Sahez and Japhar: “Our conditions connect us, but won’t stop us”
Growing up with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can be challenging and sometimes lonely. Feeling different and having to do things other children don’t can all be part of the experience.
But for 17-year-old Sahez, having T1D has also created a special relationship with her cousin Japhar, 14, who lives with another autoimmune condition: coeliac disease.
Sahez’s story
Sahez and Japhar have grown up together, at first with their families living in the same home, and now living just a street apart. The two have a close bond, and they share their experience living with autoimmune conditions on their Instagram page @the.singh.sisters.au.
Sahez was five years old when she was diagnosed with T1D.
“My parents noticed I was losing weight, I was having trouble breathing, and something just didn’t seem right,” she says.
“My father did some research and he put it together that I could have diabetes. So they took me to the doctor, and when they did my blood sugar level, it was way off the charts, so they sent me straight to emergency.”
From there it was a steep learning curve for the whole family. Growing up with T1D was challenging at times, says Sahez, and it led her to question her self-worth.
“Sometimes the diabetes made me feel less than other people,” she says. “That was something I had to learn – that just because I have a condition doesn’t mean I have to prove myself any more than anyone else. I used to think, ‘I’m a diabetic, so obviously I’m not as good as everyone else, so I need to show that I can be better.’”
Having her diagnosis at a young age has been helpful though, says Sahez, because she doesn’t remember her life before having T1D.
“My personality has developed because of my challenges with diabetes,” she says. “If you took that part away from me, there would be something of me that’s lost because I’ve just learned to be a different person.”
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Sahez has learnt to overcome that negative self-talk too. “I thought people were perceiving me a certain way, so I always felt the need to be better, but now I feel like I can take up as much space as I want. I’m just as valid as anybody else.”
Now in her final year of high school, Sahez hasn’t let T1D get in her way. With an early acceptance into a double degree in Law and Biomedical Science at Latrobe University, she hopes to become a lawyer after she finishes her studies.
Sahez also loves to run, with over 120 Park Runs under belt, and she also works as a swimming instructor. She volunteers as a photographer and videographer with the SES, too.
“I think the volunteering work has come from the fact that I know what it’s like to be different and I want to help people in that situation because I understand what they’re going through. So I want to do what I can for others.”
Japhar’s story
When Japhar was diagnosed with coeliac disease four years ago, she was supported by her whole family, but having Sahez there to help was special.
Both coeliac disease and T1D are autoimmune conditions, in which the person’s immune system mistakenly attacks their own body, so Sahez was able to empathise closely with her.
“Our autoimmune condition connects Sahez and me together,” says Japhar. It’s nice to be the same, in a way.”
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The support goes both ways, says Sahez.
“It’s almost sort of comforting,” she says. “You’ve got another person in the house that’s also like you, specifically in dinnertime situations. We’ll be out for dinner and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, does that sound good for you? How many carbs do you think this will have?’ And Japhar will try to help me out.
“We’ll just sit and talk about the little bits and bobs of our conditions and it feels very normal and very comforting.”
A shared goal
The girls started sharing their experiences through their Instagram account in 2020, after Japhar’s younger sister Harmaya was born prematurely. Harmaya had a rocky start to life but is now a healthy and happy four-year-old.
“My mum thought we need to raise more awareness about these conditions because not many Indian people have them or know about them,” says Japhar.
“We post our journey of having coeliac and also T1D, and my younger sister is the odd one out. She doesn’t have any autoimmune condition, thankfully, but she’s on there too.”
On the account, Japhar shares the foods she’s trying and activities she’s enjoying, and Sahez shares posts on how she’s managing her T1D as well as the range of activities she is doing without being held back by it.
The close relationship between the three girls is clear in their posts, and they hope their relationship and the way they support each other serves as inspiration for others.
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“We want to raise awareness for our conditions, and try to end the stigma associated with them,” Sahez says. “We want to show that we can live a normal life as well.”
For those who are newly diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, Japhar says it’s important to understand your condition and do what you can to take care of yourself.
“Learn about it so you really understand what’s going on, and don’t worry about what anyone says or thinks about you,” she says.
Sahez agrees that it’s important to prioritise your own health and happiness.
“Don’t think about anyone else,” she says. “Think about what you need because everyone else is just going to worry about what they need.
“Right now you are in a vulnerable position, and you need to think about what you need for your health and what you need for your mental health. It’s a difficult challenge, but you’ll make it out as long as you take care of yourself in the way that’s right for you.”
Read more:
- Type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease
- Georgia was diagnosed with T1D at 10 months – read her story, as told by her parents, Stacey and Adam
- Diagnosed with T1D at 19, Jenna has been supported by her mum Giulia every step of the way
