Right now, there are 15 thousand people in the Midstate living with
juvenile diabetes.  This is the type of diabetes that's not triggered by
personal health and eating  habits.  Instead, this one is an auto
immune disease that strikes without any warning.

 

Several times a day, these Hendersonville brothers have to prick to
measures their blood sugar.  Right now, Rhett's is a little high. 
Robby's is just right.



Rhett Stanley  "I just want to eat without checking my blood sugar and getting shots."



The Stanley brothers have no family history of juvenile diabetes or Type
1 as it's also called,  which causes the body's own immune system to
attack the pancreas...



This leads to wild swings in blood sugar, which can damage every major organ and even lead to blindness.



Stacy Case asks, "I'm sure as a Mom you worry?"

Rhett and Robby's mom, Deborah Stanley says, "I do. It's consuming
because that's the first thing you think about when you wake up.  It's
always the last thing you  think about before you go to bed and it's
even what you think about in the middle of the night."



That's because this mom has to set an alarm every night at 2:30  to wake up her 3rd grader to check his sugar levels.



Deborah Stanley says, "You can pass out and it can really result in death."



Robby is showing us his website, Hockey Night In Nashville dot come. 
He's majoring in sports journalism at  MTSU which means he's responsible
for managing the disease alone.



Robby Stanley says, "You have to constantly be aware of your blood sugar
and constantly be aware of what you're doing and what you're putting
into your body."



   This Saturday, Fox 17 is partnering with the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation at it's annual fundraising walk and these brothers
will be all decked out.



Robby Stanley, "This is Team Kiss My Pancreas' shirt and this year the
theme is rock  theme at the walk. So we decided we were going to use
this shirt.



  There will be donzens of other teams at Bicentennial Mall Saturday
morning.  Stacy Case is MC'ing the event and we'd love to have you join
us.  For more information on the walk or Type 1 diabetes, click Foxlinks
at Fox17.com. Juvenile Diabetes