquare Media
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I still have to do a finger prick before each meal and before I go to bed but still, this is huge for my overall care. I believe for the most part, getting a pump is the new norm for newly diagnosed diabetics compared to old vial and needle method. If you're not, talk to your doctor about it.

I'm excited for my future care and can't wait to share more with you on this journey.

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