Children learn how to live with diabetes

Jet, March 4, 2002

Diabetes is one disease that affects adults and children. But the good thing is that you can learn how to live with it.

More than a million children have diabetes and must take insulin shots several times a day.

One youngster with diabetes, Sally Matthew, 12, of Bolingbrook, IL, and her family volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the world's leading nonprofit, nongovernment funder of diabetes research. It was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes--a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life and carries the constant threat of devastating complications.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes is a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles, experts say.

Sally, who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 6, knows firsthand how crucial lifestyle changes are for people with diabetes, even at such an early age. She urges other youngsters and adults to "check your blood sugar level, don't eat a lot of sugar, be careful playing too much because your sugar level can drop too low."

By managing her diabetes, she has been able to "do pretty much what the other kids do, except I take insulin shots every day. I can eat ice cream every once and awhile and other stuff, but I just can't eat too much of it. I eat sugar-free cookies, and they taste the same as regular cookies, they really do. There are a lot of sugar-free foods, diet drinks, sugar-free water out there that taste good."

Sally's mother, Sally Matthew, says diabetes runs in the family. Neither she nor her husband, Ellis Matthew, has diabetes; however, Mrs. Matthew's mother, Carmen, does have it. "We don't let diabetes take over our lives. We don't let diabetes live our lives. It's a part of our lives, but we continue with our lifestyle. It is there, and we know how to deal with it."

Mrs. Matthew points out, "You would never know she has diabetes. You can't see it; she has it under control. But without insulin she could die. Insulin keeps her going. The only difference between Sally and the girl next to her is that Sally must take insulin and the other girl does not. She takes three to four shots of insulin per day. And she has to limit what she eats and must check her blood sugar levels at least four times every day."

Matthew's daughter wants to grow up and be an R&B singer one day and has already shared the stage with legendary entertainer Gladys Knight at a diabetes awareness function.

Ms. Knight is a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association and raises funds and awareness through the association's Elizabeth Knight Fund, named after her mother who died from complications stemming from diabetes.

She speaks at seminars about diabetes and teaches people "how to take care of themselves, and that they are not alone." Ms. Knight told JET: "It's so simple the way you can control this disease. You've got to watch what you eat and you've got to exercise. Our mom taught us that. You can live a long, quality life. My mom lived 50 years with this disease. She was 30 when she was diagnosed and she was 80 when she died."

Sally follows the advice of Knight and others and continues to live a balanced life. She also has landed a small part in the upcoming film Barbershop, directed by filmmaker George Tillman and starring Ice Cube, Cedric "The Entertainer" and Eve and a host of other hot performers. Her brother, Ellis Matthew Jr., is an extra in the movie.

She hopes that one day Congress will approve enough funds to help researchers find a cure for diabetes to make life easier for her and other children who battle the disease. "I want to become that singer, and if I do, I'll also give lots of money to help find a cure too," she promises.