Diabetes charity’s comic capers come to the rescue of Type 1 children

A major diabetes charity has teamed up with a caped crusading consultant to help children cope with the challenges of Type 1. The family of a nine-year-old boy has praised the initiative for helping their son embrace his condition and educate friends and classmates about the daily challenges he faces living with the condition.

Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF) in collaboration with Consultant Physician in Diabetes, Dr Mayank Patel from University Hospital Southampton, and member of the DRWF Editorial Advisory Board, Danny McLaughlin from Revolve Comics and comic artist Jim Lavery, ran a workshop during a virtual ‘Camp in the Cloud’ where the charity invited children to create their very own type 1 diabetes heroes and villains and a short story to go with their characters.

Clair Rava’s son Joseph was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in October 2020 when he was nine years old. She said: “We’ve been on a steep learning curve, especially as it was all during the pandemic. We had to master the blood testing and injecting. He didn’t know anyone else with type 1 so when we heard about the Camp in the Cloud we registered straight away.”

There are currently four Revolve comics concentrating on different important aspects type 1 diabetes, As co-creators of the Type 1 Origins comics series, Professor Partha Kar National Specialty Advisor, Diabetes with NHS England and co-lead of Diabetes GIRFT with NHS Improvement, Danny at Revolve, artist comic Jim Lavery and Dr Patel have been pleased with how well this has been received by those living with type 1 diabetes and those close to them, healthcare professionals and members of the public.

Josephs school has been really supportive of his diagnosis and have been using the Revolve Comics specially written for children and young adults and their families and supporters to understand type 1 diabetes.

St Mary's Church of England Foundation Primary School in Stansted Essex Headmaster Matthew Curzon said “As a school we believe that it is vital to inform and educate, not only our pupils and staff but also our wider community about diabetes.

“Joseph's parents introduced us to the comics produced by Revolve comics and have used them to start conversations around what is diabetes, and how someone with the condition manages it. We built the use of the comics into our Whole class reading, allowing all children to have exposure and conversation around them. Our hope is to continue this for many years.

“Through conversations we have also been able to provide opportunities for the pupils to ask questions and gain further understanding of what it is like to manage this condition. Thanks to Joseph for being so brave, he has shared how he manages his diabetes, and given the other children in the school a chance to see first-hand what his daily routines entail.

“We are planning to further raise awareness through variety of fun and interactive activities during diabetes awareness week, not only for our pupils and staff, but the wider community as well.”

The family took part in the 2021 Camp in the Cloud with Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation and Over The Wall which allowed them to meet other parents and children with type 1 diabetes.

Clair described Joseph’s diagnosis: “Joseph had all the classic symptoms, losing weight and drinking all the time, the GP sent us straight to hospital as Joseph had diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) symptoms.” DKA is a serious problem that can happen in people with diabetes if their body starts to run out of insulin. When this happens, harmful substances called ketones build up in the body, which can be life-threatening if it's not found and treated quickly. The second comic book in the Type 1 Origin series ‘Attack of the Ketones’ deals with this life-threatening complication of type 1.

The Camp in the Cloud experience allowed Clair and her husband Angelo to meet other parents of type 1 children while Joseph got to interact with the other children. “It was lovely to chat to other parents and to share stories, hear experiences and tips. We learned a lot and it’s really helped us as a family.”

Joseph will be starting secondary school next year and Clair and Angelo want him to be as independent as possible, able to manage his type 1 on his own. Clair is keen to improve his diet as he tends to eat a lot of cheese at the moment!

The next Camp in the Cloud Online Virtual Event is on October 15, 2022 more information here

Diabetes Wellness Type 1 Family Camp is at NAYC and ACUK, Whitemoor Lakes, Staffordshire April 30, 2022 More information here

ENDS