Teenager Jemimah Chelogoi Thrives with Diabetes Diagnosed at Age Seven

In 2018, seven-year-old Jemimah Chelogoi’s active life changed when her mother, Dr. Faith Kamwasir, noticed sudden symptoms: rapid weight loss, constant thirst, huge appetite, and bedwetting. A hospital visit revealed extremely high blood sugar levels, leading to a week-long admission and a diabetes diagnosis.

Life after discharge meant insulin injections, oral meds, and a carb-limited diet heavy on vegetables. The young girl feared the large adult syringes at her initial hospital, and school brought hypoglycaemia episodes that left her weak and required glucose and parental alerts.

Special meals were delivered to school to match her needs, easing the strain. Switching to Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital in Mbarara transformed her care. Surrounded by over 200 peers with diabetes, Jemimah gained confidence through family training on monitoring, insulin use, and diet impacts.

Puberty brought hormonal challenges and emotional struggles, with questions like ‘Why me?’ But education helped her accept it as manageable. Now 15, her day starts at 6am with finger-prick blood tests guiding breakfast and insulin doses.

She adjusts for high or low sugar—delaying meals, snacking on low-carb fruits like oranges, or exercising—while eating three balanced school meals daily. Teachers are trained for emergencies, and she senses sugar drops intuitively.

Experts stress early detection of child diabetes signs like frequent urination, thirst, weight loss, hunger, fatigue, or irritability to prevent dangers like ketoacidosis.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)