Jake is an active, happy, sweet child.  Jake loves sports of any kind, animals, cars, trucks and playing in general. 

Jake was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 2 ½.  Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that results in the permanent destruction of insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. 

He was really sick for a couple weeks and we even took him to the doctors and they failed to diagnose him, initially.  He was exhibiting the common signs of diabetes – excessive liquid consumption, urinating excessively, loss of energy and loss of weight.  He is a very high energy and social boy so it was very unusual for him to be so inactive.  We ended up taking him to the emergency room 2 days after the initial Doctor visit because he was so sick, had become so thin, and he was vomiting. We just knew something was terribly wrong!

Our fears were confirmed at the Emergency Room as the doctor gave Jake a blood sugar test and his blood sugar level was well over 600 (Normal levels should be around 100).

Jake was admitted to the ICU at Mary Bridge in Tacoma. His diagnosis was a week before Christmas and we spent the next 5 days at the hospital, learning exactly what Diabetes was, and how to manage his health going forward.

To manage his diabetes he gets around 11-15 finger pokes a day to check his blood sugar levels.  Jake previously received 5 - 7 shots of insulin a day in his arm, leg, bottom, or stomach.  However, as of 11/12/08 Jake begin managing his insulin delivery through an insulin pump. The insulin pump is an alternative to shots, and tends to allow more flexibility in managing his diabetes. 

Jake also must be checked at least once a night at 2:00 am to make sure his blood sugar remains level.  If he is too high or low it requires immediate attention, which means we could be up the rest of the night checking him, until his blood sugar levels are controlled.

Managing his diabetes is a constant balancing act.  When you factor in Jake's activities, diet, the weather, mood, bad dreams, a bath, or even just his body growing and changing, you still get times when the only explanation to sudden low blood sugar level is that the pancreas has kicked in and now has double dosed his little body with insulin, causing a sudden "Crash".  

Jake has already had 4 episodes of "Crashing".  He starts to stumble around and then his body goes lifeless.  He becomes scared, sick and cries – but he cannot swallow or speak clearly and is fighting us to hold him still, so we can give him the emergency shot, which contains glucagon.  Glucagon is a hormone made in the pancreas, like insulin. However, it has the opposite effect of insulin. It raises the blood sugar level rather than lowering it. The shot is a large needle and is very painful.  Sometimes the shot will cause him to start vomiting due to the sudden change in his body. 

After about 10 minutes, which seems more like hours, he starts to calm down and feel better. His strength comes back and then wants to go play, but we want to keep him settled for a bit, if not for our own peace of mind, but to make sure he has fully recovered and his blood sugar is back under control.

It is a never ending torture for us to watch him deal with this 24/7, even though he is so brave about it all. 

Even though he is "use to it" the finger pokes still hurt at times.  His little finger tips look like Swiss Cheese and the insertion of his pump sites are painful at times.  He is very brave but there are times that he hides to avoid them and cries after the getting the pump site inserted onto him.

THERE IS NO CURE FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES!  Insulin is not a cure it only helps maintain control of the disease.

Our hope by doing the annual Walk To Cure Diabetes is to raise awareness about diabetes and to gather donations to help researchers find a cure.  Not only that, we want to raise awareness of the signs of diabetes and the daily struggles that are involved in a diabetic lifestyle.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

5 Seconds in the Mind of My Parents
By Jill Erickson

“Wakey, wakey my little Jakey!”
(Hmmm let’s pick a Finger, oh so many holes)
“Who has the best lady bug in them today?”
(Poke on the soft skin, lady bug appears
Please god, make him level…..
5...........4...........
Your mind starts to race...
Is he high?
Is he low?
Is he hungry?
Will he eat?
How much will he eat?
Is it nice out? 
Will he play?
What will he play?
Will he run or will he walk?
If it’s hot out he will go down!
Is he thirsty? Got to keep him hydrated!
The bath will change his levels.
3...................2...........
Woke up crying earlier had a nightmare that brought him up,
will he still be high now?
Only had to poke him twice last night,
didn’t seem to wake him too much, but will he be extra tired today?
If he is high, should I treat or will he come down from playing?
What will he want to play first?
Longest second ever.....
If I over treat he could crash!
He will feel sick and dizzy and may not want to eat or drink.
If he does need a treatment, got to avoid the bruises. 
Should I do his Arm, Leg, Tummy or Butt?
He hates the Tummy.
Will have to settle on an amount and place and poke the soft baby’s skin.
(Poor Jakey's day is about to begin.)
...............1
“110!”

(Good Level, thank you God!  Safe for at least another hour!)