Growing up diabetic – a first person account

Imagine being seven years old, when life revolves around playground games and an endless supply of sugary treats. Now imagine that suddenly your pancreas decides to take an unscheduled vacation, leaving you with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Yep, that’s my story! It had one job, and well...

I’d like to take a moment to share a personal story about my journey after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at such a young age, and the valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way; from the early challenges to the triumphs and how it changed me as a person.

It all started with symptoms that didn’t fit with the usual energy of a seven-year-old: constant thirst, anger issues, fainting and unexpected weight loss. Never in our wildest thoughts did we consider that diabetes could be the cause. After some tests, the diagnosis was clear: Type 1 diabetes.

For a child, this news was a big shock. I remember being in the hospital for seven days, and when I got the news that I am being discharged, I was so excited, thinking about which ice cream I’d get—strawberry or chocolate. It was a shock when my father told me that such treats were no longer allowed. I said “okay, but for how long?” and he went silent. I still remember his teary eyes till this day.

Unfortunately, I was smart enough to understand what he meant and I thought, “This is the end of the world." The idea of managing diabetes felt like a daunting new world, and it was also a huge challenge for my parents too. How do you stop a seven-year-old from enjoying sweets and the cherry on top – injecting insulin three times a day?

In those early days, diabetes turned my world upside down. Picture this: me at school, suddenly feeling faint and needing to be carried out because of low blood sugar, or dealing with mood swings that could rival a soap opera—angry one moment, lethargic the next. It was a rollercoaster ride. I was the first diabetic patient in my family, and back then, Type 1 diabetes was a rare and daunting puzzle. The doctors told us that only 8,000 to 10,000 people in Pakistan had it, with just 1,000 to 2,000 being children. It felt like climbing Mount Everest with no climbing gear — there was no guidebook on how to handle it.

For six long years, I avoided sugary beverages and sweets like they were the enemy. Then, a relative brought Diet Coke to dinner, and it felt like reuniting with a long-lost friend. I took a sip, and let me tell you, the tears in my eyes weren’t because of the flavour — they were because it had been so long since I’d enjoyed a fizzy drink.

I also felt why am I being treated so differently from others? At the age of 13 or 14, I felt like giving up and often found myself asking God “Why me?”

At school, teachers often let me skip competitions and games, thinking it might be too much for me. I used to stay quiet and let opportunities slip by. But one day in 7th grade, I decided to take part in a debate competition—and guess what? I won! That victory made me realise, “This isn’t about diabetes; this is about me!”

From that moment on, I decided to dive into every extracurricular activity I could find. I aced the school badminton tournament, became House Captain, and earned the Head Boy title with a staggering 1,600 votes out of approximately 2,200—breaking records at Army Public School.

It wasn’t just about me. My parents were incredibly worried. As long as I was with them, they could manage my diabetes, but they knew I’d be on my own in school. So, I had to take responsibility for myself and become self-aware about managing my diabetes. It was crucial for my independence and their peace of mind.

It was then that I understood: if I let diabetes hold me back, I’d never move forward in life. So, I decided to be friends with diabetes by giving it what it liked: a controlled diet, timely insulin, and regular exercise. In return, diabetes allowed me to enjoy a controlled amount of sweets, play any game I wanted, and experience happiness. It turned into a win-win situation, making life a lot more manageable and enjoyable!

My heroes are my family. My late grandmother, my parents, and my younger sister were always there to motivate me, urging me to stay determined. For six years, my younger sister sacrificed sweets, sometimes sneaking some sweets away and hiding under bed to eat them so I wouldn’t feel left out. We all became both doctors and patients, learning how to manage diabetes and avoiding sugar together. Their sacrifices inspired me to rise up and tackle my challenges head-on.

If I could go back in time and talk to that younger me, I’d tell him, “You will make it. You’ll thrive and share your story with others.” Although he might not believe it, he’d be proud to see how far he’s come. Coming out of that Phase will always be my greatest life achievement.

Peter Parker from ‘Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse’ perfectly explains my journey: “That’s all it is, a leap of faith."

Moeed Rehman is a student at COMSAT University Islamabad

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