Monday, November 15, 2010

Jelly Beans and Life Savers

This card is something quite different from my usual, but there is a special reason for that. Today is World Diabetes Day and my younger daughter (DD12) has Type 1 Diabetes (previously known as Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes).

Unlike the more common Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 is not lifestyle related and cannot be prevented. It is an autoimmune disease that is triggered by a virus and causes the body's immune system to attack cells in the pancreas where sugar from food is turned into energy.

DD12 has to check her blood sugar levels around 6 times a day and must inject herself with insulin every time she eats and at regular intervals throughout the day 24/7, 365 days a year. There are around 140,000 Australians living with Type 1 Diabetes, most of them children or young people.

If her blood sugar levels go low that is known as Hypoglycaemia and DD12 eats jelly beans to bring her sugar levels back up to a normal level quickly. That's the reason for the design of my card, a bunch of jelly beans arranged to spell the word CURE. And the reason for my header, because jelly beans can literally be a life saver to a type 1 diabetic.


As her favourite colour jelly bean is black, I've used the gorgeous striped grosgrain ribbon in black - plus I think it looks like a licorice strap, another good thing for a hypo! I used my Versamark pen to clear emboss the jelly beans to give them that sugar-coated candy look.


I'd like to also dedicate this card in spirit to all Type 1 diabetics out there, and especially Kim and Lynda.

Thanks for calling in today.

Cheers
Kez

8 comments:

Cheryl said...

WOW this is fabulous!!! The colours, the word CURE and the ribbon look fabulous!! I hope your daughter manages her diabetes well,hopefully one day there will be a cure!!
xx

Lynda said...

Kez darlin'....I love it to bits!!! This is one of your most AWESOME cards!!! I love the JB's...and they do look good enough to eat....the embossing was the PERFECT finishing touch!!! Think I'll pass on the licorice strap tho...LOL!!! Hope DD12 continues onwards and upward towards greater independence with her pump....and Mum can have some more stampin' time!! ooxx

Unknown said...

Kez,we just love your card. My daughters were with me when I was looking and had so many questions about diabeties and how you made your lovely card.TFS your DD12 story.

Andrea L - EnchantINK said...

What a sensational card. You can tell that this is something really close to your heart, Kez. Let's hope they find a cure soon! Hugs xxaxx

Juliette Chapman said...

WOW - this is fabulous Kez. You have outdone yourself. Let's keep hoping and praying for a cure

Sonia G said...

This is fantastic! What a great way to use the jelly bean stamp! If only we could find a cure sooner!

Thanks for sharing!

Cheers
Sonia

Julie said...

Oh I so wish you guys were closer. I have a almost 6 yr old daughter who has type 1. I so love your card and think its just devine and oh so true. Living with type 1 is such a hard thing and such a life changing event. The sooner they find a cure the better for all the kids affected.

Kim Tonnet said...

Hi Kerry, Thanks so much for making the Jelly Bean card, it is spot on. I'll have to save the black ones for your daugther, my fave are white :) I'm sure Lynda appreciates your efforts too. And I too hope the pump brings a great improvement not only in BSL and HbA1C but in lifestyle. Like Lynda, I wouldn't be without mine. If you ever need a sympathetic ear, don't hesitate to call. And at those challenging times, look at Lynda and I and see hope for the future. We're surviving and thriving with families...it's hard, yes, but with the right support, she'll get there too. Luv KimT