My Diabetic Sister Is An Inspiration

My sister is diabetic. To be more specific, she’s Type 1 diabetic. Nothing annoys her more than when people assume diabetes is just related to being overweight.

I'm a senior in high school, captain of the Lakes girls water polo team and working hard to pass my chemistry class, but if anything could make high school (and its sports) more of a challenge, it’s having a disease like Type 1 Diabetes. My teammate and sister is one of my biggest role models. She's a freshman and I admire her when it comes to having responsibility, leadership, and endurance.

Diabetes is a failing of the pancreas. Insulin (used to process sugars in food) is not adequately produced, causing dangerously elevated blood sugars. Type 1 Diabetes is different from Type 2. It's not caused by lack of a healthy diet, exercise, or lifestyle. Rather, it occurrs when autoantibodies attack insulin or the cells that make insulin.

The onset of Type 1 Diabetes can be seen before 20, although it's far less common for an adult to develop it.

So, what exactly does this mean for my sister? Well, she's an expert when it comes to managing her diabetes. She used to give herself insulin through shots after every meal or snack. Now, she does the same thing using an insulin pump, which is a small device about the size of a cell phone, attached to her side with a small tube that allows her to take insulin minus the annoyance of injections.

Sound easy? It gets a bit more complicated with sports.

My sister is about as active as I am when it comes to water polo and swimming. However, she also has to keep a second eye on her blood sugar, often requiring a test before, during, and after practice. If her blood sugar levels are too low, she has to drink a juice box or two to give her the necessary carbohydrates. If she’s too high, she chugs bottle after bottle of water.

Both ends of the spectrum sometimes require her miss part of the practice. It’s a balancing act. She tries to keep her blood sugar at a reasonable level, but my sister manages it with patience and acceptance.

That astounds me, and she still manages to be one of the best athletes on the team.

I'm lucky to have such an amazing sister. She challenges me to be the best athlete and, of course, sister. Our family is a great support system. We unfailingly have been there for her, the good and the bad.

Stay tuned for next week's Captain's Log!