sad...

[Joe S.]

The 5th grade girl, Brittany, next door, died last night from sudden onset juvenile diabetes. She was a child that plaid with the other children in the neighborhood regardless of age. She was out going and full of joy. She reminded me so much of my own daughters.

Yes, I may have only seen her for a few min once every other month, but that was enough for me to believe that she was having a happy childhood. They will be doing an autopsy today to determine what may have brought this on for her. She had been vomiting and sleeping for three days before she died.

I am posting this to let you know that the symptoms she had while they would not seem unique do require a visit to the doctor. As adults we can have similar symptoms for this disease. Please get yourself and loved ones checked out.

[Pooh]

Aww Joe, this is so sad to hear.  Anytime we lose a child, whether it's our own and someone we know, it's always unbearable.  They are our future and without them....................well, there won't be any. 

I will keep this little one in my prayers and her family also. 

Thanks for caring enough to let us know that we should not wait when something unusual comes up to have it checked out. 

Pooh

[Scottietottie]

Hi Joe

That is sad. The first child's funeral I ever attended was for a little girl, aged two, who had died of that same thing. She was OK on Thursday and dead on Monday. Tragic.

Condolences on the loss. hardest on the family - but hard for neighbours and friends too.

Take care - Scottie

[Cricket]

Hi Joe

Sorry for the loss you have suffered.

Her family and you will be in my prayers.

Cricket

[eyeamdry]

Hi Joe, I'm sorry about your little friend and you're right about Juveline Diabetes, which is also referred to as Type I.  Type II is caused by age, overweight, inactivity, bad diet etc and can sometimes be controlled by fixing those things.  Pills also may help and when it gets severe, they add insulin. 

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here (linda).  I'm just writing a little reminder for all of us to keep a watch for this killer disease.  It's especially bad in babies and young children because they cannot tell you what's wrong and it may not help to diagnose diabetes anyhow.  You do not have to be a child to get juvenile diabetes!  My daughter was diagnoses at age 27 with Type I diabetes.  She was a thin, active, working young lady with no "reason" to have diabetes.  I had not seen her for two weeks and I ran into her at the grocery store and almost didn't know her.  She had lost weight--from 110 to 87 and was green colored.  She had no idea and the doctor had no idea until they took her blood sugar and it was in the 600's.

She has been on a pump for about 10 years and is doing well.  Probably could be more attentive to her diet etc. but I try to let that go.  Her doctor explained that she "contacted' diabetes within the past 30 days.  You do not have a long diagnostic time with Type I.  The pancreas shuts down.  As I find out, it's a virus that attacts itself.  Lo and behold, my daughter got the autoimmune before I did.

*Sorry for hijacking the thread.  I think this is an important point and most people really don't know much about it.  I didn't and my daughter didn't.  After all, she wasn't heavy, older etc.  Please be aware for your children, grandchildren and yourself.  Lucy

[Joe S.]

While this was a shock to me, I would have known from her behavior last month. I did not pay attention to the symptoms because I did not think that anyone in her family had diabetes. I lost a childhood friend to this when he turned 51 years old. I have Type II and the doctors are playing with my treatment making nothing stable like it was for 20+ years before.

It was my hope that this would be a reminder for others, so eyeamdry you did not hijack the thread. This is an autoimmune disease also.

[Katybarstool]

Joe

What a terrible thing to happen. I will keep this child and her family and friends in my prayers.

Lucy, thanks for your information. I will certainly remember it.

Kathyx