Type 1 Diabetes – it happened to us
This illness gripped Reuben at five-years-old, but his parents armored themselves with knowledge to face his Type 1 Diabetes.
Five years after being born, parents of Reuben Duvenhage learned that he has Type 1 Diabetes after showing symptoms of immense thirst, sleeplessness and weight loss.
“It started about two moths ago,” said Carl Duvenhage, Reuben’s father.
“He started falling asleep at school, was constantly thirsty and after he lost a lot of weight in a very short space of time, we took him to a clinic.”
The nurse his mother Lairiane Duvenhage, and Carl went to see, told the worried parents that Reuben should immediately be taken to hospital because of his high sugar levels.
“Reuben was in hospital for a week, as he received treatment for Type 1 Diabetes,” Lairiane, a teacher, explained.
Three months later, Reuben’s insulin levels are checked every morning and evening and before meal time.
“His immune system destroys the cells in his pancreas that produces insulin,” Carl said.
A doctor from Medicross in Krugersdorp, Dr Rink van Veenendaal explained that Type 1 Diabetes normally occurs in younger patients.
Carl and Lairiane are now in the process of getting a medical aid.
“State hospitals do not supply everything we need, and even if they do, they never have everything in stock,” Carl said.
One of the parents of twins that Lairiane teaches, Amelia Van Rhyneveld started a campaign for Reuben in support of his medical costs.
“I lost a child last year. I do not wish for Lairiane to experience the same thing,” Amelia said.
Amelia decided to help the Duvenhage’s with a Denim Day drive throughout the Krugersdorp area.
Denim Day is based on the project that Diabetes South Africa, a non-profit organisation, started to raise awareness for Diabetes. Diabetes SA sells R10 stickers in exchange for wearing jeans to work.
Amelia will sell Denim Day stickers on 24 July in support of Reuben and Diabetes SA’s initiative.
“R5 will go to Diabetes South Africa and the remaining R5 towards Reuben.”
Carl admitted that he never thought his child would be a diabetic.
“You always say ‘It will never happen to us,” but it did.”
