Mom Shares Tragic Story to Raise Awareness on Diabetes in Toddlers

Just month’s after losing her daughter to undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, Sierra Greenlee is speaking out so others learn from her story and never have to experience the same heartbreak.

“I would like to share with you the worst night of my life. Not because I want your pity, but because I would like to inform you on an issue that is very important and no one really thinks about,” she says on Facebook.

On the tragic day, Greenlee arrived at her babysitter’s house to pick up her daughter. Upon first glance, she thought Arya, her toddler, was so tired she was sound asleep. Quickly after, she realized her daughter was unresponsive.

“In that moment I completely freaked out. I couldn’t finish a thought. I knew I needed to get her back inside and start CPR,” she recounts. “I was so mad and terrified. I was yelling at everyone who got in my way or tried to say something.”

Once paramedics arrived and they were unable to revive the little girl, she was taken to the hospital. After a few minutes, the doctor delivered news that would shatter Greenlee’s world: Her daughter did not survive.

After the hospital ran tests, they detected Arya had type 1 diabetes and her blood sugar level was five times what is considered the healthy amount.

“I could not comprehend this information,” the mother shares. “How could my baby have diabetes? She had went to her wellness checkup only the week before and they told me she was healthy. How could she have died from a disease that I know thousands of people manage?”

“Later, I found out that diabetes is not something they test for in small children… The signs for diabetes in toddlers are they drink a lot and pee a lot and are tired. These signs are easily missed and overlooked because most toddlers do these things,” Greenlee explains.

The mother signs off with one final plea. “So I beg you to ask your child’s doctor to test for it. I beg you to become aware of the signs and symptoms of childhood diabetes. I beg you to share this post and story with everyone because no parent should ever have to hear the words, ‘I’m sorry but unfortunately she did not survive.’”

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