Supporting search for diabetes cure
Mum gives up job to care for her brave tot
A doting mum who gave up her career after her three-year-old was diagnosed with diabetes has discovered a crafty way to help find the cure that will change her little girl’s life.
Pauline Ferrar was devastated when her GP confirmed her youngest daughter Anna had type 1 diabetes in April last year.
Since then the East Mains family has had to deal with the daily struggle of constant blood tests – at least 10 times a day – insulin injections and carb counting necessary to keep Anna’s blood glucose levels stable.
Choosing to give up her job as a dental nurse initially took its toll on Pauline, but she has now found a way to keep working while giving back to type 1 diabetes charity, JDRF.
A child diagnosed with the disease at the age of five faces up to 19,000 injections and 50,000 finger prick blood tests by the time they are 18 – so like many parents of children with type 1, Pauline (34) is supporting the search for a cure.
She now creates handcrafted wooden gifts and donates £1 from every sale to the cause.
She told the News: “When Anna was diagnosed she was two at the time and we had no idea of what type 1 diabetes was or what it meant. We had to learn everything.
“We check Anna’s glucose levels up to 10 times a day and overnight because she can have a hypo in her sleep, which is very frightening.
“Up until February this year Anna had to have six injections a day into her arms and thighs but after her third birthday she got an insulin pump which has been a godsend.
“We still have to do a finger prick test 10 times a day but, under our supervision, Anna even does that herself sometimes.
“It’s constant, but Anna is so brave – it’s all she knows.”
After having Anna, Pauline had intended to go back to work once she was a little older but when the St Kenneth’s Nursery tot got her diagnosis – after showing the common symptoms of fatigue and extreme thirst – she knew she had to give up her job to care for her.
“It’s difficult for anyone to look after her except me and my husband”, said Pauline.
“Her elder sister Beth is brilliant with her. She has learned to test Anna’s blood sugar levels and carb count.
“As long as her levels are under control she can do anything any other child her age can do.”