I spent the morning in Seal Beach, interviewing children and parents for a column I am writing for next week on Miller Children's Hospital's Type I diabetes support and play group.
It was a beautiful day on the south side of the pier.
The parents continuously encouraged each other as they discussed like dilemmas: blood-sugar testing, insulin shots and pumps, and diet. Since schools do not always have registered nurses, many of the parents must leave work one or two times a day to give their children insulin shots. It's quite a juggle.
Type I diabetes is the genetic form of the disease that usually presents in childhood or young adulthood. In short, the pancreas stops producing insulin. The disease is manageable with diet, exercise and insulin, but cannot be controlled as easily as many forms of Type II, or adult-onset, diabetes. The disease is especially challenging with infants and toddlers, as getting them to eat right is already a challenge for most parents.
More on the group one week from today.
