T_Dia
03-26-2009, 04:08 PM
When you're young, the last thing you want to be is different.
For Jillian Rokowski, growing up with juvenile diabetes meant turning down cake at birthday parties. During class, she had to nibble peanut-butter crackers to keep her blood-sugar levels in check. At least twice a day, she'd sneak off to give herself insulin shots.
And when Rokowski was diagnosed at age 10, her parents -- cringe -- showed a video in the cafeteria of her Orlando, Fla., elementary school so her peers would understand her medical condition.
"It was horrific," said Rokowski, now 21, of St. Petersburg, Fla. Worse, it didn't make any difference. Kids still asked Rokowski if her diabetes was contagious. "Everybody was always weirded out by it, and the teachers didn't help," she said. "I remember in fourth and fifth grade, I didn't go on any field trips because the teachers were like, 'Well, we don't really feel comfortable at this point.' "
Full Article (http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/42043).
For Jillian Rokowski, growing up with juvenile diabetes meant turning down cake at birthday parties. During class, she had to nibble peanut-butter crackers to keep her blood-sugar levels in check. At least twice a day, she'd sneak off to give herself insulin shots.
And when Rokowski was diagnosed at age 10, her parents -- cringe -- showed a video in the cafeteria of her Orlando, Fla., elementary school so her peers would understand her medical condition.
"It was horrific," said Rokowski, now 21, of St. Petersburg, Fla. Worse, it didn't make any difference. Kids still asked Rokowski if her diabetes was contagious. "Everybody was always weirded out by it, and the teachers didn't help," she said. "I remember in fourth and fifth grade, I didn't go on any field trips because the teachers were like, 'Well, we don't really feel comfortable at this point.' "
Full Article (http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/42043).