THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 23, 1995 TAG: 9504210214
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Josh Banashak looks like the average blond-haired, blue-eyed, red-blooded American boy that he is.
The seventh-grader attends Plaza Middle School, plays baseball and video games and wears T-shirts emblazoned with his favorite rock groups. The 12-year-old has a quick wit and relishes the role of class cut-up.
But, two years ago, Josh noticed something wrong. He began to feel thirsty all the time. He had to go to the bathroom frequently (``My all-time record was 36 times one day.'')
One day, Josh fainted.
A medical examination revealed that he suffered from diabetes. The red-blooded boy's blood sugar level had zoomed to 800, causing the fainting episode.
The normal range is 70-140, said Mary Ann Fussell, school nurse at Holland Elementary School. For the past four years, she has led a support group, Friends With Diabetes, for children like Josh who suffer from the disease. The students are from schools throughout Virginia Beach, and the group meets once a month during the school year. Lydia Buckley, a licensed practical nurse, assists Fussell with the kids.
Josh, several members of the club - Patrice Barlotta, Chris Johnson, Kim Hunger, Kelly Shanley, Keneith Bellamy and Annie Medina - and others from the public will ride in the second annual Tour D Cure bike ride Saturday. The 25-kilometer ride will start at Kellam High School.
The students raise $50 in pledges to enter the ride and the money goes to the American Diabetes Association for research. Fussell and her husband, Jim, a medical doctor, will ride along with the group.
The students suffer from type one diabetes; adult onset is type two.
``The children can do anything they want, just like any other kids,'' said Fussell. ``They just have to do certain other things, too.''
Among those things are finger sticks, insulin injections and dietary constraints - chiefly, no sugar or a limited amount. Not surprisingly, the last seems the worst. They eat sugar-free snacks. Almost always.
The children can sometimes have their favorite snacks as a treat.
``My doctor said I could have ice cream, once in a while,'' said Kelly Shanley, 10, a fourth-grader at Salem Elementary School.
Chris Johnson, 13, gives himself insulin injections twice a day, he said. ``I was diagnosed at 18 months,'' said the Kempsville Middle School eighth-grader. ``I've never known anything else.''
Fussell said that ``control is the central issue of diabetic treatment. The children have to eat certain foods at certain times. They have to maintain balance between food, level of activity and insulin.''
Exercise is vital.
Diane Medina, a registered nurse, runs a support group for the parents of Friends with Diabetes. Her daughter, Annie, a fifth-grader at Princess Anne Elementary School, attends Friends With Diabetes, but does not have the disease. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Mary Ann Fussell, school nurse at Holland Elementary School, is the
support group leader of Friends With Diabetes, which includes
Keneith Bellamy, left, Heather Redwood and Kelly Shanley.
TOUR DE CURE
For information about the American Diabetes Association of South
Hampton Roads or the Tour de Cure bicycle event, call 623-4068. For
information about Friends with Diabetes, call Mary Ann Fussell,
Holland Elementary School, 427-1880.
by CNB