Research that
Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories
A large population
of the scientific community focus on preventive health care that helps improve
the ability to treat childhood diabetes and childhood cancer, and the ability
to prevent childhood infections through immunization. The medical community is stating that they “know
a lot more about almost all diseases, and armed with this information we have
improved the care of children worldwide” (Clements, 2007).
I chose to focus on
how research has benefited children with type 1 diabetes. My goddaughter Samara was diagnosed adolescent
diabetes at age 3. Up until the age 8
she was getting daily shots of insulin.
Samara was very self-conscious about having diabetes. All the other children would ask her
questions, and teachers seemed very uneasy and always on edge. The OmniPod Insulin Management System has made Samara’s life so much more enjoyable. The thing that Samara loves most about the pod
is that it lets her be more self-sufficient and it doesn't bring as much
attention to her. Samara is able to be
more flexible in what she eats and her daily activities. This pump has daily dosages pre-programmed,
that can also be changed based on what she is going to eat. Instead of getting pricked in the finger and
getting her blood tested the pump is keeping constant tracks of her levels.
The pump was
introduced to the medical community in the 1970’s so of course Samara wasn't a
part of any huge study. However Samara
and her mother are very thankful and happy for those children who originally
tested out the OmniPod. Samara’s doctor
still monitor, and ask Samara detailed information about how the pod makes her
feel emotionally, and physically. I am
one to vouch for her being a happier and more confident child in terms of the
pod verses the use of the traditional tester, and needles. I’m thankful too because I felt horrible
every time I had to give her a shot.
Reference
National Center for Biotechnology Information, (2010). The OmniPod Insulin Management System: the
latest innovation in insulin pump
therapy. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118276/
I found your post very informative. We just had a child diagnosed with diabetes in one of our centers and the teachers are having to spend a lot of time pricking her finger, calculating her insulin dosages, monitoring her food intake and giving her shots. I am very curious to find out why she is not using a pump like the one you mentioned. Maybe it is because she was just recently diagnosed? I definitely plan to follow up on this. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSherry,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information! Samara was so young to have this condition! How will this effect her as she grows? Has she adjusted well to having this condition?
What is her school experience like?
So glad she has such a wonderful godmother!
:)
Maria
Hi Sherry,
ReplyDeleteIt is heartbreaking to hear about a child with diabetes. It is enough to be a child today, but having to fight a disease that can make your life so miserable is even worse. I am so glad that Samara has the support system she has and the fact the pump makes life easier for her is awesome. I truly pray one day there will be a cure for diabetes for everyone. My aunt suffered with diabetes all of her life, but she lived through it all and had six beautiful children and helped to raise some of us.
Joyce Galloway