By Russ George
Aurora’s seven-year-old Type 1 diabetic twins, Jackson and Elliot Webster, were in attendance at the Thursday, March 9 Diabetes Club of Fox Valley’s March membership meeting, to hear their father, Paul Webster, speak about how and when each of the twins were diagnosed as Type 1 diabetics, along with how diabetes has changed his family’s daily lives and activities.
Mr. Webster has done a lot of research into Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs), working closely with the Medical Mutts organization. He said Medical Mutts has set the standard for training all types of service dogs, especially DADs. Unfortunately, his family is not now eligible for a (DAD), because both boys have highs and lows throughout the day and night, which sets the dog up for failure, since the dog would be continually hitting on one or both of the twins.
Mr. Webster said that it was suggested that a therapy dog would be a solution, because the twins still become anxious with their injections.
Barb Youngren, chairperson of the Club’s Jerry Youngren Diabetic Alert Dog Memorial Fund, thought we could provide the Webster family with a therapy dog until the twins develop more stable blood sugar readings.
Bernadine Holland, MSN, MBA, RN, CDCES, Clinical Nurse Educator-Diabetes Center for Clinical Professional Practice from University Chicago Medicine, was in attendance to find how she could be of assistance to the twins and family. Ms Holland talked about how she could help facilitate the family getting involved in a network of diabetic families and children, allowing the twins to meet and learn from other children who have diabetes.
Ms Holland stated that there are 42 things that affect a person’s blood glucose level other than food. Stress, growth, activity, being sick or anxious, are just a few of the things that can affect blood glucose levels.
Ms Holland suggested a video, “Safely in the Rainbow”, that her group has worked on is very enlightening. She discussed the “Figwee” app, that can be loaded on your phone, which tracks how many carbs are in a food you’re eating.
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley meets on the second Thursday monthly at the historic Gray’s Mill Estate, 211 North River Street, Montgomery. Meetings and dinner are held in the Third Floor Banquet Room. Dinner is ordered from the menu at 5:30 p.m. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.. Guests are always welcome!
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley raise funds to provide aid, awareness, education and research to find a cure, along with assisting diabetics in obtaining Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs).
Please consider making a donation to the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, to help the Club’s fight against diabetes. The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization.
Tax deductible donations can be sent to: Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, P.O. Box 88, North Aurora, IL 60542.
Inquiries on the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, or to become a member, please contact president Russ George, cell/text 630-205-9065 or send Email: Diabetesclubfv@gmail.com.
—Diabetes Club of Fox Valley