At first glance, Trevor Kennedy looks like a typical 16-year-old.

The Armstrong resident goes to high school in Vernon and plays midget rep hockey with his goal next fall to earn a spot on the Kamloops major midget team.

But the cord hanging from his pocket belies the reality that Trevor is living with type 1 diabetes, one of an estimated 33,000 school aged children afflicted with the disease, according to the Canadian Pediatric Society.

That cord connects a sensor in Trevor害羞草研究所檚 cell phone to a pump that injects insulin into his body to manage his blood sugar levels.

It is part of the reality that Trevor has adopted into his everyday life since he was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes nine years ago.

害羞草研究所淏eyond the blood sugar testing, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 affect me too much. I have to test every time I eat to apply insulin to match with what I害羞草研究所檓 eating,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲ith hockey, I have to test my blood sugars after the first and second periods and make sure I have chocolate milk on the bench in case I need sugar or extra water. I have to keep the hockey pump on me when I play, which I protect with bubble wrap and kleenex, but I害羞草研究所檝e broken a few.害羞草研究所�

The cell phone app sensor has removed the need for daily insulin needle injections.

Teri Kennedy, Trevor害羞草研究所檚 mom, defined the initial diagnosis as life-changing not just for her son but for their family, which includes an older sibling who doesn害羞草研究所檛 have diabetes.

害羞草研究所淥ur world was turned upside down but you know what, you just have to take each day as it comes,害羞草研究所� said Teri.

She has learned a lot about diabetes in their journey, information she has passed on to Trevor to enable him to be responsible for his own disease management.

害羞草研究所淥ne thing you find is no two days are ever the same. And some days are more challenging than others. We try to carry on life as normal.害羞草研究所�

Trevor害羞草研究所檚 extended family includes his cousin, award winning country singer Ben Klick, who has become a strong advocate for the JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes, taking place this year at Mission Creek Park on Sunday, June 10, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Related: Cure for diabetes focus of annual walk

Klick says the life changing aspect of a diabetes diagnosis for his relatives also carried over to his family as well.

害羞草研究所淚t was an adjustment for the rest of the family watching them go through this. We all have learned a lot more about the disease as a result. I think I have only missed one walk event since Trevor was diagnosed,害羞草研究所� said Klick, who lives in West Kelowna.

While there has always been a live band performing as part of the activities surrounding the walk, last year Klick said his aunt told him 害羞草研究所測ou should get yourself in there and go do it,害羞草研究所� pointing to the stage.

害羞草研究所淭hat sparked something in me to figure out how I could get more involved and the end result is I will be performing at this year害羞草研究所檚 event,害羞草研究所� he said.

Shannon Jolley, fundraising and development manager for JDRF in Kelowna, says adults diagnosed with diabetes still far outnumber children, in part because of symptom recognition.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of parents think their child is sick with the flu or have a cold, but it gets worse and worse until the realization sets in it might be worse than a virus,害羞草研究所� Jolley said.

Some of those symptoms, she says, included constantly being thirsty, peeing a lot or losing weight.

Related: UBCO researcher creates diabetes diet

害羞草研究所淚f someone is undiagnosed, and you go on a vacation field trip and you have to stop every half hour because your child has to go to the bathroom, something is just not right.

害羞草研究所淎nd the insidious nature of this disease is it is not passed on by the parents. That害羞草研究所檚 why it害羞草研究所檚 important to see a doctor and get your blood tested.害羞草研究所�

For Trevor, the 害羞草研究所榃hy me?害羞草研究所� question is one that he害羞草研究所檚 had to work out in his own mind over time.

害羞草研究所淪ometimes I have asked myself that question, but then I think it also makes me stronger and I have learned things about myself.

害羞草研究所淛ust like playing hockey. Eight year ago I thought I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be able to play anymore but here I am today playing at the highest level for my age.害羞草研究所�

Trevor害羞草研究所檚 mom concurs with that assessment, saying she can害羞草研究所檛 remember ever hearing him say to her he felt sorry for himself, even though his 22-year-old sister is healthy.

害羞草研究所淚 think sometimes I have tougher days than he does, but I am very proud of him,害羞草研究所� she said.

She is also thankful they have the health coverage means to apply new technological advances to Trevor害羞草研究所檚 life to ease the adjustment to loving with diabetes.

Related: Diabetes sufferer害羞草研究所檚 journey to freedom explored

She says the old school practices of insulin needles and pinpricking your finger to monitor blood sugars is not Trevor害羞草研究所檚 current reality, but it comes at a price.

害羞草研究所淲e have all the modern bells and whistles that we can but he uses equipment now that costs $12,000 to $15,000. It害羞草研究所檚 tough enough for us to manage but for people without any kind of coverage for those costs, it害羞草研究所檚 hard to access that.害羞草研究所�

The JDRF Walk raises money in part to foster research on finding a cure for diabetes but also to help families with the financial constraints of affording new treatment advances in technology.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

barry.gerding@blackpress.ca
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