Diabetes Strikes Again!

Tasha, my new diabetic

Nearly eight years ago my oldest daughter, Kim, was diagnosed with diabetes.  I blogged a few years ago about some of what living with diabetes daily is like.  I thought that, even though Kim was diagnosed, that the odds were in favor of my other children not developing the disease.  I was wrong!

About two months ago, my daughter Tasha dropped a metal pipe on her foot.  She required stitches to sew up the deep cut from the jagged pipe edge.  Then, a week or two after getting her stitches removed, the cut got infected.  She was put on antibiotics.  The infection cleared.  Last week, after she had taken all the antibiotics, the infection returned.  This time it was worse.  I quickly ran her to the Emergency Room.

The doctor that came into the room examined the injury.  When he found out how long it had been since the injury had been received, he thought that her foot wasn't healing very quickly.  He ordered a blood sugar test, just to rule out diabetes as a factor.  Tasha instantly burst into tears when the nurse told her that the blood sugar was over 400.

A sinking feeling in my gut told me that such a high blood sugar was not a reaction to the infection.  Other symptoms were there, just not to the same degree as they were when Kim was diagnosed.  It's hard to diagnose extreme thirst when the temperature had been averaging in the 90s and 100s.  However, Tasha had lost a LOT of weight, roughly 15 pounds in just a couple of weeks.  She was also complaining that her eyes seemed strange, but it wasn't time for her to go to the eye doctor yet.

I tried to remain positive while we waited for test results and the appointment with the specialist.  But, deep down, I think we both knew that the possibility of this being anything other than type 1 diabetes was slim.

Yesterday we saw the specialist, and all our fears were confirmed.  Tasha was instantly put on insulin, and a request has been made to the insurance to put her on an insulin pump.  To her credit, Tasha handled the news with maturity.  She is a college student, living with friends.  This was unexpected, a blow she wasn't sure she could handle.  Tasha has seen the trials and struggles that her sister has lived with, and she doesn't want to have to deal with the same challenges.

As I watched the CNA give Tasha training on how to inject herself, I just wanted to take the disease away from her and make it all better.  It is rare that two siblings from the same family would have diabetes when neither of the parents do, but it does happen.  My heart ached for her.

Having a sister with diabetes didn't make it easier for her.  In a way, it made it worse.

I have prayed fervently for my oldest daughter to be healed for years.  She hasn't been.  I prayed fervently for Tasha to not have diabetes.  She does.  While I don't understand, I have to trust that God has a plan and a purpose.  I don't know what that plan and purpose could be, but my daughters are beautiful, Godly young women.  Diabetes is manageable, even if it is tough at times.  I can only pray that God gives them strength and uses them as He desires.