This headline caught my eye yesterday about an 18 year old diabetic teenager who got her nipples pierced for her birthday, and now needs reconstructive breast surgery following a devastating infection.
What intrigued me about the article was this paragraph:
Dr. Robert Goulet Jr., a professor at the Indiana University Cancer Center, said the piercing created an entry point for the bacteria, but the procedure likely did not cause the infection itself. Edington is diabetic, which left her susceptible to infection, he said.
This girl is clearly going through quite an ordeal. She has had to battle for her life and already endured three surgeries. What the article failed to emphasize, however, was that this was avoidable had her diabetes been in control. I showed this article to a Massachusetts endocrinologist I know who confirmed for me that in control diabetics do not have these sorts of infections, but diabetics in poor control are at risk.
To add insult to injury, this is her family’s perspective:
“You have no idea what it’s like to almost lose your daughter and then to make the decision to have one of her breasts removed,” she said. “Some people say ‘It’s just a breast.’ They aren’t an 18-year old girl. It’s devastating for her and for the family.”
The point of the story is not that this girl needs breast reconstructive surgery. The point of this story is that this teenager needs breast reconstructive surgery because
1. she opted for a vanity procedure and pierced a part of the body known to have a high complication rate;
2. she is diabetic and likely in poor control given what we know about diabetes.
Don’t be fooled by the media’s typical sensationalistic angle. In fact, we should be upset that the media did not act more responsibly and focus on some important lessons learned that could benefit other families with teenage diabetics. The focus here should be on better health, better decisions, and more respect for diabetic control.
I hope this girl gets better soon but I fear what the future will hold. If her diabetes is out of control today, can you imagine tomorrow??
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