Monika is 42 years old, Oliwia 20 and Karolina 19. They are connected by a disease - type 2 diabetes. And also blood ties, maternal-sister love and mutual care for each other. It is them that make their "living with diabetes" easier and calmer.

"Diabetes - strength in the family!"- under this slogan, Poland celebrates this year'sWorld Diabetes Day.What is the role of the patient's relatives in controlling diabetes and are Polish families prepared for it? Monika, Karolina and Oliwia Kaczmarek, winners of the competition en titled. "Family wins!" organized on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, as part of the "Living with Diabetes longer" campaign.

Karolina - I'm not gobbling!

She was a sleepy, nervous, introverted and constantly thirsty child. Successive doctors, first in their hometown of Złotoryja, and then from further cities, either downplayed these symptoms, or glanced at Karolina's body brutally: she would certainly eat, let her eat less and move more when she lost weight, it would all pass. Hearing this, Karolina suffered, because she ate as much as other children, practiced in PE lessons, and after school, practiced tennis. Once, a doctor once ordered a fasting blood sugar test, but because the result was normal, it was not tested for diabetes any longer. And it probably would have been the case if it hadn't been for an experienced doctor … a cardiologist!

Karolina came to her when she was 11 years old. With high heart rate and pressure after maxillary sinus cyst surgery. The cardiologist first believed the girl that her obesity was not due to an incorrect diet. She referred her to the metabolic disorders clinic in Wrocław. Metabolic studies have shown that Karolina has a low caloric tolerance - her body requires little energy from food to function properly. Subsequent studies - this time in a diabetes clinic, also showed insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in the girl.

Oliwia - why can't I see?

Oliwia was not accused of overeating. Her obesity is a side effect of pineal gland cysts. It is such a small organ, only 120 grams, which is located in the third cortex of the brain, but its role for the body is huge. It is the pineal gland that secretes into the blood hormones that coordinate and regulate the activities of many organs and systems. Two years ago, Oliwia's eyesightworsened, so her neurosurgeon ordered a comprehensive examination. It turned out that they are not only sisters with Karolina, but also “sisters in illness”. Olivia also has insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Karolina - lose weight, but not at any cost!

Treatment started with medications and a special diet. But how to explain to the child what to eat, when and in what amounts? Preferably on … blocks. For example: 1 block is 1 apple weighing 140 gr. So Karolina used blocks to set up her menu for 5 meals a day. Over the past 10 years, she has been through an emotional roller coaster. When she lost weight, she was happy and joyful. When she was gaining weight, she reduced "diet blocks", refused to eat at all, exercised at home for several hours a day with weights on her arms and legs, and looked for "miracle weight loss drugs". All this to lose weight, so that her peers do not discourage her to live like other teenagers. She came to her senses when, after many conversations with her parents and the doctor, she realized how dangerous it is to take unproven drugs, that fasting may end up with anorexia and artificial IV feeding in the hospital.

Monika - the heart cried out: help!

The diagnosis that Karolina has diabetes was a breakthrough for her. She was aware of how seriously her daughter is, and finally she knew what kind of disease it was! She could defend her against teachers when she was so weak that she missed lessons, or went to another medical consultation or rehabilitation of obese joints. She could repel insults and explain why Karolina's obesity came from: that she does not eat, but has diabetes. So she was not scared when Olivia was also diagnosed with diabetes. To better support both daughters in the treatment - learn about diabetes and its complications from doctors and share her experiences - Monika started working in the Polish Diabetes Association.

Like many mothers, Monika focused so much on their children's he alth that she forgot about hers. Both of her pregnancies were accompanied by diabetes, but she disappeared after the births. So Monika took the sweating and constant feeling of hunger as symptoms of exhaustion. The doctor doubted it. After hearing the medical history of both daughters, he referred Monika for insulin resistance and diabetes tests. It turned out that she had both of these conditions, but still the he alth of her daughters was in the first place.

Two years ago, Monika's pressure jumped. Once, but right. Monika's numb lips twisted into an unnatural grimace, she spoke words with difficulty, stuttering at the same time. Monika was afraid. She knew from a diabetologist that she was at risk of cardiovascular complications, including the two most dangerous - a heart attack and a strokethe brain. She promised herself that she would not lead to this situation again. She jokes that her husband Artur also helped her in deciding to start diabetes treatment, resorting to blackmail: you will either take care of yourself or I will not let you act socially.

The Kaczmarek family's ways to live longer with diabetes

Monika uses her "knack" to organize interesting events at work in a travel agency. Oliwia and Karolina also work - in one of the hotels in Złotoryja. They both also study at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw - Oliwia security and combating international terrorism, and Karolina - management and analysis of big data.

The Kaczmarek kitchen is dominated by Karolina, whose passion has become rational eating and he althy cooking. He is still testing new dishes while preparing to open his own restaurant. It was out of the question to prepare separate dishes for Dad. It was he who said that "there will be no cooking for 2 kitchens, because we are a family and we will go through it together". Karolina wrote down the Kaczmarek family's experiences on living with diabetes in the entry for the "Family wins!" Competition. Winners' recommendations worth following are:

  1. Live calmly!Dismiss stress, negative emotions and the people who arouse them.
  2. Don't be ashamed of your illness!Talk about it openly, treat it normally. Tell people you are with them about how to react when you feel unwell.
  3. Eat he althy!Exclude carbohydrates and fats from your diet, but be understanding if you deviate from these rules.
  4. Get moving!But you don't have to sweat sevenths at the gym or run marathons - just walk a lot and do your normal daily physical work.
  5. Be honest with your doctor!Every sick person has moments of weakness - lazy days, cookies eaten at parties, medications not taken on time. However, tell your doctor about it so that he has a complete picture of your disease. By following his recommendations, you will prevent diabetes complications.

The article was created as part of the nationwide educational campaignen titled"Living longer with diabetes" , which aims to raisediabetes awareness- including type 2 diabetes and the risks associated with this disease, with particular emphasis on taking into accountcardiovascular complications . The campaign is organized by Boehringer Ingelheim, and the partners are: the Polish Diabetes Association, the Association "Active with Diabetes" and the mojacukrzyca.org portal.

Category:

Diabetes