Eight-year-old Gabriel (Gabe) Denman enjoys playing outdoors and being a big brother to 4-year-old Laynne.  His parents, Caleb and Ashlee, are proud of his strength and positive attitude as he manages his type 1 diabetes – a diagnosis he has lived with since he was 3 years old.  In the months before his diagnosis, his parents had noticed he was often thirsty and was not gaining weight as he should.  Caleb and Ashlee were employed as Emergency Department (ED) nurses at the time and were aware that Gabe might be experiencing a medical issue.  As they monitored his health, Ashlee suspected Gabe was having trouble with his blood sugar levels.  

“I had been giving him juice.  He would finish a cup and then immediately ask for another.  After giving him what seemed like the hundredth cup of juice, he was weak and appeared sickly,” Ashlee remembered.  “My mother-in-law monitors her blood sugar, so we took Gabe to her house and used her glucose meter.  His blood sugar was extremely high, so we immediately went to the Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) ED.”

After staff members stabilized Gabe with intravenous fluids, he was transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital for further stabilization and care.  The couple was told he did indeed have type 1 diabetes – an autoimmune disease where the pancreas stops producing insulin – a hormone created by the pancreas that controls the amount of glucose in the bloodstream at any given moment.  The onset of type 1 diabetes is not connected to diet or lifestyle, and the exact cause is unknown.  However, researchers have found that in most people with type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system – which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses – mistakenly destroys islet cells that produce insulin in the pancreas.  Once the islet cells of the pancreas are destroyed, the body produces little or no insulin.  

Insulin moves sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream to the body’s cells for energy.  Sugar enters the bloodstream when food is digested.  Without enough insulin, sugar builds up in the bloodstream and can cause life-threatening complications if left untreated.  Right now, no cure exists, but type 1 diabetes can be managed.  Advances in blood sugar monitoring and insulin delivery have improved blood sugar management and quality of life for children with the disease. 

“At first it was overwhelming.  We thought about Gabe’s future.  For his entire life, he will always have to count carbohydrates, monitor his blood sugar, and take insulin,” Ashlee shared.  “He quickly adapted though and has learned when to eat or drink something to level out his blood sugar.  Also, new technologies have really been beneficial for his care.”

With a continuous glucose monitor and tracking application, Caleb and Ashlee receive alerts on their phones when Gabe is experiencing a high or low that requires attention.  The family also shared the app with staff members at the elementary school that Gabe attends in order for the teachers to be aware of his needs.  The technology has made it simple to assist Gabe in battling the sugar highs and lows that he often experiences.  

Until the summer of 2022, Gabe felt like he was the only child who had to manage type 1 diabetes.  He had never met another child with the disease.  Gabe’s grandmother, Traci Lautenschleger, is employed at Licking Memorial Heath Systems (LMHS) as a registration specialist.  She told Ashlee about LMHS’ Camp A1C – a free, one-day event for children, ages 7 to 12, who have diabetes.  

During the camp, held at Infirmary Mound Park, children participate in a number of physical activities including kickball, relay races, volleyball, an inflatable obstacle course, a scavenger hunt, and water games.  The children are also encouraged to make a craft, learn more about diet and exercise, and spend time with other children who also monitor and manage their blood sugar.  LMH Community Case Management staff members including nurses and dietitians, lead the camp and closely monitor and care for the children during the activities.   

“Gabe enjoyed the dinosaur theme.  He made his own fossil and was so proud to show us his creation,” Ashlee said.  “However, he most enjoyed meeting the other children.  He was happy to spend time with children facing the same challenges he faces, and finding out – he is not the only child ever with type 1 diabetes.”

Signs of type 1 diabetes can begin to appear early; however, it may take time to recognize the symptoms.  It is important to pay close attention to the signs in children.  Experiencing frequent urination may be a sign that the kidneys are trying to expel excess sugar from the blood.  The resulting dehydration may then cause extreme thirst, and the lack of available fluids may also cause dry mouth and itchy skin.  If your child experiences increased hunger or unexpected weight loss, they might not be receiving adequate energy from the food they consume.

“Do not be afraid to check your child’s blood sugar levels.  Be suspicious of extreme thirst and the other signs of diabetes,” Ashlee warns.  “A type 1 diagnosis is not as scary or overwhelming as it seems.  Diabetes is manageable and children adapt well once they understand what they need to do.”
LMHS hosts Camp A1C annually in July.  The event is free and open to children ages, 7 to 12, who are under a physician’s care for diabetes.  To find out more about the Camp, visit LMHealth.org.