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| Categories: Experiences |
| Experiences | |
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The diabetes is just there
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The diagnosis diabetes changed our life completely. Although we are living just like
before and there is nothing we cannot do anymore, I still have the feeling that
everything is different and nothing is like it was before. There are no restrictions
worth mentioning but many little “extras” you have to think of.
Early in 2003, my daughter Benita, almost seven years old then, had an
influenzal infection from which she did not really recover. She was weakening. The
typical symptoms like extreme thirst and hunger did not strike us at first. Well, you
always know more afterwards and you see things in a different light. My husband and
I were much more worried about our daughter’s frequent uses of the bathroom; a fact
that stroke even the teacher at school. First, we went to an urologist because Benita
had had a kind of cyst on her kidney before which had disappeared but should
always be kept in mind. The urologist diagnosed “only” sugar in her urine and sent us
to a pediatrician. The latest was alarmed and immediately referred us to the hospital.
Now, after all, a shudder still runs down my spine whenever I think about how near
Benita was to having a ketoacidosis: the amount of sugar in her blood had reached
more than 800 mg per dl.
Training the whole family
Luckily I had chosen the general hospital Herdecke which disposes of a diabetes
department and is an excellent choice for children. The schoolchildren’s ward, where
Benita spent two weeks in order to adjust her dose, does not look like a hospital and
does not smell like one either. The staff is very nice and the parents are always
welcome. Benita, my husband and I participated in the training for two weeks; then
we headed home, having a “new” child with us. On our way Benita had got a virus of
her stomach and intestines so that I was able to rehearse the “emergency” at home.
Everything went fine because of the support from our doctor via telephone.
At home again
At first, the weeks went flying by. All day long I was counting BUs (bread units),
weighing food and reading books about diabetes. I had not much time to think about our fate. Everyday life is saving us a lot. Nowadays, BUs and Co. just are a part of
our life. The luggage you are keeping with you like at the time when she was a baby
and the pieces of glucose lying in every bag are as well. The first complicated
situation after the diagnosis diabetes came with the next children’s birthday party.
Frankly and plain, well, just like children are, Benita was told that she would not be
invited because of her diabetes. It was not easy to explain to her that it did not
happen out of cruel intention but only out of insecurity. But by now we have settled
this conflict and Benita joins the parties just like the other children do.
Live a carefree life – just like other children do
Apart from that, my aim is to enable my child to live a life that does not differ from her
friend’s. Whether there is a school outing, swim training or a school trip – I am always
with her. Fortunately I can organize my time because I am self-employed. Being only
ten years old, Benita bears a great responsibility. Luckily she has got friends who
support her and stand by her. Benita is a happy and cheerful child. She cannot
answer the question about what annoys her about her diabetes. It is just there! This
attitude – to accept the diabetes as it is – probably comes easier to a child than to a
grown-up. Maybe we should be more childlike in this respect and accept the
diabetes, not criticize it and, above all, deal self-confidently with it in public and talk
about it.
Christina Büttner
www.diabetes-lino.de
Translated by Katrin Osterbart
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