While I don't have many ... actually, ANY, close friends or even relatives with Type 1 Diabetes, it seems like whenever someone I meet or work with finds out that I have diabetes, they always have a story about someone they know with either Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. A few months ago, a shirt I was wearing was showing off my insulin pump on my arm, and a parent at work noticed it and knew exactly what it was. Turns out, her neighbors and good friends have a 6 year old daughter with type 1 diabetes who also uses a wireless insulin pump.
Since then, the parent and I have had several conversations about the trials and tribulations of having a family member and friend with Type 1 Diabetes. This little girl was diagnosed with diabetes as a Toddler, and since then her parents have taken GREAT strides to turn their world upside down to care for her. Even going to the extent of sleeping in the same room as her, every night, to test her blood sugar every hour! The stress, concern, and time these parents have poured over this little girl are heroic, to say the least. But as parents of a diabetic, I would expect nothing less.
Through our conversations, and despite the fact that I've never met this family, the parent at my work and I have shared sadness, concern, and a great amount of empathy for this family. In some ways, I feel lucky and a little relieved for my family that I wasn't diagnosed until later in life. At 13 years old a large majority of responsibilities fell into my capable hands. At such an early though, there isn't a whole lot, if anything, a toddler can do to help out with daily injections, glucose monitoring, high and low blood sugars, and carbohydrate counting. It's just such a different life.
And then the other day, the parent walked into my work and said, "I've been thinking about you all morning." Turns out, this diabetic little girl has a brother who is 2 years old ... and he woke up with a blood sugar of 336. My heart sank. With no real connection to this family, I can hardly fathom the emotional turmoil and panic of realizing that not only did your life change 5 years ago with the diagnosis of your little girl, but now you're forced to re-live the pain, grief, and overwhelming stress of a second diagnosis as well. How is it hardly fair?
So I did some research and it turns out, siblings of a Type 1 diabetic have a 1 in 10 change of developing the disease by the age of 50. There are tests that can be done to check for a higher likelihood of a sibling getting diabetes, but nothing is certain, just as in life. Understandably, we can all say, "There are worse things that could happen," but at the same time it doesn't diminish the reality of a diabetes diagnosis. It's not easy. It's not fun. It's hard work. And it's stressful. It's just not fair no matter how you slice it. And my heart and thoughts go out to all families who have been or are going through it.
