TYPE 1 DIABETES WILL NOT STOP ME

Miah Niecke is a young and vibrant 14-year-old teenager. She recently graduated as a Junior Scuba Diver; was awarded 1st place in the SA National Equestrian Schools Association regional show jumping championship in 2016; was selected for her school cross country team which competed at the prestigious Super 12 Primary Schools’ Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016; and is preparing to compete in the 94.7 cycle challenge!

ALLOWING THE DIAGNOSIS TO GET BETWEEN HER AND HER LOVE FOR SPORT WAS NOT AN OPTION

She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2015, when she was 11 years old.  Allowing the diagnosis to get between her and her love for sport was not an option and with the support of loving family and friends she started chasing her dreams once again.   However, sport became more challenging as she had to learn how to manage the unpredictability of her blood glucose levels during exercise and competitions.

Miah Niecke shared with me the importance of dealing with the emotional aspect of diabetes.  In 2016, after months of preparing for a cross country event, she couldn’t compete.  She was traveling with her team and the excitement and adrenaline started playing havoc with her glucose levels and prevented her from competing.  This was a huge disappointment for her, but with the support of friends and family, it became a learning opportunity and she learned to tap into her inner strength and to persevere, even during times when things do not pan out the way she expected it to.

She started a using Guardian™ Connect device, which continuously monitors her glucose levels and her activities on her phone.  Her parents, receive text messages when she drops below her target range. Both Mom and daughter agree that distance monitoring had a dramatic impact on their lives.  Her parents, can go to bed, or send their daughter to a camp, knowing that they can monitor her remotely. 

Her Mother, Michellè wrote:

“Our kids' journeys might be a bit more complicated;
be a little (sometimes a lot) harder;
involve a little (sometimes a lot) more effort and management;
always involve tons of math and a fair amount of preparation;
cause us a couple grey hairs;
take our families down scary paths;
have us crying in the shower at times;
cause us hours of lost sleep.

NONETHELESS.

In most cases, dreams still can come true, and goals can be achieved. To tell ourselves it will come without any additional effort would be to optimistically tell ourselves a lie. Yes, it is hard sometimes, but hard is not impossible.

...and let's face it, in the end achieving a goal and achieving dreams are just so much bigger and sweeter. It is something only we get to see; something only we can know; a journey only we get to appreciate and understand and grasp fully. Sort of like a secret society...”

Miah Niecke represents so many young people, living unstoppable lives, notwithstanding their condition.  We are inspired by her story and look forward to her cycle challenge in November!

Posted by: Ronel Hentschel