A little something in the news the other day caught my eye: schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area of North Carolina have organized an informational meeting especially for families of diabetic pupils. The meeting was titled "Diabetes: Back to School Basics." Reports The Charlotte Observer, the idea is to prepare parents and children for the school-year, looking specifically at how diabetic kids should expect to deal with their condition during school hours, what parents can and cannot expect of school staff and so on.

Also included on the agenda was a chance for parents and kids to work on personalized care plans for while they're at school. The meeting is also a chance for everyone to meet the diabetes nurse who has just joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district. The nurse is trained in diabetes management and will be available to help kids and parents with educational materials and resources.

Here's to the powers-that-be at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. You can see there is a problem with so many diabetic kids in your schools, (The Observer says around four hundred kids in that school district are diabetic), and you are tackling it head-on. What I'm not clear on is what the schools' policy is on insulin-dependent type 1 kids who need shots during school hours. This has become so problematic of late, with schools concerned about liability issues in having staff assist with supervising/administering shots. But, nevertheless, this is a sign of the times and a good one. In fact, this is so good I'm wondering...why don't all schools do this?

I remember my mom telling me what happened when they first learned I was diagnosed with diabetes. My parents went up to my neighbor's house and my dad was devastated - to the point of tears. My dad is a doctor and learning that his daughter was just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes left him feeling helpless and guilty. He felt guilty he did he not see it happening. He felt helpless because he knew my life was about to change and he couldn't fix it. I think somewhere inside I have an irreparable feeling of guilt that I ever caused my dad to feel this way. He is the man who rescued me from the monsters in my closet. He read me bedtime stories. He is my hero. I began writing this tonight to express an enormous amount of appreciation to another father with a diabetic daughter - Jeff Hitchock.

Jeff's daughter, Marissa, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 24 months old. Jeff created children with DIABETES in June 1995 with the goal of helping Marissa meet other kids who had diabetes. children with DIABETES promotes understanding of the care and treatment of diabetes, especially in children. It also increases awareness of the need for unrestricted diabetes care for children at school and daycare, to support families living with diabetes, and to promote understanding of research for a cure. Over the years, children with DIABETES has grown to become one of the largest diabetes-related web sites in the world. If you are a parent, you can only imagine the dedication Jeff has put into the site. More importantly, you will see the resources and experts he has incorporated into this site. I'd bet double or nothing on Jeff's site. He gives the Library of Congress a run for it's money.

Marissa is the reason that the children with DIABETES site exists. She is now in nursing school and plans to take care of kids with diabetes. As a nurse, she'll impact the lives of diabetic kids the same way her father has impacted the lives of millions through children with DIABETES. Thank you for all you have contributed to the diabetic community. Best of luck in nursing, Marissa!