Heartfelt Childrens’ Book Published to Raise Awareness of Type 1 Diabetes
The adventures of Rocco and his dog Zizu launches on World Diabetes Day Dubai, UAE: Dubai-based author, Abby Lyons, is set to launch a children’s book to raise awareness around Type 1 diabetes, following her son’s diagnosis with the...
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Dubai, UAE: Dubai-based author, Abby Lyons, is set to launch a children’s book to raise awareness around Type 1 diabetes, following her son’s diagnosis with the life threatening condition. Aiming to tackle the lack of education and understanding, especially when it comes to spotting the signs in young children, the book, ‘What is Diabetes, anyway?’ features Rocco and his dog Zizu, and the journey of how he was diagnosed, and how he and his family learned to find a new normal in a world which was so unfamiliar to them.
Launching ahead of World Diabetes Day on the 14th November, Lyons felt compelled to share the story following Rocco’s diagnosis, in order to help others to understand what to look out for, and offer insights on how to cope should someone they love be diagnosed. Affecting around 9 million people globally, the autoimmune disease has no cure, and leads the body to slowly attack the pancreas, eventually leaving it unable to produce insulin – the hormone that is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. Without insulin, the body is unable to move glucose from the blood stream to its cells and the glucose builds up in the blood leading to diabetes-related ketoacidosis.
Published by The Dreamwork Collective, the children’s story documents how, from one day eating and playing normally as a child would do, to the next, having to carb count, measure blood glucose, and deal with all of the physical and emotional impacts of high and low blood sugar. It aims to encourage people with Type 1 diabetes to be proud of how strong and brave they are, and to not feel like they have to be embarrassed or ashamed. With so many myths and misinformation around how people can become Type 1, the heart-warming story explains exactly how it happens, in a gentle way that children of all ages can understand.
Lyons comments: “Type 1 diabetes is one of those things that no one really seems to care about, until they have to. It’s hard to find the words to explain the feeling of one day, knowing exactly how to care for and keep your child alive, to the next, literally having no clue. All food becomes terrifying because it no longer only nourishes them, it’s a threat to their survival and the medicine that keeps them alive could also kill them, if you get it wrong. From a mother. To a nurse. A doctor. And a pancreas. All while trying to process the pain and suffering of your child.”
Sharing the day-to-day adventures of Rocco, his brothers and their faithful companion, Zizu the poodle, the book shows how each day Rocco learns a little more about how diabetes impacts his body, and how he can help to keep his body strong and healthy. It details how he starts to manage his high and low blood sugars and how he can expect to feel when they are not in range, which also helps his family to understand what he might be going through.
Sharing her hopes for the book, Lyons concludes: “It isn’t until you live with it, that you can possibly understand it. And I felt so alone upon diagnosis, and so lost – which is why I wrote the book I wish I had to begin with. To help me to understand. To help Rocco to understand. To explain it to his brothers. Because not only are you battling the diagnosis and the immediate care your child needs, you’re also trying to explain it to all your loved ones.”
‘What is Diabetes, anyway?’ is now available for presale on Amazon, and officially launches on World Diabetes Day, 14th November 2024.
Abby Lyons is the author of the children’s picture book What Is Diabetes, Anyway? and co-founder of House of Comms, an international marketing agency based in Dubai, UAE. Born in South Africa and raised in Manchester, UK, Abby is mum to three boys—Marley, Maddox, and Rocco. Abby’s journey as a passionate advocate for diabetes awareness began when Rocco was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Determined to help others recognize the early signs of the condition, and support newly diagnosed families, she penned her first book, aimed at educating about the importance of early diagnosis. Abby hopes that through her and Rocco’s story, more families will become familiar with the tell-tale symptoms of diabetes and get the timely support they need.
About The Dreamwork Collective
Founded by creatives, for creatives, The Dreamwork Collective is a proud women-founded and run, author-centric publishing house, sharing diverse stories and powerful voices with the world. We publish books, courses and free resources to ignite your creativity and expand your consciousness. Dedicated to making sure that no story goes untold, we are driven to make today’s knowledge, wisdom and stories accessible to everyone and for many generations to come.
