HUMPHREYS COUNTY-November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.
According to the ADV_2023_State_Fact_sheets_all_rev_Mississippi.pdf, more than 17,000 Mississippians are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
More than 300,000 people in the magnolia state or nearly 15 percent of adults have diagnosed diabetes with an additional 75,000 not knowing they have it.
At eighteen, Krystal Dodd-Liddell went to the doctor after feeling constant fatigue and pain—only to learn her blood sugar was over 800. That’s when she found out she had type 1 diabetes.
“I was very upset. Being that I have other family members that was diagnose with diabetes, I always took care of them, but I never thought that i would be at that same situation,” Krystal Dodd-Liddell said.
Her struggle with type 1 diabetes began when her immune system mistakenly attacked and destroyed the insulin-producing cells in her pancreas. From that moment, she knew she had to change many of her habits.
But with diabetes running in her family, Krystal later learned her son, De’Ryan Liddell, had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, meaning his body doesn’t produce enough insulin.
“When he was diagnosed i was scared. I didn’t want my child to go through the things I had went through especially being an adolescent, being hospitalize quite often, I figured that it was going to hard for him. I knew it was hard for me at eighteen,” Krystal Dodd-Liddell said.
“I just thought my life was over because I was into sports, and I didn’t know how it would correspond with me playing sports or I have to take shots, or I have to check my sugar often. I was really scared and i thought my life and career was over,” De’Ryan Liddell said.
Already sharing a strong bond as mother and son, the connection grew even stronger as they faced diabetes together knowing they had to have each other’s back in the fight.
“I think we had easier than some others because of our training,” Krystal Dodd-Liddell said.
“That bond strengthens. It causes her to check on me more, keep me in check, and make sure I’m doing everything right,” De’Ryan Liddell said.
As they continue to stand by each other’s side, they urge others to get checked—reminding everyone that diabetes is something you can manage and control.
“Diabetes is one of the world’s leading cause of death so please get checked out,” De’Ryan Liddell said.
“It’s not the end of the world; you can control diabetes don’t allow it to control you,” Krystal Dodd-Liddell said.
They add that you can’t let a diagnosis determine the future you have ahead.
