MY NAME IS ADAM. I HAVE TYPE 1 DIABETES
A bilingual children’s book on Type 1 Diabetes
Summary:
As the first picture book on Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) written for the Southeast Asian context, “My Name Is Adam. I Have Type 1 Diabetes.” tells the story of Adam (a fictional 10-year-old boy), who goes through diagnosis and various challenges in his first year. He describes his learnings and the support network who helped him along the way. For ages 6+.
Notable features:
- Bilingual: text is in English and Mandarin
- Shares information for parents/educators/caregivers on T1DM-specific symptoms and vocabulary
- Contains inclusive, appropriate language to help young patients and friends talk about T1DM in a respectful way.
- Dyslexic-friendly colours and font, to promote inclusivity and kindness towards individuals living with invisible conditions
Full Description:
Background
Globally, Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) affects 5-10% of people living with diabetes. T1DM is a chronic condition resulting from the complete loss of insulin-producing cells and is often diagnosed during childhood. It is neither preventable nor predictable, and necessitates (a) lifelong insulin replacement and (b) blood glucose monitoring, in order to prevent long-term diabetes-related complications.
Children often find it difficult to (a) grasp the abrupt changes resulting from their diagnoses, and (b) explain their condition comfortably to their closest friends and family. As a result, some children skip insulin injections and/or blood glucose tests in order to conceal their condition.
This is life-threatening, as well as carry physical and psycho-emotional impacts. With proper blood glucose management and monitoring, children are able to participate in sports, wider school events and gatherings. However, due to a combination of lack of knowledge and uncertainty, some children have been excluded from these activities.
About the book
“My Name Is Adam. I Have Type 1 Diabetes.” is inspired by real-life experiences shared by families from typeOne.sg, a community of people with Type 1 Diabetes in Singapore. The story describes a child’s journey from diagnosis, adjustment, to acceptance.
This book aims to vocalise, localise, and normalise the activities involved in living with T1DM. It strives to:
- Help children, parents, and educators understand the condition, and show them that it is possible for everyone (living or learning to live with) the condition, to lead fruitful and happy lives.
- Help communities work towards becoming a more inclusive society for invisible conditions: by supporting patients through kindness and resilience in the face of challenges.
Getting a copy & contact info
If you’d like to get a copy, have questions, or ideas for collaboration, please reach out to Ms Candy Gan (co-author) at candygan.yx@gmail.com
