The goal is to make Type 1 diabetes, type none by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff 7 | Friday, October 31, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Tamara MacCormack thought she was just being an overprotective parent, but neither did she want to ignore what might be a serious medical condition. Her two-year-old son Aidan had been irritable, but the first-time parent also knew there was a reason for the term, the terrible twos. Yet, there were other reasons for concern. Her son was very thirsty. He was urinating more frequently than usual. He had lost weight and was lethargic -- a pre-school teacher told her Aidan had fallen asleep standing up. So MacCormack took her son to the family doctor and asked him to test her son for diabetes. Her husband, Justin, had a cousin with diabetes so there was some history in the family. When the test results came back, her suspicions were confirmed. Aidan had Type 1 diabetes, a disease where the pancreas doesn't produce insulin, which enables the body to extract energy from food. Nine years later, Aidan wears an insulin pump, which delivers the hormone his body can't produce. He must constantly monitor his blood-sugar levels. Twice a day he must poke his finger to get a blood sample to calibrate the pump, something he has been doing on his own since he was four years old. He must monitor not only how many carbohydrates he eats, but the proper time to eat them. Responsible at a young age "He's had to become very responsible at a young age," Tamara said. There is no leeway in his daily regimen of carefully monitoring his food intake. If his blood sugar drops too low -- a concern after physical activity -- he can lose consciousness and, if not treated, could go into a coma. High blood sugar presents an entirely different set of problems. Over time it can damage the retina in the eye and cause blindness (diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people under the age of 65). Diabetes can also lead to poor circulation, which has led to ampu- tations in some cases, and kidney disease. Despite having a cousin with the disease, Justin said he soon realized how little he knew about it after Aidan's diagnosis. Misconceptions "I think there are misconceptions," he said. "I didn't realize it was a 24/7 constant thing. I thought it meant you just can't eat sugar, and that was just ignorance on my part. It's a total lifestyle change and it's a commitment you have to make. That was the biggest eye-opener, just finding out what Type 1 diabetes was." And it's a commitment for the entire family. Even Aidan's sevenyear-old sister Ella has had to learn about the disease, to know the warning signs should her brother's blood-sugar levels rise too high or fall too low. Fortunately, after Aidan's diagnosis, the MacCormacks were introduced to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). It helped them learn about the disease, but it has also provided them with hope. "I think where it's helped the Aidan MacCormack | submitted photo most, it's given us hope for a cure," Justin said. The MacCormacks are excited by the research being conducted. It includes an artificial pancreas, which would eliminate the need to test blood sugar by managing and delivering insulin. "It would make the decisions for you," Justin said. Researchers are also working on ways to restore the natural insulin producing process and preventing the body's immune system from attacking the pancreas. Research requires money, though. That makes JDRF fundraising events like the Thursday, Nov. 6 third annual Starlight Soirée at Appleby College an important part in finding a cure. The event, featuring a Motown Groove theme, will include food stations from local restaurants Seasons, Paradiso, Elegant Cocktails and Mondello, and silent and live auctions. There will also be an opportunity to participate in Fund-A-Cure, a chance to make a significant, fully tax-receipted donation. see Gala on p.13 legal matters PersoNAL INjUry Q a ANANDI D. NAIPAUL Lawyers in your corner: Anandi is a partner at Ross & McBride LLP, practicing in the Personal Injury Group. She works exclusively on behalf of injured people and their families. Her practice is focused on car accidents, pedestrian accidents, accident benefits, disability insurance disputes, slip and falls and other insurance claims. What precautions should homeowners take on Halloween night? THIS IS MY PATH TO SUCCESS We are pleased to announce the establishment of a new Bursary Fund for qualifying students entering Grades 8, 9 and 10 in September 2015. Individual tuition assistance of up to $10,000 will be awarded to mission appropriate students on a financial need basis. NEW BURSARY FUND With Halloween fast approaching, you as a homeowner should be reminded to take extra care to remove all tripping hazards from porches, walkways, driveways and lawns. You should also keep your external property well lit. A fall resulting in injuries to a child or adult could result in a lawsuit being brought against you under the Occupier's Liability Act for failing to keep your property safe for your visitors on Halloween night. A homeowner should also be careful when placing open flames such as candles or jacko-lanterns on the front porch. Many children's costumes are easily flammable and catching on fire can lead to severe burn injuries which you as a homeowner could be liable for. If you are a dog owner, you should keep your dogs indoors and away from trick-or-treaters. 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