Aloha, We’re the Endocrine Sisters

My sister and I have always been joined at the hip. However, we would come to find out years later that we had more in common than we thought.

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, it came very unexpectedly and it was a shock to my family and I. It didn’t run in my family and we had no idea there were even multiple types of diabetes.

Gooey (childhood nickname) was unexpectedly diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and celiac disease years later.

Think there might be a correlation? Let’s investigate further…

Both Type 1 diabetes and hyperthyroidism can be autoimmune diseases. An autoimmune disease is when your body attacks itself. The reason for the attack is unclear, but it can be caused by genes or due to an environmental factor, such as a virus.

Back to why we’re called, the Endocrine Sisters. Both of our autoimmune diseases attacked our endocrine systems. Your endocrine system is associated with the secretion of hormones directly into your bloodstream.

For me, my body attacked my pancreas and stopped my production of insulin. For Gooey, her body attacked her thyroid and increased her production of T3 and T4 hormones. This caused her body’s metabolism to speed up and other complications, such as irregular heart rate, muscle weakness, and weight loss.

Question is, could there be a correlation between our two diagnoses or did we just get lucky in the autoimmune department?

The answer is unclear due to the many reasons why autoimmune diseases occur. It could be due from predisposed genetics with an environmental trigger or it could be from other natural causes. One thing is for sure, I’m thankful to have this rad sister of mine because our autoimmune disorders have not limited us in fully living our lives 🌞

To all my wonderful diabetics out there, the cause of your diabetes might be frustrating because it was beyond your control. BUT one thing that is in your control is your mindset.

Change your mind. Change your life

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