American Diabetes Association: Family Traditions

Family Traditions
Thursday, July 21, 2005
By: Elizabeth Wentzel

Let's find the cure through your support...

I grew up with an adoptive father with type 1 diabetes. He was only 13 when he was diagnosed. He struggled daily at a time when no one really looked upon it as a major problem and misinformation was all around. It wasn't until the diet revolution took place that you could find good tasting diabetic snacks and diet related information easily. My father passed away on 09/08/1985 from End Stage Renal Disease at the young age of 46. I later found out my biological father and brother also suffered from the disease. My biological father passed away at the age of 54 from End Stage Renal Disease in 2002. Their diabetes is a symptom of their other disease, hemochromotosis. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1998 at age 26. My diabetis is related to Poly-cystic ovary syndrome. I have struggled with diet and exercise to control my sugars, but eventually I had to go onto insulin injections. I currently take four shots a day. I am now in very good control. There are many reason people get diabetes. Some is genetic, some is lifestyle and some is related to other illnesses. All are challenging. I wish daily I could sit down and have a piece of cake and only worry about my waist line. I wish I could run an errand without having to think how long it will take and if I have to bring my meds with me.

If we continue to support the cause for a search for a cure, then maybe my 12 year old son will never have to write here about his relatives passing away or about his own wishes not to have the disease. Let's find the cure through your support......