“I would trade everything we had and everything we won to take diabetes away from Josh.”
Jenna Whitehead, former competitor on The Block, has provided an emotional insight into her private life, after her husband Josh was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
After appearing on The Block for six weeks, Josh was experiencing extreme weight loss, ongoing thirst and chronic fatigue. Initially, the couple attributed the symptoms to the stress caused by the show, Josh saying that it wasn’t anything “a good week of sleep couldn’t fix.”
After five weeks of waiting for the symptoms to subside, Jenna forced Josh to go to the doctor. He was subsequently, rushed to hospital with a blood sugar level at 35, when it should have been between 4-6.
Within 5 minutes in ER, Josh was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
On her blog, Jenna explains that Josh’s pancreas no longer can, and never will produce insulin, so he now needs to inject it 5-6 times a day.
For more pictures of Josh and Jenna…(Post continues after gallery.)
Josh and Jenna
Josh went back to work on renovating the day after being diagnosed, despite doctor’s advising him not to.
Jenna says that she “would trade everything we had and everything we won to take diabetes away from Josh.”
Watch Josh and Jenna talk about the moment Josh proposed on the finale of The Block. (Post continues after video.)
“Josh really wanted to prove (especially to the kids) that diabetes doesn’t hold you back and as corny as it sounds…anything is possible!
“With more awareness about his health than ever before and our relationship growing stronger than ever, we were ready to get back to ‘real life’ and finish this darn house once and for all!”
If you would like to learn more about diabetes, check out the following pages:
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Top Comments
Type 1 diabetes is totally manageable, yes you have to test your blood sugars and have injections but it is possible to live a full and active life. Both my brother and my husband were diagnosed with type 1 in their early teens they are both now in their 40's and both of them are capable of doing everything that the rest of us can. They look after themselves, try to eat right and exercise My husband has never had to go to hospital in the 15 years we have been together for his diabetes, and my brother only once. They adjust their insulin according to what they are eating and have very good control. It is not a death sentence and compared with other more aggressive diseases not that bad. There seems to be a lot of fear associated with this disease some of which I think is misplaced.
Correct Jon - it is 'manageable' but the long term effects are very serious and can lead to complications in later life. Not to mention this 'management' is dependant upon insulin injections for the rest of his life. This also isnt lifestyle related - he didnt bring it on himself. I have two very close friends with type 1 and I wish for nothing more than a cure. Good on Jenna for using her melodramatic headline to gain publicity for a serious health issue.