Unbeatable Mrs. T. Rithika
31 y.o., real-estate manager
Juvenile TYPE 1 Diabetes
Leading a beautiful life despite the odds.
Rithika was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when she was just nine years old, which came as a big shocker to her family. Let us read the story of the unbeatable Rithika.
When Rithika recounts the incident, she says, “It was summer vacation, and I was staying with my grandparents in Hyderabad. There were mangoes everywhere, and I ate a lot of them. But there was something unusual going on. I wasn’t putting on any weight. And I’d pass out on the floor every time I ate mangoes. My blood sugar was 800 mg/dL when doctors checked it. They warned me that if I didn’t seek treatment straight away, I might lose my sight.”
Rithika was in the hospital for the next 15 days. Her parents, on the other hand, were taken aback and flew in right away. It took them a long time to realise that their daughter’s pancreas was not producing any insulin and that the only choice was to inject it. The physicians taught Rithika how to inject herself with her parents’ permission and told her that she should never rely on anybody else for insulin injections.
“My doctor gave me the first shot, and I’ve been taking it myself ever since,” Rithika explained.
Rithika and her family then relocated to Italy for a few years.
“It was a great trip to Italy. The schools were quite helpful. They occasionally prepared diabetic-friendly meals for me. Every month, a counselor would check in over me and educate me on how to handle various circumstances as a diabetic adolescent. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to meet other children who were in similar situations. That made me realize I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.” She quoted.
When Rithika returned to India, no school was prepared to accept her. They weren’t ready to take on her burden. She had to opt for a national open school to take her boards after a series of failed requests. When she was looking for college admissions, she ran into the same issue. But this time, her mother filed a case against the educational system. And she triumphed. Today, any youngster with a lifestyle issue can apply to any Indian institute. Thanks to her, they will not be able to refuse entrance and will be accountable for every child’s health.
“One of my college teachers suspended me for bringing insulin injections to class as if I were breaking the law. My parents had to intervene once more; it was ridiculous.” Rithika remembers.
Rithika’s issues didn’t end there. She was often rejected in job applications after graduation. But, as a fighter, she persisted. She has now travelled to ten countries, gone on many solo journeys, is happily married to the love of her life; works for a prestigious real-estate French company, and recently gave birth to a healthy baby. She also has an Instagram account (@diabetic_mom_rithika), where she writes about her experiences as a type 1 diabetic mom and offers advice to others.
Read More: Ritesh Jain, “My HbA1c levels have come down from 11.3% to 6.8% with BeatO”
Since 2016, Rithika has been using the BeatO Smart glucometer. She adores it and enthusiastically promotes it to everyone she meets. When she got pregnant in 2020, she got the Abbott Freestyle Libre Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device via BeatO’s Diabetes Control program.
“Anchit from BeatO has been a great help to me. He advised me to grab the GCM device immediately and showed me how to use it. This device was a blessing during my pregnancy. My husband and I were finally able to take a deep breath for the first time in a long time. Prior to that, I was experiencing hypoglycemic crises and was really concerned about my impending delivery.”
Rithika still checks her blood sugar 10 to 15 times a day. And she’s a big fan of BeatO’s products and services. We appreciate her unwavering spirit and are amazed by her incredible life path.
Disclaimer:The content of this article is compiled information from generic and public sources. It is in no way a substitute, suggestion, or advice for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. BeatoApp does not claim responsibility for this information .
Dr. Navneet Agarwal is an established and highly skilled Diabetology with over 25 years of experience in Diabetology & Obesity. He is well-regarded for his quality and patient-centered diabetes care. Also, keep track of your blood sugar levels with a Doctors’ approved smart glucometer and elevate your healthcare routine.
