Living With Wolfram Syndrome – Adam Zwan

Chasing the Numbers

Wolfram syndrome makes it more difficult to treat and control all other more common illnesses. A Wolfram patient has to deal with diabetes, kidney failure, optic atrophy, and deafness but all these conditions are further complicated due to Wolfram syndrome. Currently, one of the most troubling tasks in my life is trying my best to control diabetes.

In simplest terms it is called chasing the numbers; these numbers represent glucose readings. Wolfram syndrome has increased my sensitivity to insulin and as a result, causes me to require less insulin to combat food and high glucose readings. On the other side, I have developed gastro paresis, which is a fancy term for delayed stomach emptying. There have been many cases where regardless of what I eat my glucose level is uncontrollable.

With all the complications due to Wolframs, any time I swallow something it is an uphill battle. My increased sensitivity to insulin causes an immediate drop in glucose level after taking insulin to combat carbohydrates. Hours after eating, a jump in glucose level occurs because my stomach has finally emptied the food I ate sometimes 15 hours earlier. These glucose fluctuations may be difficult and frustrating to deal with but I’m just thankful that I can still eat food and not depend on a feeding tube.