Had Type 1 Early This Year

by Fran
(USA)

My story on diabetes. I have been diagnosed with diabetes since late February this year. I have been keeping silent for quite some time, for about three months until when my mum noticed changes on my health and asked me to visit my doctor. I have been experiencing excessive thirst, eating too much due to extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, irritation, running to the toilet every now and then and increased fatigue. I have type 1 diabetes which is caused by an autoimmune disorder, a problem with the body's immune system. "A healthy body has specialized cells called beta cells which produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows the body to use energy from food. What happens in type 1 diabetes is that the immune system mistakes the beta cells for invaders and attacks them. When more than enough beta cells are destroyed, diabetes symptoms start developing," my doctor explained. The doctor explained this in order for me to understand the reasons why I have been experiencing the above mentioned changes in my body. Initially people believed that diabetes was caused by consuming too much sugar but that is not always the case. My doctor says that I should undergo a pancreas transplant early next month. Family and friends are joined in prayer for the success of finding my perfect donor match as well as the operation.