Growing up with diabetes – Las Cruces Sun-News

From Wednesday to Friday, the Silva familys life changed. Zahmira Silva, then 7, had a teacher question whether frequent requests to use the restroom could have other explanations than just a desire to get out of class. Zahmira and her parents Rudy and Shawn Silva made an appointment to see the doctor on a Wednesday. The diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes.

I went home to search online and just scared myself, said Shawn.

Overnight our world changed, Rudy said.

By Friday, Zahmira and her parents were in the hospital for a five-day crash course of diabetes education and to get her blood sugar under control.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, the main type of sugar in the blood. Typically, bodies naturally break down food into glucose. When the glucose level rises, the pancreas makes the hormone insulin and releases it into the blood. With diabetes, the body doesnt produce insulin (Type 1) or cant respond to insulin properly (Type 2.) In either case, with high blood sugar levels remaining in the body, there can be complications.

Type 1 symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, and blurred vision. Children also may feel very tired. Type 2 symptoms are progress slowly and include Type 1 symptoms but also frequent infections, slow healing of wounds or sores, yeast infections or burning on urination due to yeast infection. With extreme elevation of glucose in the blood, there may be signs of severe dehydration and coma.

The prevalence of diabetes along the U.S. Mexico border is 16.1 percent compared to 8.3 percent in the U.S. population as a whole. American Diabetes Association

One of the most common disease is school-aged children, diabetes is still a terrifying diagnoses for a parent to hear about their child. In 2012, about 208,000 young people in the U.S. under the age of 20 were diagnosed with diabetes. Many nationwide look to support groups to help navigate this life change.

They taught us how to survive at the hospital, but having a support group, thats where we learned how to live with it and be smart about it, Rudy said.

For five years, the Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach has had a support group specifically for children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Established in 1998 by local health professionals and other citizens, the organizers were dedicated to helping prevent and manage diabetes affecting the community. Volunteers like Beverly Estrada, the coordinator for the group, create a special connection to the children and parents looking for someone to talk to and learn from Estrada herself was diagnosed at the age of 5 with Type 1 diabetes.

The adjustment for the Silva family, who also have three older sons, was hard, especially at first when they wiped their pantry clean. However, they later learned through education through the support group the wide variety of food they could offer Zahmira.

Its not about deprivation, its about eating properly and how to balance your plate, Estrada said.

Id tell them its not too bad because when you get older it gets easier. Zahmira Silva, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 7

In the support group, she teaches parents and children about counting carbohydrates such as breads, pasta and rice; and how those can affect blood glucose levels.

Its also dealing with emotions, sometimes self-esteem takes a hit, Estrada explained. No one like changes, because change is never easy and there is nothing worse to be diagnosed with something you may know nothing about.

She notes that diagnosis and journey that follows for the child and family is not an easy one.

Shawna, Zahmira, 10, and Sabian Silva, at a warm up before Zahmira's baseball game on May 15. With Zahmira's Type 1 diabetes diagnosis meant not only a lifestyle change for her, but for her whole family. Support and education is key to maintaining a healthy environment. (Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)

There (are) a million questions, she said. You might feel like youre failing as a parent, and youre guessing, but come out because there are so many in the same shoes walking this journey. Educate yourself, embrace it and take it on and make it your best friend.

Zahmira suggested a simple measure for other kids like her.

Id tell them its not too bad because when you get older it gets easier, she said.

She also thought about how she handled the change in her life, and admitted that she feels pretty normal.

You have two choices: you dont take care of it and the worst happens, or you jump in with both feet, Rudy said. And I feel the proudest of her answer, that she does feel normal.

Cassie McClure is a freelance writer and may be reached at cassiemcclure@gmail.com.

About 208,000 Americans under age 20 have been diagnosed diabetes, approximately 0.25 percent of the population.

From 2008 to 2009, the annual incidence of diagnosed diabetes in youth was estimated at 18,436 with type 1 diabetes, 5,089 with type 2 diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2012, there are 8.1 million people undiagnosed with diabetes.

25.8 million: The estimated number of children and adults that have diabetes which is 8.3 percent of the population

79 million: The number of Americans with prediabetes

The prevalence of diabetes along the U.S. Mexico border is 16.1 percent compared to 8.3 percent in the U.S. population as a whole.

Hispanics are 1.7 times as likely to have diabetes when compared to non-Hispanic whites.

Source: American Diabetes Association

Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach has a support group for elementary-, middle- and high school-age youths from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesdays of each month at MountainView Senior Circle Association, 3948 E. Lohman Ave., Suite 1 (behind Walgreens). Snacks are provided. Parents/guardians are required to attend. Children under five are also accepted when diagnosed. Info: 575-522-0289, snmdo.org and snmdo@snmdo.org

El Paso Diabetes Association has two opportunities for children and adolescents with diabetes:

Info: epdiabetes.org, info@epdiabetes.org and 915-532-6280

The American Diabetes Association has a section just for kids with diabetes and their parents, including how to have discussions with your children and strategies for parents together: Info:www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/parents-and-kids

Children with Diabetes highlights the stories of other children with diabetes and tips for parents Info:www.childrenwithdiabetes.com

Myth: People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods.

Fact: A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is generally the same as a healthy eating for anyone low in saturated and trans fat, moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and fruit. "Diabetic" foods generally offer no special benefit. Most of them still raise blood glucose levels, are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

Fact: The answer is not so simple. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease; Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors.

Being overweight does increase your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, and a diet high in calories from any source contributes to weight gain. Research has shown that drinking sugary drinks is linked to Type 2 diabetes.

Myth: People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate.

Fact: If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes than they are to people without diabetes. The key to sweets is to have a very small portion and save them for special occasions so you focus your meal on more healthful foods.

Source: American Diabetes Association

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Growing up with diabetes - Las Cruces Sun-News