“Diabetes has taught me a lot”

“Illness is the dark side of life, a second citizenship. Although we all prefer to use only the passport of the healthy, sooner or later each of us is obliged to recognize that he is a citizen of that other country,” once wrote Susan Sontagone of the greatest American intellectuals of the 20th century. The 14-year-old Myrto Stergiou experienced this transition seven years ago when she was diagnosed with diabetes type 1.

A few weeks ago, reading in “K” the news of the exclusion of an 11-year-old boy with the same condition from camp, he became angry. “It was unfair and cruel. Our illness is part of us. It’s us”, she told me and asked to tell “K” her story, because “prejudice can only be defeated with knowledge”.

After all, she herself has decided to contribute as much as she can to this. In the fall, he will participate in a big event that will be held by the non-profit association “Desmos” on the occasion of World Diabetes Awareness Day (14/11).

Rating Mechanism – My dad says diabetes is a great rating mechanism. Anyone who is frightened by the mere sound of it or is unwilling to understand its complexities does not deserve a place in my life…

Sitting across from me, in the living room of the family home, she speaks with impressive eloquence and composure for her age. Her father, a businessman, is also present Christos Stergiou – at a discreet distance. “Do you think your condition will affect your relationship with the boys?”, I ask Myrto. “My dad says diabetes is a great assessment tool,” she replies, glancing at him and smiling. “Anyone who is frightened by the mere sound of it or is unwilling to understand its complexity does not deserve a place in my life…”.

The night my life changed

“I don’t remember much of my life before diabetes. I only remember that night when my parents started to explain to me what the disease I had just been diagnosed with meant. I was trying on my Halloween costume, the laughter was cut short. I didn’t understand what I should do, if it was my fault, if I had done something wrong. I also remember the first sensor that was placed in my abdomen. I was in pain, it was difficult to walk. Today I “wear” a closed-loop system, as it is called, also known as an artificial pancreas, that is, an insulin pump that is connected to a continuous glucose recording sensor and gives me insulin, replacing the daily injections (I had gotten to the point of doing about ten). Through an application that I have on my mobile phone, I can see my blood sugar values ​​at any time and, if something is wrong, I receive a relevant notification.

»Growing up I realized that type 1 diabetes is not the machines I have on me, it is a matter of life and death. It forces me to make dozens of critical decisions every day. In the morning, for example, as soon as I wake up, I have to check my sugar through the application. Whether the price is high or low will depend on whether I need an insulin fix – and how much – before I eat breakfast. Also, before I sit down at the table, I must have decided what I will eat, weighed the food, calculated the amount of carbohydrates I will consume. It’s not the same management if I’m going to eat eggs or cereal and milk. At school I attend class at the same time as my blood sugar and make sure I always have a bottle of juice with me in case I need it. I participate in all activities, however, as long as there is a schedule and it is strictly followed. To run, for example, if my blood sugar is low, I have to drink juice beforehand and wait for it to rise. If it is high, again I will wait, having taken insulin. Carelessness and spontaneity are not allowed. I have to do what my body can’t do, so my daily life is a complex mathematical equation. My dad says it reminds him of an equalizer: you have to factor in various factors. It is difficult but not impossible. See the top tennis player Alexander Zverev: diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four and has played in four Grand Slam finals!’

Curiosity and pity

“Every disease means diversity. It means curious glances that stop at the sensor on my arm – or the pump in my belly, on summers when I’m at a beach. Or comments, usually pity. I’m used to them. It’s hard for people to understand the complexity of type 1 diabetes. Here I am, half my life has already been with it and I’m still learning. Maybe that’s why most patients hide it. “Don’t let the world know”, you will hear them say. I don’t see it that way. In order for diabetes – and any other disease – to stop being taboo, we must come forward, talk about our experience to help those who are not ready or able to do so, so that they do not feel alone.

Coming forward – For diabetes – and any other disease – to stop being taboo, we need to come forward, talk about our experience to help those who are not ready or able to do so, so they don’t feel alone.

»I won’t lie to you, in the first years I said: Why should it happen to me? Why can’t I be like the other kids? I had the feeling of injustice, I was angry. Today I have become familiar with my condition. It’s incurable, it’s not going to change, I live with it. I don’t see her as an enemy, she is a part of me. It will sound strange, perhaps even exaggerated, but I feel grateful for what happened to me. Diabetes has taught me a lot: discipline, empathy, not to rush to conclusions about others, because everyone can have a problem. It has made me stronger, it has matured me. I take everything in stride – not just managing my sugar. So I’m not afraid of him. I respect him and I don’t underestimate him. I know that he is dangerous, that at any moment he can take my life. He doesn’t forgive mistakes.”

The symptoms and the outbreak after the pandemic

Type 1 diabetes is chronic autoimmune disease: the immune system destroys the beta-cells of the pancreas, which are responsible for the production of insulin, a hormone necessary for the regulation of blood glucose, with the result that the body cannot synthesize it sufficiently and exogenous administration of insulin is required for life.

“The exact causes are not fully known, but it is thought that the autoimmune reaction is usually triggered by a combination of genetic, environmental and immunological factors, such as some viral infections. It is no coincidence, then, that it has been observed internationally increasing trend in incidents after the COVID pandemic“, says the pediatrician-diabetologist to “K”. Andriani Vazeoumanager of the Diabetes Center of the “Miter” hospital.

The main symptoms include polydipsia, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, drowsiness, blurred vision and increased hunger, while sometimes diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous complication with nausea, vomiting and acidosis, can occur. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes is lower than that of type 2, accounting for about 5%–10% of all diabetes cases, and it occurs more often in children, adolescents and young adults: about nine new cases per 100,000 children up to 14 years of age.

Its treatment is substitutive and is based on lifelong administration of insulin (by injection or pump), systematic monitoring of blood glucose, proper nutrition with carbohydrate calculation and adjustment of insulin doses according to the body’s activity and needs. “However, the rapid development of technology is revolutionizing the management of the disease. Many clinical trials are currently being done with stem cells, with the aim of complete independence of patients from insulin injections“, continues Dr. Vazeou. “We still have a long way to go, but the results are particularly encouraging and make us optimistic.”