metro
Doing It All
A positive, uplifting children's book stresses
normalcy for kids with type 1 diabetes.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Contributing Writer
I j acob Kleiman is a regular 8-year-
old boy who hangs out with
friends, plays sports and hap-
pens to have diabetes. His mom, Deanna
Kleiman, wrote Jacob's Journey: Living with
Type 1 Diabetes (2012, self-published) to
let other kids and even adults know that
about him and other kids living with the
illness.
"I decided to share
Jacob's story to help
educate other families
who may have or know a
diabetic child; and also
for people who just want
to learn more about
the disease and how it
Jacob Kleiman affects children:' said
Kleiman of Oak Park.
"Mostly I wanted people to know that
children with type 1 diabetes can live a
normal, healthy life and do things that any
other child can do?'
Jacob's Journey, written in language
easy to understand for children ages
4-10, is told as if narrated by Jacob, who
describes the "journey" to
control his illness.
The 22-page
educational,
paperback book
lets readers know
the symptoms of
type 1 diabetes (pre-
viously known as juve-
nile diabetes) and what
is involved in its treat-
ment, describing finger
pokes before meals to test
Jacob's blood sugar levels
and insulin injections after.
"At first I cried every time
someone poked my finger to
test my blood:' Jacob said in the book. "I
was only 2 years old. But then I got used
to it and pretty soon it didn't hurt at all."
By age 2, Jacob was poking his own finger
and by age 4 he gave himself injections.
He now has an insulin pump attached to
his body to administer the insulin and
eliminate the shots.
Denise G. Pentescu, senior outreach
manager for the Southeast Michigan and
Northwest Ohio chapter of the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation (jdrf.
org), Metro Detroit in Southfield, refers
16 July 26 • 2012
to Jacob's Journey as "an enduring sweet
book explaining in easy-to-understand
language the care and support a child with
type 1 diabetes needs."
Peri Kramer of West Bloomfield, the
parent of a son with type 1 diabetes,
and co-founder of Diabetes Research
and Education Advocates of Michigan
(D.R.E.A.M.), with her husband Evan,
highly recommends the book. She says
it gives readers an understanding on a
child's level of what having diabetes is like
... and helps make diabetes a little less
daunting for children and their families."
Family Affair
The book shows Jacob's family's reaction
to his diagnosis as well as their support,
including how the whole family changed
their eating habits for him, and how his
extended family and parents learned to
administer his injections.
"My mom and dad told me that this
scared them very much',' Jacob said in the
book. "They weren't doctors so they had
never given anyone a shot before, and they
were afraid they might not figure out the
amount of insulin correctly. But
the doctors and nurses at the
hospital showed my parents how
to do it, and they even practiced
giving shots on oranges and
grapefruits so they would feel
comfortable giving them to
me!"
Based on his actual expe-
riences, in the book Jacob
takes snacks and juice
boxes to school and has
teachers who help care
for him. He wears a
bracelet letting others
know he is diabetic.
"Having type 1 dia-
betes has never stopped me from
doing anything I wanted to do:' Jacob says
in the book. "I love sports and play all of
them. My favorite sport is football, but I
also like basketball, soccer, baseball and
hockey."
Colorful, cartoon images, which,
Kleiman said, "attract kids" were illus-
trated by Kirsten Brieger of Berkley, who
also has a diabetic son.
Partial proceeds from the book go to
several organizations that work to fund
educational projects and research toward a
cure for diabetes. In addition to being sold
in stores and online for individual use and
David, Deanna, Ira and Jacob Kleiman
Type 1 Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes
Association:
• Type 1 diabetes, previously known as
juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in
children and young adults.
• In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does
not produce insulin, a hormone needed
to convert sugar, starches and other food
into energy needed for daily life.
• Insulin is administered by injection or
through an insulin pump
as resource materials, Kleiman said she
was pleased when "Jacob's endocrinologist
and also his pediatrician ordered books
for their offices."
Kleiman is also the author of My Twin
Brother (2010), a children's book about
Jacob and his twin brother David, who are
going into 4th grade at Akiva Hebrew Day
School in Southfield.
With reassurance, the book reminds
that "people with diabetes who take care
of themselves can live a long, healthy life"
• Only 5 percent of people with diabetes
have this form of the disease.
•With the help of insulin therapy and
other treatments even young children
with type 1 diabetes can learn to man-
age their condition and live long, healthy,
happy lives.
• Type 1 diabetes management includes
blood glucose control and insulin man-
agement, exercise, which help stabilize
blood glucose levels, nutrition and sup-
port.
and that although the cause of type 1 dia-
betes may not be known, there is ongoing
research to find its cure.
Every year the Kleimans, including
dad, Ira, are joined by family and friends
on Team Jacob's Journey at the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation Walk, tak-
ing place this year on Sunday, Sept. 23, in
Warren.
Jacob said he is happy his mom wrote
the book and hopes it will help other kids
with diabetes and their families. ❑
Jacob's Journey may be downloaded on Kindle; is available at amazon.com ;
barnesandnoble.com ; The Book Beat, 26010 Greenfield Road, Oak Park; Self
Esteem Shop, 32839 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; Children's Gift Shop at
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. A portion of sales will go to fund diabetes
research, education and programming when ordered through these organiza-
tions: jdrf.org (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation); dreamforacure.com
(D.R.E.A.M.) and dys4kids.org (Diabetes Youth Services in Maumee, Ohio).
$10.95 (may be discounted at some venues).