At age 15, Martin King was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and his life changed in many ways.
One of those changes—keeping his condition a secret—has unexpectedly led to him becoming part of an advocacy group that has been working to help youth who are living with Type 1 diabetes.
According to the Mayo Clinic website, Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. There is no cure, however, the site says treatment focuses on managing blood sugar levels with insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications.
King, now 19, told Stabroek News that although he had been losing weight and was often feeling thirsty and fatigued and making frequent visits to the bathroom, he had never considered these to be signs of a chronic illness.