"Living with Type 1 Diabetes" by Cheryl Farrell November 2007   My sixteen-year-old son Alec was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes almost six years ago. His father and I have a long history of checking with pediatricians for the mildest of symptoms. Our hyper-attentive parenting paid off because his diagnosis came before he developed serious complications. Nevertheless, Alec’s diagnosis caught us by surprise. We did not know about the disease and it does not “run in the family,” as we are often asked. We did not know the symptoms—we just knew something was not right.*   I noticed my son’s rapid weight loss and constant thirst. I travel for work and I naively thought he was reacting to my being away. These days living with the disease, my son enjoys lacrosse and wrestling. However, he manages a complex set of calculations many times a day. He factors in carbohydrates in his meals, exercise, how long he sleeps, how he feels, and other considerations to stay alive. While treatment varies, my son’s daily routine is to test his blood sugar (glucose levels) six to seven times a day in addition to taking insulin throughout the day. For parents of young children, this regimen often includes multiple visits through the night—every night—to test and to supply insulin.   A big concern for us now is how as a teenager, Alec must negotiate his disease with his social life. He doesn’t want to stand out or be defined by diabetes. How do you date and explain you must test your blood before a meal? How do you explain the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? It’s not about being overweight or eating too much sugar. How do you excuse yourself repeatedly from class to urinate which is an indication of high glucose levels? It’s a job staying alive that never takes a vacation.   I am a volunteer for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). As part of my advocacy work, I have interviewed parents of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in order to share their stories and help raise awareness. Those stories can be found at www.bayheartmusic.com under the writing link.   Thank you in advance for any and all support to finding a cure to type 1. My son’s life depends on it.     *For warning signs of type 1 diabetes, please visit www.jdrf.org. Education about type 1 diabetes symptoms is critical because they can be mistaken for more common illnesses.