James Has Diabetes

About the Book

Mariah Daly received her Nursing degree at Laboure College, a Bachelor's degree in the Humanities at Harvard Extension and Radcliffe Institute. She earned a Master's degree in Education at Lesley University in Cambridge. She has studied watercolor and pottery with various teachers in the Boston area. She has won blue and red ribbons in the annual Beacon Hill Art Walk for her watercolors and hand painted pottery. She has published papers in nursing journals and presented a paper at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Dallas, Texas. She has written protocols and developed patient educational standards for nursing departments. She currently teaches inner city children in an after school program about health related to lifestyle. She is a member of the board of the West End Branch of The Boston Public Library Friends, where she organizes community programs. She currently practices nursing with Boston Visiting Nurse Association Private Care. James Has Diabetes is her first book.

Her email is Mariahdaly@yahoo.com if you wish to contact her.

About the Author

James Has Diabetes is a story about an eight year old boy diagnosed with Type I diabetes. It is a fully developed chapter book that introduces the reader to James in a peaceful New England town where his idyllic childhood is disrupted by diabetes. The symptoms of diabetes are described clearly as they integrate into James' daily life. These symptoms lead James' family to suspect that something is wrong. James is then taken to the doctor, where a diagnosis of diabetes is made, and he receives his first insulin injection. As the story unfolds, the reader travels to an urban hospital where James, his family and families from other cities and nations around the world receive an education about diabetes and its treatment. Medical information is imparted by sympathetic members of the medical community, as well as by friends of various ages in his community, who James discovers are also living with diabetes.

The story addresses the issue of uncertainty about changes in his diet, and how they will impact his health. The issue is tackled with clarity as the reader feels James' disappointment when his blood sugar drops after a home run, and when his friends head for ice cream. Empowerment is described when James realizes that he can make informed choices allowing a livable level of dietary freedom. The social aspects of diabetes are conveyed in a way that present a situation when James' friends shy away from him. This fear fades as they realize that James is still the kid and friend he used to be. Chapter 11 reflects the struggle of "Why me" experienced by James. James, like many diabetic children, comes to a positive resolution about this struggle.