I wear grey

November is diabetes awareness month. 

10 years ago at the tender age of 13 our youngest son was diagnosed with Type 1 {formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes} diabetes. It seems like a lifetime ago that we sat in the hospital meeting with his pediatric diabetes team.  We benefitted tremendously from the wisdom and experience of a nurse, dietitian, social worker and physician with expertise in pediatric diabetes. We spent several weeks taking multiple classes learning as much as we could about how to manage, cope and live with this life altering disease.

With the month of November upon us, I felt I wanted to well, bring awareness about this disease. I've updated my facebook cover photo and I wear a grey ribbon in honour of my son who has to battle everyday with this illness. 

Did you know that ~

“There are three main types of diabetes.  Type 1 diabetes, usually diagnosed in children and adolescents, occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Approximately 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.The remaining 90 per cent have type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin that is produced. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adulthood, although increasing numbers of children in high-risk populations are being diagnosed.A third type of diabetes, gestational diabetes, is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. It affects approximately 2 to 4 per cent of all pregnancies (in the non-Aboriginal population) and involves an increased risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child.  Prediabetes refers to a condition where a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
and that more than 9 million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes”
quoted from the Canadian Diabetes Foundation

While this was a life-defining moment for him and us as well, we don't let the fact that he has diabetes define who he is.

Blessings