Real Talk
Exclusive on Modern Parenting: The Real Story of a Filipina Living with PCOS and Type-1 Diabetes
To live not only with 1 but 2 hormone-based diseases like PCOS and Diabetes is a challenge Amanda Endique has battled for years.
PCOS, also known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is a terrifying diagnosis for any woman. Add Diabetes Type-1 to the mix and anyone would just ask if Fate’s having a field day with them. Just ask Amanda Endique. “I had to be conscious of my medications for hormonal imbalance,” she admits. “I was not used to having prescription drugs or tools to manage both my diabetes and PCOS. There were moments when I constantly asked myself why these are all happening to me.”
Before life decided to deal her a strange hand
Before her diagnosis of PCOS, Amanda Endique just thought that puberty hit her a little too hard. Severe weight loss, getting extra hungry and thirsty, and skin and mouth were becoming extra dry—it looked like the stereotypical symptoms of puberty. At least until she received her diagnosis of Type-1 Diabetes. She shares, “I also urinated more than usual. And I always felt exhausted. My mom and I went to the doctor, and we found out that not only do I have Type-1 diabetes, but a life-threatening complication known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) as well. DKA meant that my blood was more acidic than normal. The doctor said that my diabetes was already out of control, so we had to spend 5 days in the hospital.”
As if life hadn’t dealt her a bad enough hand, at age 24, she received the diagnosis of PCOS. Amanda explains, “I struggled to understand my unexplainable weight gain, irregular periods, and abdominal and back pains. My irregular period affected my hormones and overall mood. I experienced skin breakouts when I was younger, too. So I thought back then it was puberty. But the abdominal pain was unbearable which led me to consult my doctor.”
Moreover, she adds that the diagnosis of Type-1 Diabetes gave her signals that PCOS may have followed. “Additionally, a study showed that women with Type-1 diabetes are more likely to develop PCOS compared to the local population. This made me realize how diabetes and PCOS are intertwined, something I should have known earlier.”
A radical change in lifestyle
Both diagnoses on the spot seemed to be a terrifying life sentence. But Amanda Endique decided to take those two diseases by the reins and turn her life around. She shares, “I did not want to be defeated by PCOS and diabetes. While my condition was frustrating, I needed to show that I can still live normally. I did not want diabetes and PCOS to define who I am and how I should live. I want to take control of my conditions. At present, I do not consider diabetes and PCOS as death sentences. Instead, I choose to live life better through available healthier choices.”
From monitoring her sugar religiously with her continuous glucometer—the Abbott FreeStyle Libre System, to managing her food, and being more conscious of what she eats, Amanda is living proof that people with both Type-1 Diabetes and PCOS can still live full lives.
PCOS 101: What You Need To Know
PCOS can ruin a lot of things. Amanda shares that, unfortunately, the lack of awareness and the strong stigma against it is still one challenge she’s dealing with. “The reality is PCOS is not known much publicly but many women have it. I learned recently that PCOS can also increase the risk of having diabetes. Because they are rarely talked about, some fellow women may think they are the only ones affected by PCOS and diabetes, which is discouraging on our end.”
Besides increasing the risk of having diabetes, there are a lot of complications that can really break a woman’s self-esteem. Amanda shares that besides mood swings, it puts a damper on her wish to become a mom. “I struggle with mood swings and infertility. My partner and I have been trying to conceive for years. And I sometimes feel afraid that I might not be able to have a child in the future. But by knowing more about both conditions, I get to understand how to manage my life for the better. Managing both diabetes and PCOS does not need to be complicated. These can be something we can proactively manage with the right information, resources, and support from our friends and loved ones.”
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