A WORD WITH AN AUTHOR

We continue our series of interviews with authors based in Singapore.

It’s rare to come across a children’s book about a serious health issue like diabetes. CANDY GAN and YEO CHENG YONG break the mould by opening up about the sensitive topic in their book, My Name is Adam. I have Type 1 Diabetes.

What inspired you to write your book?

Candy: I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) when I was 2 years old. I grew up overseas (Shanghai and Tokyo) and attained both my degrees in London, so I’ve gone through different life stages with this condition in tow: studying, living independently, staying safe on holidays, building my career.

Out of all people with diabetes, 90 to 95 percent have Type 2 while 5 to 10 percent have Type 1. While Type 2 is a lifestyle condition, Type 1, which is usually diagnosed in adolescence, is an autoimmune condition that requires external insulin via injections or an insulin pump, and constant daily monitoring of blood glucose levels.

How challenging an adjustment this must be for the young children and their families! Some children can face exclusion from social activities, judgment for what they need to do to keep themselves alive, and misconceptions when they try to explain their condition to friends.

I had my own highs and lows through the years, but a kids’ book about T1D was never a resource available to me. This book represents something I wish I could have given to my younger self.

Cheng Yong: When I was diagnosed at 20 years old, I recalled a children’s novel that had a character with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). That was when I first learnt about the condition, and it helped me accept my own diagnosis more easily years later. There aren’t many localised resources on T1D, which would help children relate to and understand the condition better.

Tell us a bit about the story.

Candy & Cheng Yong: This book shares a fictional 10-year-old boy’s experiences after being diagnosed with T1D: the challenges he faces, how he returns to school, and how he builds his mental strength. It weaves in local elements such as an average primary school experience and familiar foods that patients can eat, and normalises the daily activities that children will need to do as part of managing their condition.

The book is written in appropriate language for children and their friends, teachers and relatives to understand T1D in a respectful, simple way. We hope this helps Singapore to become a more inclusive society for invisible conditions. To support this wider vision, the text is suitable for those with dyslexia, and page colours were intentionally chosen to cater to a variety of learning needs.

To craft the story, we spoke to a few families living with T1D in Singapore to understand the hurdles they have faced and overcome.

What’s your day job?

Candy: I work in public healthcare administration.

Cheng Yong: I’m a data engineer.