Post by Logan on Jul 5, 2016 4:27:38 GMT -6
From ignorance to understanding: Politician's comments raise awareness of challenges facing diabetics
By any standard, Columbus resident Leslie Junkin has had it rough.
At 3 months, her daughter Isabella was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Nine months later, Junkin's husband died in a car accident. At age 8, Isabella was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Unlike Type 2 Diabetes, whose symptoms can often be mitigated by diet or lifestyle, Type 1 Diabetes is a permanent failure of the pancreas to produce insulin.
"From the moment she was diagnosed until the moment she leaves this world, Isabella is going to need insulin," Junkin said of her now 16-year-old daughter. "That's just a fact. She either gets insulin or she dies."
As a single mom, Junkin works two jobs, including a full-time position as assistant director for Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center, which provides support and training for parents of children with disabilities.
Junkin, 46, has health insurance through her employer, but also has Medicaid-based insurance, which covers expenses not covered by private insurance.
Read more: www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=51299
By any standard, Columbus resident Leslie Junkin has had it rough.
At 3 months, her daughter Isabella was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Nine months later, Junkin's husband died in a car accident. At age 8, Isabella was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Unlike Type 2 Diabetes, whose symptoms can often be mitigated by diet or lifestyle, Type 1 Diabetes is a permanent failure of the pancreas to produce insulin.
"From the moment she was diagnosed until the moment she leaves this world, Isabella is going to need insulin," Junkin said of her now 16-year-old daughter. "That's just a fact. She either gets insulin or she dies."
As a single mom, Junkin works two jobs, including a full-time position as assistant director for Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center, which provides support and training for parents of children with disabilities.
Junkin, 46, has health insurance through her employer, but also has Medicaid-based insurance, which covers expenses not covered by private insurance.
Read more: www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=51299