Type I Diabetes

Type I Diabetes primarily attacks children. It is difficult to understand particularly if it doesn’t even run in your family. There are so many articles today about Type II and cures for it that its frustrating to a parent with a child who has been diagnosed with Type I. When your child is ill, your first thought is that whatever he or she has will be cured by a pill or possibly a shot. It’s the last condition in a parent’s mind. Once your child is diagnosed the parent learns how to cope with it so they can teach their child. When my son was diagnosed when he was eleven, I was shocked. No one in either side of our families had ever had it. Of course, the hospital staff, in order to help parents adjust to a life time of needles for their children, explained that a cure is just around the corner. For my son, the cure still hasn’t arrived eighteen years later. When your child has an illness or is diagnosed with a disease or condition that will last his or her life time, after you adjust then you begin to figure out how to make it appear to be better than it is. Your first trips to the grocery take two to three hours while you read every label, figure out carbohydrates, and plan meals that are low in fat, carbohydrates and healthy.  I tried to make it easy enough for him to feel comfortable when he was out with his friends.  His friends turned out to be very understanding and enjoyed my new recipes whenever they had sleep overs.  When children accept other children without prejudiced or fear of “catching” whatever they may have, its easier for everyone.  My son even wrote a story about food with doughnuts from outer space.  It was really very funny.  I hope as you think about any books in the Good Gus Series you will remember that my stories are about people and children who are unique.