My son came to me the other night and asked if he could ask me some questions about diabetes. One thing I never do is turn away an opportunity to talk to my kids about diabetes. I want them to understand, as much as they can, about what diabetes is.
Maybe this is not true for other people with diabetes but a part of me is waiting for this disease to go after my kids. I am guessing that it's normal to not want your kids to deal with what you have to but sometimes I worry that I worry too much!
When I asked what brought on this interview he explained to me that it was for a paper he is working on for school. And with that the interview began.
He asked me to tell him all about diabetes to which I responded with something like, "We do not have enough time for that dude. Tell me what you know and I will fill in and add from there."
Because of living with me he understands the treatment of type 1 but does not so much understand type 2. We talked all about that and how both are just as scary and serious. He made a funny face.
"What's the matter dude?"
He said, "I just think that people don't get it. My friends think cancer is worse but you can treat that like Grandma did. But diabetes you will have forever or until there is a cure."
"Not all cancer can be treated dude. Some are too far gone or impossible to fight. Honestly, I don't think it is fair to compare the two. They both are serious."
He did not seem okay with that answer. I realized that since he has seen me in the hospital with DKA and helped me treat lows, he sees it as more serious than anything else. If I had another disease he would probably think that would be the worst.
We talked for a while and I got the feeling that hearing about all the complications like amputations, kidney failure, and blindness were freaking him out. I told him that maybe he should check out the ADA, JDRF, and the dLife websites for info too. Each night this week he was on his computer looking up stuff for this paper which I learned last night was speech. It's his "I Have a Dream" speech that he is giving today.
I would love for you to read it. It's posted on my blog.


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Excellent
Wow - what a speech and what a kid!
George, u got a great kid there. He's intelligent, consise and expressive. He gave me goosebumps. I know he did well on that speach in class. I just wish there were more kids like him out there. Very passionate. Shane