Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis at 50
Namelok
Namelok* sits at FAME’s inpatient ward in a reflective mood. She has been discharged and is getting ready to go home after being admitted for three days. At 50, she was diagnosed with a condition she knew little about, type 1 diabetes, a chronic, life-altering disease where the pancreas does not make insulin. This disease is uncommon in people in her age group, as it usually develops in children, teens and young adults (CDC).
Namelok had started getting sickly about three years ago. She visited her local hospital, where she was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, an illness triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system. She has been taking medicine for this on and off for the past three years. However, her condition had deteriorated fast in the last two weeks. She had pain and tingling in her legs and her stomach hurt. She was also very weak from her significant weight loss; more concerning, she had, in her own words, “turned blind.”
“I was in a lot of pain. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I was slipping in and out of consciousness all the time. My eyes did not work anymore; all I saw was darkness. My brother and daughter carried me to the bus station, where we took a bus to FAME. However, the journey was long and I kept getting sicker and sicker. The bus was hot and overcrowded. In the evening, we reached a town 30 miles from FAME, where we had to change buses. I was too sick and tired to continue, so we looked for a place to sleep and continued the journey the next morning.”
When they arrived at FAME, Namelok was quickly received and admitted. It was clear to all that this was a dire situation. After laboratory tests, Namelok was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Her blood sugar was five times higher than normal. She was going through diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious life-threatening complication of diabetes when there isn't enough insulin being made in the body. The doctors worked swiftly and promptly to stabilize her condition and start her on insulin therapy. They continued to monitor her closely and regularly assessed her vitals.
“I was sad when they told me I had type 1 diabetes. When the doctors explained what it was and that I would have to give myself injections daily, I told them I think I might have the same disease my son has.”
As it turns out, Namelok’s 18-year-old son is also a type 1 diabetic and has been since he was diagnosed at 14. He receives his insulin from a local hospital close to home and is doing well.
Namelok’s daughter (right) poses with her mother.
“I knew my son had a disease, but I didn’t know the name or what it was. I just knew that he had to give himself injections every day. When the doctor diagnosed him, he was old enough to be shown how to do the injections, so I never had to do them and since he is a responsible boy, I just left him to it.”
The FAME medical staff provided invaluable comprehensive diabetes education to Namelok. This included information about the disease, its management, insulin administration and blood sugar monitoring techniques and how to recognize signs of low and high blood sugar.
“I appreciate all the care and diabetes education I have received from the doctors and nurses, all of which I did not know and was not told when my son was diagnosed. They patiently answered all my questions. This has given me the confidence to face this disease.”
In addition to the diabetes education she has received at FAME, Namelok takes great comfort because she has close family that understands first-hand what she is going through.
“I take great comfort in the fact that my son is well-versed in managing his diabetes, which means he is in a position to help me! I think I will be okay.”
For many newly diagnosed patients, the psychological aspect of this disease has as great an impact on them as the physical consequences. Coping with the need for constant self-care, potential lifestyle changes and possible long-term diabetes-related complications can often lead to emotional challenges and family support is crucial. Luckily Namelok has her son and daughter to rely on, who are happy that their mother has finally got the right diagnosis and is much better now than she has been for years!
“Late diagnosis of diabetes is a big problem in rural areas such as our catchment area. This poses significant challenges to patients’ treatment and prognosis, which causes poorer long-term health outcomes for patients. Delayed treatment increases the risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, nerve damage and vision loss, which sadly happened in Namelok’s case. There is an urgent need for health education and awareness, where the community and healthcare workers are taught to recognize this disease’s symptoms and risk factors.”
FAME continues to spread diabetes health education and awareness through its health communication outreach. Every Monday, FAME staff have a one-hour show on a local Karatu radio station where they discuss different medical conditions and the treatment options available at FAME. This year, FAME has covered topics related to diabetes on the radio program, including pregnancy-induced diabetes (gestational diabetes), diabetes symptoms and diabetic foot ulcers.
FAME also holds a diabetes clinic every week on Thursdays where diabetic patients are monitored and counseled while new patients are advised on diabetes management. Dr. Josephat Mtuwa runs this clinic.
Not to mention FAME’s Annual Diabetes Walk held every year on World Diabetes Day, where FAME staff and local community members participate in a 1.6-mile walk highlighting the importance of exercise in managing and preventing diabetes. FAME offers free diabetes screenings at the end of this walk.
*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.