Help a Diabetic Child Foundation

Help a Diabetic Child Foundation, a not-for-profit public charity dedicated to helping families and individuals who are dealing with diabetes, announced that it is partnering with Drive for Diabetes Awareness (DFDA) to highlight the symptoms of ketoacidosis and the need for medical supplies and insulin for at-risk kids.

Based in Sarasota, DFDA is a non-profit organization with the mission of educating the public on the symptoms and dangers of unknown or untreated diabetes, particularly in young children. It was started by Brent Kuehl and his family after his son lost his life due to being misdiagnosed with a virus. The partnership with Help A Diabetic Child Foundation will help educate the public on the early warning signs of Type 1 diabetes.

Tami Balavage

“Misdiagnosis is the leading cause of death in children with Type 1 diabetes. A recent online survey found 25 percent of all participants were misdiagnosed and that diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis,” said Tami Balavage, Founder/President for Help A Diabetic Child Foundation. “We hope that our partnership with DFDA will provide the power of knowledge and help save many children’s lives.”

The warning symptoms of diabetes can include sudden weight loss, vision changes, strong fruity breath, nausea, vomiting, confusion, rapid breathing, feeling tired, extreme thirst, change in appetite, frequent urination and unconsciousness.  For additional information, visit Drive for Diabetes Awareness at www.drivefordiabetesawareness.org.

DFDA was started after 1-year-old Rocco Kuehl lost his life due to diabetic ketoacidosis after being misdiagnosed. The Kuehl family was told twice to go home, Rocco has the flu and that he did not warn others. Rocco’s sister, Lacy Kuehl, has been go-kart racing since the age of 6 and races for diabetic children that survive and certain death if ignored, sharing their survival stories to help warn all. In 2019, Lacy Kuehl was chosen from eight of the best youth drivers from around the world to compete in a combine for NASCAR Drive for Diversity youth development program.

Lacy at the young age of 12 was signed on for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth development program, the youngest signed driver to date. Lacy Kuehl was also awarded the 2019 NASCAR Young Racer Award at the NASCAR Hall of fame with President Steve Phelps in attendance and many other top NASCAR dignitaries. Lacy Kuehl currently is driving a Legend car and attending speaking engagements with events all over Florida and the Southeast.

The Help A Diabetic Child Foundation was founded in Southwest Florida by Balavage after her 16-year-old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2010. It quickly became evident that there was a significant number of children who were unable to get adequate supplies for blood glucose testing, something that must be done multiple times daily.

Statistics show that the number of Americans being diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise at alarming rates. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that almost 10% of the population has diabetes, while another 8 million are undiagnosed. In addition, the ADA reports that 86 million Americans over the age of 20 years have pre-diabetes.

To learn more about the Help A Diabetic Child Foundation or to support its mission of providing life-saving supplies and services, visit online at www.helpadiabeticchild.org.