In June 2003, our son Matt was diagnosed with Juvenile (Type 1) Diabetes, at age 22 months.
Juvenile Diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This means that the body no longer can produce the insulin necessary to properly use the glucose in food to produce energy for the body.
As yet, there is no known cause for Juvenile Diabetes (lifestyle and diet are believed to be direct contributors to adult-onset (Type 2) Diabetes), although there is a genetic predisposition to contracting it (since the probability of contracting this disease is higher if someone in the family has it (2-3% chance, compared to 1 in 400 in the general population)). Also, there is a greater than 50% chance that an identical twin will contract Juvenile Diabetes if their twin has it - so, we are keeping a close eye on Lucas.
There is no cure for Diabetes. Until a cure is found, to stay alive, Matt must receive an injection of insulin two or three times every day. Also, to determine what his blood glucose levels are, and so assist in determining how much insulin he requires, we must test his levels every few hours (day and night for the moment, but hopefully, soon, just during the day). This is done by pricking his finger with a small needle and taking sample of blood that is tested to deliver a blood glucose reading.
Matt is a brave little boy, who has taken to his finger-pricking and needles with more courage than we had anticipated and more than we had dared expect of a 22 month old. We pray that he can live his life as normally as possible, and that one day, during his lifetime, a cure will be found. In the meantime, we do what we can, and with the fantastic support of the Diabetes team at the Sydney Children's Hospital, we seem to be doing okay so far.
Internationally, and in Australia, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, conducts and supports research with the aim of finding a cure for Diabetes and its complications. They are now my charity.
For more information, see www.diabetesnsw.com.au