I was seven when the doctor told my mom and dad I was " borderline". he never, as far as I kow used the word diabetic. But he put me on a very strict diet and gave me pills.
I would go every three months for a series of mysterious shots, urine test and complete exam.

As I got older I had bouts where my glucose woudl be tested. always 145 in the morning.

in 1996 I slept for three months. When I went to the DR. my glucose was 285 on a fasting test. I wasnt told ver that I was diabetic.

in 2000 my husband told me " ya know you drink like a &^%$#@ diabetic" " I am not diabetic" was always my retor. I developed what we thought was aboil on the inside of my leg.
After much pain and it not resolving itself to come to head, he took me at three in the morning to the emergency room. where upon i was told " your diabetic"
I was given insulin and the diabetic abscess was cleaned up.
It was huge! it went all the way down to the bone.
But I was agressive and happy to take my shots, meds and my whole attitude changed for teh better....

I was 39 in 2000. My day of liberation.