My name is Caroline and I used to be addicted to cigarettes. I live in a tobacco state, smoking is very common here and we start young. I had my first cigarette at 14. By 16 I was an everyday smoker, by 18 (legal smoking age in my state) I smoked a pack a day. I had been very athletic as a child and through my teens, but by 18 I had quit all sports. It just wasn’t possible with my smoking habit. My parents love me very much, and urged me to quit after they found out I had become a regular smoker. We bought Nicolette gum, my doctor recommended patches, I even tried a couple early ecigarettes. Nothing worked for me. I kept smoking until I was 21. I went to the doctor one day with what I thought was a minor infection, and was instead rushed to the hospital. My blood sugar was above 600 (normal range is 80-100) and I was at risk of slipping into a coma. I hadn’t realized it, but I was very sick. My weight had dropped drastically, and my body wasn’t working correctly. The doctors didn’t know why this was happening, but thought I must have type 1 diabetes. I was very upset, and couldn’t see how this had happened. I thought I was living a healthy lifestyle. I’m a vegetarian for christs sake! That week at the hospital was a huge wake up call. The doctors told me with my diagnosis I had to make some huge lifestyle changes. I had to quit smoking. I realized then that the decisions you make about what you put into your body can effect you for the rest of your life. So after my discharge I went to a local vape shop and bought my first box mod and tank. Within 2 weeks, I had stopped smoking cigarettes. Just like that. My health improved, and vaping definitely helped make it easier to pursue other aspects of a healthful lifestyle. I am able to be active again. My blood sugar became manageable, and my doctors actually discovered that I wasn’t diabetic after all. Today, I am off insulin, smoke free for a year, and excercising every day. I eat a plant based diet and try to do everything I can to take care of my body. I’m also a part of a community of vapers who are always there to support me. Without vaping, I really don’t know if I would have been able to quit smoking, no matter how much I needed to. I am so grateful to be able to live the life I do today, free of chronic illness. Thanks to vaping I am happy and healthy. Vaping saved my life!