‘It’s very upsetting to see people passing away’

‘It’s very upsetting to see people passing away’

By Aideen O'Flaherty

A YOUNG woman who lives with type one diabetes is trying to raise awareness of the condition, after reading about the recent Dublin Coroner’s Court hearing of a 24-year-old man who died in September 2016 after neglecting to manage his type one diabetes.

Roisin Keegan (30), from Millbrook Lawns in Tallaght, contacted The Echo after reading a piece in the April 12 paper about the death of Graeme Skerrett, from Belgard Heights, who passed away after his blood sugars rose to high levels as he was not taking his insulin.

diabetes

Roisin Keegan and her supplies for managing diabetes (right)

Ms Keegan explained that a lot of people are aware of type two diabetes, which usually develops in adulthood and can in some cases be treated by diet and exercise, but that there is a lack of awareness of type one diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition which typically develops in childhood and early adolescence.

Ms Keegan, who is a special needs assistant in a local primary school, told The Echo: “A lot of attention is paid to type two diabetes, but people are passing away from type one and there’s very little emotional support.

“It’s very upsetting to see people passing away from it, I’ve heard of incidents of very young girls passing away.”

One of the most difficult things about the condition is managing it, according to Ms Keegan, as you always have to carry implements around with you to measure your blood sugar levels and to inject insulin.

“A lot of people don’t understand how much time and effort people with type one diabetes have to spend looking after themselves,” Ms Keegan said.

Can end up with blindness

“If you don’t control it you can end up with blindness, it can damage your heart and your kidneys – you can die from it.

“With so many gaps both in the health system and the community, people living with type one can emotionally struggle and there is very little thought given to the burdens that they need to overcome in order to live a healthy life.

“The emotional and social implications are never discussed, and people’s general misunderstandings can also be hard for people living with type one to overcome.”

One of the frequent misunderstandings that Ms Keegan encounters is when well-meaning people comment when she gets a piece of food that may have high sugar content, usually remarking that she shouldn’t be eating that type of food.

Ms Keegan uses an insulin pump, which is attached to her all the time, however she explained that “even with all of the supplies belonging to the pump, I still need to have needles in the house or with me if I go travelling”.

“I have to carry glucose tablets and Lucozade with me everywhere I go, because I have a responsible job so I cannot afford to [let my blood sugar levels go] low, and I drive quite a lot so I need to make sure I am fit to drive.”

When asked what advice she would give to anyone living with type one diabetes, Ms Keegan said: “It’s a serious condition that requires patience and tolerance. If they’re struggling, they should fight for the help that they need.”

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