November is Diabetes Awareness Month.
In Wisconsin, 8% of our population has diabetes. That's more than twice the size of Madison.
Starting Wednesday, we're taking a closer look, of what it's really like to live with diabetes.
"Type one diabetes is when the persons pancreas does not produce any insulin. Type two diabetes, their body produces insulin either they do not produce enough or whats more common they have whats called insulin resistance so their body cells are resistant to using insulin properly," says Registered Dietitian Carolyn Harrington.
If you thought diabetes was an old person's disease, think again.
Wednesday on Newschannel 7 at 6 p.m. CT we're going to meet a 4-year old living with type one diabetes.
"Caleb had just turned two, and he had not been feeling well for about a week, so we had brought them in about a week ago to give them his symptoms, and we knew something was not right with him," says Lisa Drews, Caleb's Mother.
"It is very scary at first, but it is a completely treatable and livable disease," says Lisa.
On Thursday, we'll also find out how a 65-year old man is making sure he keeps his type two diabetes in check.
"I have to make sure I eat regularly and not skip meals because then your blood sugar level runs too low," says Pat Berg, who has type 2 diabetes.
On Friday, we follow an elderly woman, who's overcome the odds while living with type two diabetes.
After having part of her feet amputated.
"It's not a good thing, believe you me it's kind of a struggle. My message is to pay attention to your body if you have something that seems to be wrong," says Jacquelyn Peterson, who has type 2 diabetes.
This Wednesday we'll start with the 4-year old Caleb Drews and how his family treats his type one diabetes.
You can see the complete series by watching the stories below.
4-Year-Old with Type 1 Diabetes
Shawano County Man Living with Type 2 Diabetes
Woman Says Transplant Cured Her Diabetes
Living with Diabetes: Jacquelyn Peterson
