Blame

This personal narrative recounts the author's childhood experience of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after Halloween, which she initially attributed to eating too much candy. The essay explores themes of guilt, shame, and self-blame, intertwined with her Catholic upbringing and early struggles with disease management. As she grows into a physician, she reflects on how her own experiences shape her empathy for patients who grapple with health behaviors and medical stigma. The piece poignantly captures the lingering psychological burden of chronic illness, even after scientific understanding replaces childhood misconceptions.

This personal narrative recounts the author's childhood experience of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after Halloween, which she initially attributed to eating too much candy. The essay explores themes of guilt, shame, and self-blame, intertwined with her Catholic upbringing and early struggles with disease management. As she grows into a physician, she reflects on how her own experiences shape her empathy for patients who grapple with health behaviors and medical stigma. The piece poignantly captures the lingering psychological burden of chronic illness, even after scientific understanding replaces childhood misconceptions.