That was 4 years ago. We have come a long way and Tylor is now 9 and in fourth grade. He runs and plays and forgets homework just like other kids. He just started Tae Kwon Do last month and really likes it. There are lots of other things that he does that are just part of his daily routine, even though I wish they weren't. He used to get 4-6 shots of insulin a day but as of last January he started using the insulin pump, which eliminates those multiple daily injections. He still checks his blood sugar with a finger prick 7-10 times a day. With the insulin pump every 2-3 days we insert what is called an infusion set into his belly. And that is what the pump is connected to. We count his carbs and treat highs and lows. We are so proud of him, he is an amazing boy.

For the past 3 years we have attended a family diabetes camp. And for the past 2 years Tylor has also attended a week there by himself. We all love it and have made some great friends who are going through exactly what we are. A lot of the staff have diabetes themselves. It is nice knowing that he is in capable and knowledgeable hands. Even though we still worry a little, as do most parents when their child is away, it does gives us a little break from all the checking and measuring.

Unfortunately Tylor doesn't ever get a break from diabetes. When his sugar goes low and he doesn’t feel good, he just has to deal with his belly hurting or being upset at not being able to participate in activities. Or when his sugar is running high Tylor doesn’t feel like checking to make sure he doesn’t have any ketones, but he knows it has to be done to make sure he stays well. It is our hope that one day Tylor will get his chance to take a break, a permanent one, in the form of a cure. With your help, our hope of a cure will become a reality. Who knows, it might be your dollar that helps to find new and even better treatments or possibly a cure. As always, remember insulin is not a cure and until there is one Tylor’s Team will be riding towards it. We appreciate you taking the time to read this and are always grateful for your generous contributions. We thank you, from the bottom of our pancreas.

About Type 1 Diabetes
Since people with type 1 diabetes can't produce their own insulin, they must put insulin into the blood stream through injections or an insulin pump. If people with type 1 diabetes inject too much insulin (or eat too little) they may have a hypoglycemic reaction. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is the most common problem in children with diabetes. It can be very serious and requires immediate action.
People with type 1 diabetes often struggle to determine how much insulin to inject. In a simple and perfect world, this question would have an easy answer (e.g. always eat a certain amount of food and inject a certain amount of insulin). However, in reality there is no way to know how much insulin to inject with 100% accuracy. Many factors influence how much insulin people need to get to the desired "perfect balance" of glucose and insulin. These factors include foods with different absorption rates as well as the effects of stress, illness, and exercise. Also, as children grow, their insulin needs change. Since determining how much insulin the body needs to "balance" the amount of glucose is really a best guess, sometimes the guess is inaccurate and high or low blood sugar results.

Risk of Complications High blood sugar levels over a number of years can cause serious damage to the body's organ systems. This damage may cause complications affecting the heart, nerves, kidneys, eyes, and other parts of the body. A number of studies, however, have proven that careful monitoring and control of blood sugar levels greatly reduces the threat of these complications. Researchers are also making progress at developing new treatments and technologies to help people with diabetes stay healthy. It's important to remember that people with diabetes can lead active and productive lives, just like anyone else. More information can be found at www.jdrf.org