What to do when your child has diabetes

When she was diagnosed with diabetes as a nine-year-old, Mercy Mukulu, 19, did not think it was something to worry about.

“My mother looked very worried with the doctors’ revelation and it only dawned on me that I had a serious condition to manage when I fell sick and was admitted for two months,” she says.

Mukulu, who is Kenya’s ambassador for children with diabetes, says she used to frequent the washroom for short calls and take a lot of water before the diagnosis of type one diabetes was finally made.

“Since the doctors told me I had Kisukari, my young mind told me all I would need is to take something bitter like salt to reverse the harm sugar was causing me. The numerous visits in and out of hospital were getting to me and I could not accept that I would live that way for the rest of my life,” she says.

Type one diabetes is a condition that makes a person’s blood sugar become high because the pancreas does not produce any insulin — a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels.

This meant that not only would Mukulu need regular insulin injections, which she would administer herself, she also had to do away with some of her favourite treats.

“I overheard my parents say that this condition is mostly in adults and I could not understand why I had been afflicted at such a young age. I started skipping my insulin jabs and gave up on the recommended diet plan. This caused my sugar levels to rise to dangerous levels and I developed nerve complications on my feet,” she says.

Her parents took her to hospital for treatment of the diabetes-related complications and a doctor advised them to take their daughter to the Diabetes Management Information Centre of Kenya (DMIC) for psychological support. It was here that Mukulu’s perception of her condition changed.

“I met other people with a condition like mine at DMIC and they were a happy lot. The counsellors and experts taught me a lot and I realised I had a life to live. I henceforth adhered to my medication and today my sugar levels are at 7.2 per cent which is very close to the standard seven per cent and below,” she says.

The experience at DMIC not only helped Mukulu accept and manage her condition but ignited the urge in her to help other children with diabetes understand that the condition can be managed as they grow to fulfill their dreams.

We caught up with the third year Bachelor of Commerce student during the Kenya Paediatrics Association (KPA) scientific conference where she convened with medics and other diabetic children ambassadors from US, Australia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Rwanda and Burundi.

According to KPA Chairman, Dr David Githanga, diabetes is among non-communicable diseases that have heightened children mortality rates. Hence increased awareness is needed in order to improve management of the disease and prevent new cases.

“Parents need to know that sugar is very addictive hence reduce its intake among children. This is one way to prevent emergence of new diabetes cases,” he said.