Brian's Blazers

Dear Family and Friends,

On Saturday, April 27, our family will be walking in the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk to Cure Diabetes.  As you may know, Brian was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) this past November.  He recently started using an insulin pump that he wears around his waist to better regulate his blood sugar and keep him from taking shots up to 6 times a day. Thankfully, he is feeling better now and is being very responsible considering all the changes that have been thrown at him in a short period of time.  As a result of his diagnosis, he has had to grow up and mature a little more quickly.

This disease is not like Type 2 Diabetes... Brian cannot change his diet & exercise to help "cure" himself.  He did nothing to bring it on...it is simply a disease that manifested in him and cannot be changed without a cure.  Insulin alone is not the answer to diabetes...if too many of his blood sugars fall below or above his target range, he can still have complications later in life which include blindness, kidney failure, heart disease or even someday amputation.  The insulin therapy is really like a band-aid, but with the support of research, we can make progress toward a cure.

As you can imagine, the diagnosis of T1D has changed all of our lives.  While learning about and managing day-to-day through this big life change, we are committed to supporting JDRF.  We have formed a walk team named "Brian's Blazers" for raising funds to help achieve the mission of improving the lives of those with T1D, making progress toward a cure, and better treating and preventing diabetes.

We would love for you to join us in our efforts by either making your own contribution or by joining our team at the Walk on Saturday, April 27 and helping to fundraise.  Please click on either the "Donate to this Team" or "Join this Team" button.  It's simple, fun, and your fundraising will make a difference!

We truly appreciate your consideration and support of our cause.  I am confident one day we will be writing to let you know Brian no longer has Type 1 Diabetes.  If you have any questions or need any information, please don't hesitate to contact us.  Again, we thank you from our hearts for your support of Brian and our family.

With love - The Chiaradio Family

We'll end with some thoughts and feelings Brian shared with us ...

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on November 12.  It was pretty fun in the hospital because they feed you whatever you like and they have video games.  But during school I have to check my blood like 8 times.  It can hurt a lot and can be awkward.

Having diabetes is not the worst thing in the world, but it is kind of hard for me.  Remembering to take insulin, check my blood sugar, count my carbs and the hardest thing is a lot of food I can't eat because it is so high in carbohydrates.  I thought diabetes would be the end of the world for me, but I can still do things other kids can do.

It means a lot for me to walk to help cure my own disease and I'm also helping other kids while I do it.  A donation would be really nice to help me and other kids stop having diabetes and find a cure.  JDRF has been very helpful and nice, and I'd like to help donate to them and I hope they can find a cure with our money that we pull together.  I'd like it for other kids because a lot of kids have trouble with it and it's hard to do and I don't want them to have trouble with diabetes and don't want them to go through this.