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Our Son's "Normal" Behavior Turned Out to be Type 1 Diabetes
Symptoms and Clues Parents Need To Pay Attention To -Our true personal story and how we found out the news that changed our lives forever
By Krystyna Duplak
Last spring we had the monumental task of landscaping our newly built home. Our 3 children (Yarema age 5, Nadijya age 5, and Roman age 3) were very involved in helping to get the job done. They worked very hard right along side us and we were really proud of them. We didn't think much of it when Yarema was always so thirsty, that he couldn't seem to quench his thirst whenever he drank. We were all often thirsty after a day of hauling topsoil and laying sod in the hot summer sun. When it came to mealtime, he literally inhaled his meals as if he were starving all day. The rest of us were pretty hugry and famished as well. At the end of such a long hard working day we all seemed to just "crash" and fall fast asleep from sheer exhaustion. This was all normal behavoiur given the circumstances...or so it seemed.
The last week of September 2009, I scheduled all 3 children for their yearly checkup with the pediatrician. They were all very physically active and in good health. I did everything in my power to make sure that they ate good, healthy and balanced diets, as difficult as it often was. After their physicals, the Dr. Asked "Do you have any other concerns that you would like to address?" As a matter of fact, we did. Our now almost 5 '© year old son Yarema was still urinating at night in his sleep. We would put him in a nighttime pullup and were concerned that their might be a problem with an underdeveloped bladder or something else. He was a premature baby and anything was possible. Our other 2 children had been sleeping through the night without diapers since 2 and 3 years old. Yarema was now almost 5 1/2. There had to be an explanation.
The Dr. proceeded to take a urine sample and put a glucose indicator strip into it. "7" he said. "His glucose is "7." He then explained that a normal glucose reading is in the 5-5.5 range, and that 7 was a slightly elevated level. We thought to ourselves, "It's only 2 more than 5. How bad can that be?" It was enough to cause concern for the Dr. to further investigate. "I want you to take Yarema to a laboratory for a fasting bloodwork test (no eating or drinking after midnight)." He proceeded to give us the paperwork, and we went home thinking nothing of it.
Friday morning my husband took Yarema to the lab for the bloodwork while I took the other 2 to school. The Dr. called us later that day and said "His test results came back still showing slightly higher than normal glucose levels, even with a fasting blood test. I want you to go again for another blood test on Monday." My husband took Yarema again on Monday morning. Yarema was very upset and reluctant to go. Getting a needle stuck in your arm and having blood drawn is traumatic enough for an adult, let alone a child. Twice in 4 days was too much for him to handle, and he could not understand why he was being subjected to theses painful tests. Neither could we. This time my husband had to hold him down. The Dr. called us again later that day and said "His results are normal, but they were not on Friday. I suspect there is something going on with Yarema. I am referring you to the Children's Hospital Diabetes Clinic." I thougth to myself "diabetes clinic?...There must be some kind of mistake. Why would we possibly take him there for? " We really thought nothing of it and were positive this was some kind of mixed up misunderstanding.
About an hour after I spoke to the pediatrician I received a phone call from the Dr. at the Diabetes Clinic. She introduced herself and told me that my Dr. had some concerns about Yarema's bloodwork test results. "We'd like to see him on Wed morning. " I found her instructions somewhat odd... "I want Yarema to eat a high carb breakfast...load him up with pancakes, syrup, and orange juice. We'll see what his glucose reading is when we test him that morning."
Wednesday morning October 7, I went with Yarema to the diabetes clinic. This was now the 3rd time in 6 days that he was having his blood drawn. His screams were none that I've ever heard before. As they put the rubber tubing around his arm, he begged and pleaded to me for mercy as the needle entered into him. I could not hide the tears welling in my eyes as I had to forcibly hold him down for them to take the sample. It was soon over and we had to wait about 2 hours for the results. They were processing his sample on the spot. When the results were in, the Dr. called us into her office. "I have Yarema's results." She said. "His glucose levles are at 25." "What does that mean?" I asked. "Yarema has diabetes" she answered.
D-I-A-B-E-T-E-S...The word echoed in my head as I tried to have it sink in and make sense of it, and then I asked the Dr. "How did this happen? No one in our family has diabetes." She answered "We don't know exactly why it happens. Scientists have lots of theories. They know what the disease is and what it does to the body, but do not know exactly what triggers it in the body. Type 1 Diabetes is not genetic. It's an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself and destroys its own insulin (islet) producing cells in the pancreas. The cells unfortunately do not regenerate after they are all destroyed. That is why people with Type 1 Diabetes must take insulin for the rest of their lives." She then said "You and your husband must come back here tomorrow and the day after with Yarema for training on managing Yarema's diabetes, checking his blood sugars, monitoring diet, giving insulin, and everything that goes along with it."
We left the clinic and I dropped Yarema off to school as normal. I did my best to hide the tears of devastation from him. He wouldn't understand and I didn't even know how I would even begin to explain diabetes to him. I didn't even know anything about it until a few moments ago. As I walked him into his classroom, his teacher knew immediately something was terribly wrong when she looked at me. I broke down in her arms as she took me into the hall way so the other children wouldn't see. "Yarema has diabetes" I said quietly. The words were choking me when they came out. She answered, "Oh no...oh God no...I'm so sorry." She then hugged me tightly and told me she and the school would do whatever they to help us.
As I was driving home as if in a hazy dream, I called my husband to tell him the news. After I told him everything, he responded "How can they be 100% sure. The test results were coming back high then normal. There is no consistancy with the results. I don't think that they have come to an accurate conclusion. I don't believe they are right." Spoken like a true engineer...there needed to be much more proof in his eyes. I told him that we had to be at the clinic the next 2 days and that he needed to make arrangements with work.
When I got home, I made the big mistake of Googling "Type 1 Diabetes" to find out everything and anything I could to "cure" my son of this disease. I was determined to beat this thing. There had to be a way. The doctors couldn't possibly know everything. I was going to find the information and do what it took to make my son better. There had to be some herbs, teas, vitamins or supplements that could help him. I was going to find the cure and fix him.
To my speechless surprise, the Google results read "high risk of blindness, kidney failure, loss of limbs, heart disease, nerve damage, insulin dependant FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, etc... I was devastated beyond words. My heart broke into a million pieces and I cried hysterically as I continued reading. Was this now my son's fate for THE REST OF HIS LIFE?
My husband came home and I showed him the articles after the children went to sleep. We cried together as we held each other and could not believe this was happening. We just could not believe it.
The next day, we went to the diabetes clinic all together. This was the first of two very intensive and most emotional days of our lives since the twins were born. The Doctor met with us first. She gave my husband all the information that proved absoltuely without a doubt that Yarema was 100% diabetic. Throughout the course of the two days we met with a nurse who showed us how to test and monitor Yarema's blood sugar levels, as well as administer insulin through a syringe. We also met with a dietician who coached us on counting carbs and the ratios we needed to use when giving him insulin. We also met with a psycologist/social worker and were given tons of information. There was so much to process in those two days. The diabetes clinic and everyone who works there is very informed, very helpful, caring and understanding to families and their children. We were in the very best of hands and they did everything they could to help us with this challenging chapter in our lives. They reassured us that they were there to help whenever we needed it, and they meant it.
I don't remember very much of those few days because my emotions were in complete overdrive. It was all very surreal, and I was waiting to wake up from this cruel dream. Unfortunately, every day I wake up, the reality is as real as it gets.
Fast forward to today. It's been almost one year since Yarema was diagnosed, and life has changed in oh so many ways. We are doing the very best we can to keep our son healthy, his blood sugars stable, and to give him as much of a sense of normalcy as possible. It is very challenging at times, and we often worry of what the future holds for him and his health. With our guidance of a good balance diet and exercise, and frequent checkups with the doctor, our hope for Yarema is a life of normalcy and longevity without any complications from the diabetes.
I truely hope that our story has given some insight into Type 1 Diabetes, and may help someone recognize signs and symptoms in someone they know. If you do suspect something, please contact your doctor, pediatrician or the Diabetes Clinic as the Health Sciences Centre and get it checked out as soon as possible. Type 1 Diabetes is not yet cureable, but the sooner it is detected, the better for the person who has it to begin treatment.
On Sunday June 13, 2010 we organized a team in Yarema's name to participate for the first time in the The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 2010 Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes at Assniboine Park. "Team Yarema" raised over $6500 and had 50 participants. We were very humbled with the overwhelming support from friends, family, and total strangers. This yearly event is one of many aimed at raising funds for crucial diabetes research. If you would like more information regarding Type 1 diabetes, or to make a donation please visit www.jdrf.ca.
Our greatest wish is for Yarema and everyone living with diabetes to be cured in their lifetime, and for all of you to never ever have to know the heartache of having a child with an incurable disease or condition.
The Diabetes Education Resource for Children and Adolescents is funded by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and is part of a provincial diabetes education network. The Diabetes Clinic is designed to attend to your child's management and care related to diabetes.
Their contact information:
Health Sciences Centre Children's Hospital - Diabetes Education Resource for Children & Adolescents
685 William Ave
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0Z2
204-787-3011
If you know of anyone who has any or all of these symptoms, please have them tested and examined as soon as possible. Don't make any assumptions.
Symptoms Of Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugars)
- Shaking, trembling
- Sweating
- Excessive hunger
- Poor coordination
- Fatigue, sleepiness
- Slurred speech
- Pale skin
- Rapid pulse
- Irritability, crying
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Lack of concentration
- Nervousness
- Fainting and unconsciousness
- Confusion
Symptoms Of Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugars)
- Excessive thirst
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Frequent Urination
- Blurred vision
- Dehydration
- Drowsiness
- Frequent bed wetting
- Dry mouth
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Our Son's "Normal" Behavior Turned Out to be Type 1 Diabetes
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