Last night, my uncle was complaining about how late one of his mates was. We were having a semi -formal BBQ, with a huge variety of people attending. He was supposed to arrive at least an hour before, and as a result there were a lot of people all looking at each other not knowing what the correct etiquette regarding “should we wait or should we eat?”. Just as my Uncle Ryan pulled out his phone. the guest rumbled up the driveway in his slick little car, much to the delight of the hosts, as they really didn’t want to start the proceedings without him.
I had met this guy, Pat, a year or so ago at a similar function. I was interested and intrigued at how much he had transformed. Those “spare tyres” were completely gone, and all of the men pounced on him, wanting to know his diet secrets and what was going on! I listened with interest, as there was something not quite right. Pat seemed tired and flat, and had a don’t-care-ish vibe emimating from him.
” Oh it must just be the warmer weather, because I have been drinking so much water and soft drinks as well.”
MY EARS PRICKED UP.
I tried to distract him a little and luckily he forwarded his attention to me. He had a drink bottle with him, I watched him lovingly swallow each mouthful like it was his last.
I made small talk with him about various issues..the new Prime Minister, the cricket, and then out of the blue I asked ” Did you forget that the party was on?”
He replied “Ohhhh I slept in. I had to go to the bathroom all night so I slept in this morning.”
I started to feel really sick, and envisaged an ambulance arriving in 15 minutes. I couldn’t believe I was sitting beside a Type 1 Diabetic man who had no idea about how drastically his life was about to change.
He also told me that it had taken 3 months to shake a influenza bug, and that he had athletes’ foot that left his socks ringing wet each day after work.
I asked him “So, how do you feel right this minute?”
He replied, “Oooh look at that sparkling water in the jug over there! Be back in a sec, Kate.”
I was innardly sobbing, and I didn’t know what to do. There was something else about him that told me that he was not well, and needed urgent medical attention. Besides his emaciated body and sunken eyes, there was something else..something else.
He came and sat beside me once more and chugged dowm the water. He put his head back and exclaimed “Wow…..Good water!”
Fruit Tingles. Juicy fruit. Orange lollipops.
His breath was tainted with that very familiar scent that I know so well.
I called Lance for a fingerprick, and he set it up whilst I continued to work out how I was going to tell him.
Lance was 3.5mmol/L- I reached for three Glucodin and asked him to pour a drink of juice. He clumsily poured a cupful and asked me what was going on, his voice tinged with urgency.
“Pat. do you have anyone in your family with Type 1 Diabetes- I mean, dependent on insulin injections? Or Type 2 Diabetes?” I asked, as my son’s head lolled about in my arm.
“Ok, well I need you to sit with me and stay here until Lance has recovered.” He agreed, and rubbed Lance’s forehead and told him that his Mum was like Superwoman.
I tested Lance again, and he had shot up to 8.6mmol/L. Perfect. He resumed playing.
“Pat, were you thinking about going to the doctor in the near future about how you are feeling?” I asked, frantically.
“Oh..well I will make it my New Years Resolution then and get my bloods tested, OK? He laughed as he said OK, as if I was trying to hassle him out.
I took a deep breath. and I said, “Pat, this is unbearable to say to you, and I don’t know how to say this other than I think you could have Type 1 Diabetes. I mean the condition that my son has.”
A lone tear ran down my cheek as I looked into his green, watery eyes.
“How do you know? I mean, that’s a big call to make!!” he said with a slight quiver in his voice.
I know, I know..it’s just that I know this condition back to front. I mean, I could be wrong, but it doesn’t look great. I can tell you if you want to know right now.”
“HOW??”he exclaimed, this time sounding angry.
“Well. I can give you a fingerprick test now.” We will know the answer in seconds.”
He stared at me and held out his finger on his left hand, totally numb. He was still, I could hear his breathing quivering as he waited for the result.
I stared into his eyes and squeezed his hands as we waited for the beep.
And there it was.
23.8mmol/L.
I swallowed back so many tears and then held out a Ketone Strip. I told him how to use one and he looked horrified that I had ordered him to urinate on a strip of paper. I think he knew that I was deadly serious.
He came out with the demeanour of a young boy, shuffling his feet, hands in his pockets.
How do I tell this boy that he needs to go to hospital as he has large ketones and four pluses of glucose in his urine. For a few seconds, I thought it must have been a dream. However, the evidence is front of me all pointed to the nightmare that this young guy was about to go through.
I went and got my Uncle, and gave him the rundown very quickly. He grabbed Pat and buried his sobbing face in his shoulder. Uncle Ryan asked everyone if they would mind going home as there was an emergency. Pat was rushed to hospital and was admitted with Diabetic Ketone Acidosis, and dehydration. One minute, he was chatting to a bunch of people, the next, he was hospital with a life threatening condition. His AIc was 9,2 and his real BGL was 30.2mmol/L.
He is in intensive care right now, but I will be able to see him tomorrow.It’s all just another perfect example of type 1 diabetes choosing who it wants, no family history of any pancreatic illnesses were able to be traced, including either Diabetes..and being in the right place at the right time.
Insulin is not a cure.
Anyone who wishes to send get well wishes may do so to Pat. He can do with all of the positive encouragement and kind words he can deal with as he learns to accept his new life. Leave any messages in the comment boxes below. I can take my laptop to show him when he is recovered.
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Why did the insulin die in my pancreas? 