Batavia resident, at 24, deals with diabetes and layoff

Today’s economic hardships are leaving thousands of Americans in fear of losing their job, house, and lifestyle. For some losing their job could cost their life.

Eric Boland, age 24 of Batavia, was temporarily laid off from a HVAC company in Buffalo last month. Boland’s first thought of course was financies, but not those of rent, food, etc. it is for a disease that demands hundreds of dollars of month, Type 1 diabetes.   

“It costs about $785 a month just for my supplies that I need every day,” said Boland. “Plus my doctor visits once a month, and an insulin pump on average, is $6,000.” Boland said he was ecstatic when he found out he would be receiving his full medical coverage, which makes living with diabetes slightly easier.

Every day an insulin pump is resting in his jean pockets. In every pair of pants he owns, he has cut a small hole inside the bottom of the pocket, so that the thin clear cord from the insulin pump, which connects into the skin on his stomach, is unnoticeable.

Every two days, he has to change what is called an infusion set. The infusion set is a long needle that is used to insert the cord from the pump into his body.  Boland says today it is difficult sometimes to find a spot on his skin that does not have scar tissue. Boland has been doing this since he was eight years old. 

Anytime he eats or drinks he has to take the pump out of his pocket and give himself enough insulin for the total amount of carbohydrates he consumes. He has to check his blood sugar with a finger stick needle at least four times a day. 

The day Boland found out he was diabetic is a crystal clear memory, and the everyday needles is a constant reminder. 

“I was so scared because I didn’t know what diabetes was,” said Boland who was diagnosed at eight years old. “ That day my biggest fear was to take a pill, because I couldn’t swallow them,” said Boland.  He didn’t realize how serious it was until he heard his mother crying at the hospital while on the phone with his father. 

“I only cried when I heard my mother crying. I thought because she was crying, I was going to die,” said Boland. 

Less than one percent of Americans age 20 and younger have diabetes.

Life became more complicated while he tried to ignore the fact that he was diabetic. Two years later his younger brother, Shaun, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and the family’s lifestyle became a little more intricate.

“The most difficult thing was all the day to day stuff, birthday parties, treats at school, everyone else would get cake and candy while my boys would get a matchbox car”, said Patty Boland, Boland’s mother. “I would tell them that the car lasts longer than candy but, they didn't want to be different, especially Eric.”

At 8-years-old children drink Kool-Aid and look forward to Halloween, but for Boland that wasn’t the case.

Just a few days before the exciting Trick-or-Treating night, he was in his room for a little too long. His mother said that he walked out to the living room with the most somber face and a sandwich board type sign that was hanging on his little body, that read, “ Trick or Treat, I'm diabetic so don't give me candy because I can't eat it."

“It was quite heart wrenching,” said Patty Boland.

Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes was such a big responsibility and too much for Boland. He says he decided that he would just ignore the disease and life would be much easier.

He tried ignoring it when he would be at a friend’s house when they would offer him Kool-Aid. He would drink it and not say anything. When he would come home his blood sugar would be extremely high and make him feel horrible, but that wasn’t enough to make him change.

“Most of the time I feel like I can control it (diabetes), but when I think about what it can do to me, I think it controls me, said Boland. “The fact is no matter how well it’s controlled it could still lead to problems later in life.”  

As I watched him test his blood sugar I could see all the tiny needle marks on his fingertips.

He was very particular about which fingers he pricked,” said his mother, “He wanted to make sure he could use some fingers to read brail.” Blindness is one of the complications of diabetes.

Today he says he doesn’t even feel the needle anymore.

Last year he was told that he is showing signs of Diabetic Retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels in the retina). This happens because of his blood sugar levels being so inconsistent, from high to low. The normal blood sugar level for a diabetic is between 80 and 180.

Boland says his blood sugar will reach 300, sometimes even 400, and at other times will drop down quickly in to the 50’s or 60’s. The high and low blood sugar level is what leads to health problems later in life.

Diabetic Retinopathy in its beginning stages has no treatment, except that you must keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range. If it worsens, laser surgery is available but doesn’t guarantee that there will be no loss of sight.

Boland said this made him realize whether he wants to admit it or not, he has diabetes, and if he does not take care of it, it will destroy him.

Last year Eric and I were married. As with every couple your world always changes, that is life, but my lifestyle and attitude changed drastically because it had too. I had to realize the seriousness of this disease.

Today Eric has taken charge of his disease and is back at work.