Stuart G. Voelpel
Chief Operating Officer
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
President
Moore Regional Hospital
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Sometime later this year, my wife will observe an anniversary.
She is, as you will come to understand, of two minds about it.
In one respect, this upcoming anniversary is a
milestone that she would rather not have been
put into the position of noting. On the other, she
will acknowledge it as a significant achievement
of survival and strength.
Sylvia, my wife, has type 1 diabetes. This year,
she will mark 50 years of living with a disease
that has very likely claimed the lives of many of
the young people who were diagnosed at about
the same time as she. |
It has not been an easy arrangement, this
lifelong relationship with diabetes. Sylvia has
dealt with almost every major complication for
which the disease is a documented health risk:
retinal detachment, cardiovascular disease and
diabetic neuropathy, and we have lost a child, a
full-term stillborn baby. Somehow her kidneys
have remained healthy, a fact that we attribute
to the watchful eye of her physician, Dr. Walter
Morris, as well as to her own awareness of her
body. She is perceptive to change, and she takes
care of herself.
But Sylvia’s story is not unique, nor is the
effect that her condition has had on our family.
In many ways, “her” diabetes has become “our”
diabetes. More than 30 years later, the loss of our
first child is still painful, and we wonder if the
disease could somehow affect our two surviving
children. While the specter of type 1 diabetes
no longer haunts us, we wonder how the rigors
of pregnancy could affect our daughter, who has
started to plan a family of her own, or if type 2
diabetes could somehow affect our son, who has
put on a few extra pounds.
We have also put aside some of our plans for
this stage of our life together. Because the neuropathic
pain in her legs can be debilitating, we
aren’t able to travel as we had hoped or even take
long walks in our neighborhood.
This story is our story, but as I said before, it’s
not unique. Millions of families struggle with
the realities of diabetes every day, many much
less successfully than we have. Fortunately, doctors
diagnosed and treated Sylvia’s diabetes early.
Fortunately, she has always had the benefit of
excellent medical care. And, fortunately, we have
had the means to provide it.
Many folks aren’t so lucky. But, as you will
learn in this issue of FirstHealth of the Carolinas,
there is hope.
While there is yet no prevention or cure for
type 1 diabetes, or even a good way to predict
whom it will affect or when, it can be managed.
There’s even better news about type 2 diabetes,
because it is a preventable ailment.
Whether type 1 or type 2, diabetes is a 24/7
disease. To borrow a quote from the American
Diabetes Association, “No matter how old you
are, or at what age you were diagnosed, you’re
going to have challenges with your diabetes
along the way.”
Your family will, too. Just ask my wife.
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