3-in-1 Diabetes Blood Test (Home Kit) – £65.00

Short Stories for Sharing: Is it possible for us to recover?

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 20 after receiving a report. I have been perpetually thirsty since that time, and I have begun to experience frequent lavatory visits and weight loss. Every time, I experienced fatigue and found it difficult to walk. A voice within me informed me that I was ill, similar to my grandmother, who was insulin-dependent and with whom I had grown up. However, I harbored concerns regarding an imminent diagnosis.

I was experiencing symptoms of illness until a Sunday in May.

Thomas, who is now my spouse, “compelled” me to undergo certain tests the following day. The sugar levels were extremely elevated. The hospital was severely affected. Syringes were still in use at the time, and they demonstrated how to inject insulin. They instructed me, “In order to consume food, you must adhere to the insulin regimen.” I refrained from consuming food on that particular day. However, I was compelled to accept the situation: three injections per day, in addition to the requisite constant sugar checks.

I was contacted by St. John two years later and subsequently began to be monitored by the hospital’s diabetologists. I was provided with an insulin device. It was an incredible sensation to be able to consume without restriction once more.

There was an automatic regulation of the insulin that I required.

The microinfusion, which is now my lifelong companion, was concealed in a compartment of my white wedding dress on the day of my wedding, when Thomas and I were married. Also, the initial pregnancy occurred. It was delightful. We had already discussed the matter with the physicians prior to conception, and they continued to monitor me in order to maintain control. It was a delightful experience:

Sebastian was born naturally; everything proceeded smoothly, and he is currently 15 years old.

We were not considering the possibility of having a second child; however, a few years later, I discovered that I was once again expectant. The disease was my initial thought. I had neglected to execute the examinations that were conducted during my initial pregnancy. My diabetologist meticulously monitored my values on a daily basis to ensure that they remained modest. I did not experience this pregnancy with the same level of tranquility as the previous one. Philipp was born in the eighth month, hypoglycemic, following a difficult and exceptionally painful delivery.

My anxieties temporarily dissipated.

Philipp was an exceptionally well-behaved child, and the situation was conducted in a tranquil manner.

Philipp, who was one year and a half years old at the time, did something in December that caused me to recognize that something was amiss, despite his inability to communicate with me. In the afternoon, he was experiencing difficulty sleeping, and at night, I discovered him in his pyjamas, entirely saturated with urine. I was apprehensive, so I instinctively obtained a sample and conducted a blood sugar test. The display displayed “HI,” which signified a value that was exceedingly high.

We promptly proceeded to the emergency room at St. John.

I was unable to shake the feeling that I was to blame as we traversed the countless kilometers from Manchester to London. This was the initial encounter with Dr. Florence, a pediatrician.

Today, my son is 11 years old. Occasionally, he gazes at me with those large eyes and inquires, “Mom, why is Sebastian not ill, while I am?” It is challenging for a parent to elucidate a concept such as this to their child, and he subsequently informs me, “Yes, mother, I understand. I am similar to you, and Sebastian is similar to my father.”

Filippo has always been and continues to be a child who is placid and content.

He asks me numerous inquiries before returning to his favorite sport, hockey, and engaging in recreational activities with his friends. The other children in his vicinity exhibit typical behavior, are aware of his ailment, and treat him with respect. He was fortunate in that no one ever made him feel “different.”

Dr. Florence recently shared a true tale with us regarding a study that is set to commence in England shortly. The study will be conducted in approximately five hospitals and will test the effectiveness of a “artificial pancreas” in children. They were in search of patients who shared Philip’s age and characteristics.

We were honored to be included and concurred.

The initial meeting in London was conducted expeditiously and concluded within a week, which was an extraordinary experience. Philip encountered numerous other children who, like him, were also wearing the microinfluor for the first time. He informed me with enthusiasm, “Mom, everyone here has diabetes, just like me!” The disease necessitates that children acquire the ability to regulate their sugar levels through physical activity; consequently, they must cease to reestablish their normal values. His family members, who are unaware of this requirement, consistently urge him to resume playing immediately.
Nevertheless, all individuals were aware of the importance of respecting the recovery time of others.

It was a peculiar and thrilling sensation to observe them so cognizant. Phillip considered it to be a five-star vacation. He formed a strong bond with Olivia, a year his junior, and made numerous acquaintances. A subsequent experimental phase ensued, and we anticipate that this investigation will yield favorable results.

After years of waiting for research to identify a definitive solution to this disease, Phillip and I are now able to navigate our daily lives with the assistance of an insulin pump and sensor. Although they are somewhat intrusive, these small devices, which are similar to mobile phones or slightly larger, enable us to experience a greater sense of tranquility and less anxiety. Phillip has even come to regard them as “companions” who are concerned about him, and we often joke among ourselves: “Some individuals are required to wear glasses; we are required to wear microinfusion!”

What is our perspective on the future? Every time December 12th, the date of the diagnosis, approaches, we anticipate that Phillip will endure an additional year of diabetes and all the complications that accompany it.

This is also the reason we track the number of days until we discover a definitive cure. We are adamant about the importance of research and are confident that the day will come when the disease will be eradicated, thereby liberating Phillip, Olivia, and all those who are afflicted.

With warm regards,

Valentina