Elmira is a vibrant and talented young lady. She enjoys swimming, playing basketball and bicycling in her neighborhood. She enjoys all of the normal activities of a typical teenager, despite having been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.
Several years ago, Elmira’s parents noticed that she was constantly thirsty, and that she lost a significant amount of weight without dieting. She was also suffering from extreme fatigue. She simply was not her normal active self. All of these symptoms were of immediate concern to her family members and they sought to take action right away.
Elmira’s parents discussed her condition with friends and colleagues who were knowledgeable on the expert care provided at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF for pediatric diabetes patients. Accordingly, they advised Elmira’s parents for her to see the UF physicians at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Upon careful evaluation from the skilled and well-trained staff at Shands Children’s Hospital, Elmira was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes and now is able to successfully monitor her blood sugar levels throughout the course of the day. She continues to come to Shands regularly for follow up visits, but she does not let her diabetes slow her down.