Teenager is suddenly left unable to walk and talk after being struck down with an ultra-rare illness while at a casino - and security g thought she was just drunk
- Imogen, 19, was struck by the ultra rare illness while holidaying with her family
- She was mistaken for being 'intoxicated or on drugs' by casino security
- After being rushed to hospital, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes
- She has to regularly monitor her food and inject needles into her arms and eyes
A healthy teenager suddenly lost the ability to walk and talk during a night at the casino with her family - and staff wrongly assumed she was had taken illicit drugs.
Imogen, 19, was on a holiday with her family in Melbourne in February when she was rushed hospital after being mistaken by security for being 'intoxicated on drugs,' 9Honey reports.
'It looked like I was on drugs and intoxicated. I was breathing really heavily and I was at the casino, of all places. The first thing they said was, 'Has she taken any drugs or consume any alcohol?',' she said.
Once in hospital, she was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosi, a serious complication of type 1 diabetes - and has to now administer needles into her arms every day.
A rare side effect leaves her eyes swollen - and she even has to poke needles in her eyes to stop her from losing her vision.
Imogen, 19, (pictured) was on a holiday with her family in Melbourne in February this year when she was rushed to emergency after being mistaken by security for being intoxicated on drugs
The Brisbane-based teenager, who's currently studying to be a nurse, said she was shocked to be given the diagnosis after having no previous health issues, calling herself a happy, healthy girl who exercised regularly and watched what she ate.
Even doctors were left gobsmacked.
'I was at the doctor [after the initial diagnosis] and the consultant couldn't believe I had diabetes because she said I was young and healthy,' she told 9Honey.
Imogen spent three days in intensive care in Melbourne before she was able to return home to Brisbane.
And while she's been able to return to work and her studies, her condition comes with a series of uncomfortable side-effects.
Once at the hospital, she was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosi, a serious complication of diabetes and has to now administer needles into her arms every day. Pictured: Imogen at hospital in February
Imogen now has to use a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump, which helps manage her condition. Pictured: Imogen with her CGM
The Queensland girl suffers from pressure and swelling in her eyes which can be detrimental to her sight.
She also has to limit her intake of sugar and carbohydrates to ensure she's getting the right amount of insulin every day.
'It can be frustrating. I can eat something one day and be fine, and eat the exact same thing the next day and have to adjust my insulin,' she said.
She adds that she needs to be cautious even when she's at the gym, just in case her blood sugar becomes too low, joking that she often has to chew on jelly beans when she's on the treadmill.
Imogen has also had to come to terms with the possibility of passing the condition on to her children in the future.
That's something she said she's not sure she's able to comprehend just yet.
While Imogen has been able to return to work and her studies, her condition comes with a series of uncomfortable side-effects including swelling of the eyes which is only helped by monthly needles in her eyes
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