The Story of Rada: How and When I First Heard About Diabetes

The village where I grew up has about 1000 to 2000 inhabitants. In first grade, I met some friends, including my friend Rada. I loved going to school with her so much that I would cry if she left without me.

Rada ended up in the hospital. I overheard my parents talking worriedly that Rada had diabetes and would need to take insulin. Her parents were heartbroken. They had heard various stories. They were afraid of the length of Rada's life, and the quality of her life. I saw fear and concern in my parents, and I concluded that diabetes was something very serious, but I didn’t really understand anything. To me, Rada looked the same as before.

I didn’t think much about Rada and diabetes while growing up. In seventh grade, Rada was in the hospital and stayed for about a month. My parents told me to call her and check on her. I did, but I ended up crying during our conversation. Rada stayed positive the entire time, but I felt sad for her. If you asked me now why I cried, I wouldn’t know what to say. In eighth grade, Rada and I realized that we had the same graduation dress. She was fine with it, but it really upset me. I wanted to be special.

On September 16, 2021, I faced diabetes. After high school, I didn’t see Rada much, even though we were both in Belgrade. I didn’t have the courage to write to her, but I often thought about her. I started to understand Rada’s strength, her battle behind the scenes, and the effort of her parents. Parents who are not rich but invest every penny in her health. Her mom, who taught her not only how to make a beautiful hairstyle but also about nutrition, physical activity, and how to take care of herself independently.

In my hardest moments, I kept asking myself: How did Rada go through all of this? In a small community, with parents who didn’t know where life was taking them. Yet Rada was there. At every school trip, every birthday, every exam, every break where we shared birthday candies and festive bread, at physical education classes, and every day, she kept a self-monitoring journal to show to her pediatric endocrinologist at check-ups.

Time passed, and Rada was a good friend, daughter, sister, student, girlfriend, and now a woman. Rada became a hairdresser. Rada graduated from college. Rada jumped out of an airplane. Rada trained kickboxing. Rada is a great driver. Rada achieved everything she wanted, and her whole life is ahead of her, along with diabetes. If her parents had known all of this when her diabetes was first diagnosed, the entire process would have been much easier.

I met Rada at our 10-year high school reunion. Her friends know her with diabetes, and me without it. I remain silent about diabetes, though I ask Rada how she is doing. As we were saying goodbye, I told her: “I wanted to share something with you, but I didn’t have the courage to tell you in person, I’ll write it to you in a message.” I believe she had no idea what I had to share with her. However, this is how Rada learned that there was something that connected us. Our graduation dresses weren’t the same in the end, each one was special in its own way, but diabetes was the same for both of us. We are both type 1.

Right now, many little Radas (both boys and girls) are growing up in the Balkans, with frightened and lost parents who wake up at night and check their children in fear. This text is dedicated to my Rada, the brave Rada, the girl from a small, uneducated community, who is now a young, healthy, happy woman living her life to the fullest.

This text is dedicated to all the little Radas who are currently fighting these battles. This post is dedicated to the parents of little Radas, to hug their Radas and help them become independent as much as they can. And to know that your Radas will grow up, and you will have the opportunity to watch them overcome one obstacle after another, achieve success after success, and celebrate birthdays one after another. This text is for Rada.

Author: Dr. Lidija Kojić, @dijabetesiliskica

Lidija Kojić is a medical doctor. She has been living with type 1 diabetes since September 2021. She created her Instagram account, @dijabetesiliskica, to offer support and create educational content aimed at people diagnosed with diabetes, as well as their family members, friends, and anyone who wants to educate themselves about diabetes. Through sharing real-life challenges faced by those living with diabetes, her goal is to help the public understand the strength and vulnerability carried by individuals who live with diabetes.

*This text is intended solely for informational purposes. If you experience any symptoms, it is recommended to seek advice from your doctor or a qualified health professional.

Source of the cover photo: Küçükgül, B. (2021, May 24). White daisy in bloom during daytime [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/white-daisy-in-bloom-during-daytime-TIM2WIFyGa4