Get a Clue — A Sister’s Perspective
My sister, Lia, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in December of 2009. And our lives haven’t been the same since.
What many people don’t know: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease where the pancreas does not produce any or enough insulin for the body to process sugars and produce energy. Up to 3 million Americans have T1D, and each year more than 150,000 children are diagnosed with T1D in the US. That being said, people still don’t know how to separate type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Being a sibling of someone with type 1 diabetes makes me a “Type 3 Diabetic.” Contrary to what the internet says when you google “Type 3 Diabetes,” I do not have Alzheimer’s. Anyway, being the sibling of someone with type 1 diabetes, you hear a lot of stupid things. Just recently I had someone tell me that veganism would cure her diabetes, because, “contrary to popular belief T1D is actually linked to diet.” Well, I’ve got news for you, and all the other health gurus out there who think they know everything: you are a fool.
Type 1 diabetes has nothing to do with diet and everything to do with genetics. I’ve had countless people tell me, more than once, “I feel bad eating this in front of her, you know, because she can’t eat it.” First of all, shut up. It’s a pretty rude thing to say. Do your research before you try to tell me what my sister can or can’t eat. Lia can eat whatever she wants to eat, she just has to do all of her diabetes care-taking magic and she’s fine.
My sister does a lot in one day. She checks her blood several times throughout the day, has to give herself insulin through a pump that is connected to her 24/7 via her bottom, belly, leg or arm. Before she got the pump, every time her blood sugar was high or she wanted to eat, she would give herself a shot in her belly or leg. I remember she used to beg me to take a shot with her (of saline), but I suppose being the jerk of a 12-year-old that I was, I would never do it. I maybe did it once.
I went to classes to learn how to take care of Lia if I ever was in a position that she needed my help. I learned to deal with the emotional effects of diabetes too. Let me tell you, they can be a real pain. I’m allowed to say that because she’s my little sister. But yeah, they’re hard. She can get really quiet and sleepy or really agitated and irritable. I remember when she was younger she would always get mad at me and then pull something like, “It’s my diabetes! You can’t get mad at me for that.” (She still does that today to be funny.)
She’s had diabetes for six and a half years now and it’s still hard to deal with. That’s just how it is and we manage.
My sister is stronger than a lot of people I know. Do you know what it’s like to be stuck in the hospital for days and diagnosed with a life-changing disease two days after Christmas? That being said, it doesn’t mean she wants your pity. She wants the opposite, actually. Treat her like she’s a normal person because that’s what she is. Honestly, it’s so upsetting to hear that my sister’s peers make her feel left out because of her diabetes. That’s absolutely ridiculous. She is a normal kid, just like everyone else her age.
Through social media, T1D is being talked about more and the people who have it are being celebrated. My sister was even featured on an Instagram page, @beyondtype1, with her picture. Even though there are more support systems out there, type 1 diabetes is still misunderstood. There are so many opportunities to get educated on the matter though. I recommend you do so.
