‘Portia’s Incredible Journey‘, by Emma Price, explores the journey of a young girl, from being first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, to becoming confident in managing her condition.
What is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
- Type 1 DM is an autoimmune disease (when a person’s own immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake). In Type 1 DM, the immune system attacks special cells in the pancreas. These cells normally make insulin, which is very important in managing blood sugar. Without insulin, there is too much sugar in the bloodstream, but it can’t be used as energy by the body.
Symptoms:
Type 1 DM is a disease that usually starts in childhood. Common symptoms are
- peeing frequently
- being very thirsty
- being hungry all the time
- losing weight
- feeling tired and irritable
Keeping that Sugar in Check
Managing Type 1 DM can be challenging at first. Kids need to get used to checking their blood glucose (sugar) level using a fingerprick test – not fun! Then, they need to constantly replace the missing insulin in their body, and the main way to do this is through a shot – SUPER not fun!! Kids need to become pretty disciplined about what they eat and drink, checking their blood glucose, and giving their insulin so they can stay healthy.
Children with Type 1 DM may sometimes feel overwhelmed by their disease, and frustrated that they don’t have the same freedom as their friends. The Type 1 DM comic series (by Revolve Comics) – does a great job of showing how common situations such as birthday parties, alcohol, and sports activities – could be challenging for managing diabetes. It also emphasizes the power of community to help support children with diabetes .
Want to check out some other children’s books that feature characters with health conditions? Take a look at our bookshelf!
