Olena's chronic disease (UNIRI-02-EN)

Olena, a 12-year-old girl suffering from diabetes, has been in continuous treatment since her arriving from war-zone a year ago. The general practitioner expressed his worries about difficult regulation of the levels of blood sugar despite adequate treatment. Her mother said that Olena has been anxious since their arrival, bites her nails, cries a lot, blames mother for leaving their home, blames herself for leaving friends and pet and avoids social media and television. The mother is particularly concerned because of Olena’s inability to concentrate and focus on tasks, decrease of appetite, difficulties with memory and difficulties in adaptation in new surroundings, such as peers, school, and neighbourhood.

The doctor talked to Olena and her mother about possible link between worsening of diabetes and exposure to constant stress due to psychological trauma experienced in domestic country. Olena started to cry and said that she was ashamed to talk about nightmares, worries and fears because a classmate told her she is awkward.

The doctor explained that it is normal to have emotional and other reactions to abnormal and horrifying situations and the problem is if integration of those experiences in personal life story and adaptation doesn’t occur eventually. Some people go through that process on their own and some of them need help.

He suggested them to seek a support and counselling from the school psychologist.

He also suggested an additional educational material related to psychological trauma and self-help techniques that could help Olena to overcome current problems. 

The doctor expressed his expectation that worsening of the diabetes and instability of the sugar levels will improve with decrease of the posttraumatic symptoms and personal suffering and offered his further support and attendance.

Assoc.Prof. Marina Letica Crepulja, MD, PhD (UNIRI-MEDRI)