A New Diabetes
I was diagnosed with Diabetes insipidus when I was only 12 years old. The condition came out of nowhere; I don’t even remember how it started only that I was drinking pitchers and pitchers of fruit juice in a day! Needless to say my parents wondered where this sudden thirst came from, but just thought that I was being a normal active kid.
It was when I went to see my family doctor that he noticed that something must be wrong. They looked at Addison’s disease, MRI’s, blood work and nothing showed any signs of abnormality. After realizing that my electrolyte levels were totally out of wack did they diagnose the diabetes insipidus based on reported symptoms. I began taking a medication called desmopressin, which came in a nasal spray. My family didn’t have a lot of money so I had to use the generic form, which needed to be refrigerated at all times. I carried a lunch box backed with ice for the rest of my school career and finally when I did get to college the unrefrigerated bottle was available to me. It has been a long struggle to understand what my body will react to and how to control my electrolytes. After being hospitalized for hyponatremia, I vowed to myself to keep myself healthy and NEVER go back to the hospital for anything that I could control. That was in April 1999 and I am happy to say that I haven’t been back since.
Carla A, Pennsylvania