On August 4th, 2020 a large amount of ammunition nitrate exploded in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. This explosion caused 190 deaths, 6,500 injuries, billions in property damage and left an estimated 300,000 people homeless. We had been in talks with Cyrine about her take over since July and she bravely decided to still take over the account and share her story. We are so proud of her work and her bravery. Read more from Cyrine directly below.
Hello Everyone, I’m Cyrine and I live in Lebanon. There’s a lot a person’s story that just can’t be conveyed in text. Bear with me as I share milestones and major events, some happy, some not very, and explain why being Positive on Glucose is so important. Some of you might have tuned in to my Diabetics Doing Things takeover and saw a “typical” day of mine, in between volunteering in community kitchens, dropping off food to the homeless, and running my NGO, Positive on Glucose.
One of my major milestones and which directly impacted the decision I took to be an active advocate for people living with diabetes was after my friend’s dad committed suicide following diabetes complications and the amputation of his foot. Another key reason was the fact that my dad was diagnosed with type 2 and I didn’t want him to go through this rollercoaster alone. That was it! That was the moment I was so angry, I just created an Instagram account and vented it all out! I wanted diabetics to feel seen and heard. I wanted them to have psycho-social support. I wanted them to see that they can excel in life just any one else can.
Another major event that defined who I am as a person and lead me to put even more effort into Positive on Glucose was my still birth. This isn't the happiest story you will find on the Internet, so if you have a faint heart, grab yourself a box of tissues and hang on to your seat. But before you do, allow me to ask you what comes to your mind when someone says "New Year's Eve".What came to mine was a nice cozy family dinner. I thought it would be the perfect way to end the year, especially being 35 weeks pregnant and scheduled to deliver within two weeks. What I did not expect was to spend it watching Michel Hayek (the Lebanese version of Nostradamus) with my husband in a hospital bed. What I did not expect was being told that my baby Joya had no heartbeat. What I didn't expect was preparing myself to deliver a baby that I will never hear cry.What exactly happened? I lost my baby to undiagnosed preeclampsia. If you google it, you get: Preeclampsia is a condition during pregnancy where there is a sudden rise in blood pressure and swelling, mostly in the face, hands, and feet. Preeclampsia is the most common complication to occur during pregnancy. It generally develops during the third trimester and affects about 1 in 20 pregnancies.If you google diabetes pregnancy complications (P.S. I've had type 1 diabetes for 13 years now and have always had great glucose management) you get PREECLAMPSIA. How in heaven's name my doctors (endocrinologist and gynecologist) never diagnosed my condition even though I had all the symptoms, I have no clue!I was so stigmatized by the fact that I am diabetic that everyone blamed it on me, even though preeclampsia might happen to anyone, be it diabetic or not!
This urged me to advocate more, to speak up, and to share my story. I felt the more I reached out to people, the bigger the community became and the more support there was.
One very dear endeavor I am involved in right now is the #insulin4all.lebanon campaign. #insulin4alllebanon is an initiative founded by three type 1 diabetics, of which myself @positiveonglucose, who joined efforts to fundraise and support fellow disadvantaged diabetics in Lebanon following the recent tremendous deterioration in Lebanon's economic situation since January 2020, passing through COVID-19 outbreak and closure of all land, sea and air ports and the downfall of industries, thus leading to the shortage of Diabetic medication and supplies in the country.
The Beirut Blast occurred on the 4th of August, 2020 - highlighting the urgent need of continuing our efforts and helping those who were not only affected by the downfall of Lebanon's economic and financial statuses, but also those who were victims of this horrible blast.
This initiative targets diabetics who were dismissed from their jobs, or are at worsening financial statuses, or who were directly & indirectly affected by the Beirut Blast, and as such require urgent support to ensure their access to diabetic medical care and supplies.
I find that giving back is a form of unconditional love, and that it helps be always be on top of my diabetes and “positive on glucose”.
With so much Love
Cyrine
