HOUSTON – When her son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 9 years old, local mom Kayla Yates quickly learned how uneducated much of the world is about the disease.
She’s now on a mission to help change that and both she and her son Landon Yates are teaming up with Nick Jonas’ Beyond Type 1 foundation to educate others on the warning signs of diabetes.
“Landon was diagnosed during Diabetes Awareness Month on November 4, 2019, at the age of 9 years old, in the middle of his 3rd-grade year. Landon’s first symptom was excessive thirst, he was drinking tons of water each day and was chugging entire bottles in one gulp. He was also experiencing frequent restroom visits, especially at night. After an appointment with his pediatrician, a simple fingerstick confirmed his high blood sugar and we were sent to Texas Children’s Hospital., " said Yates about the chronic disease that each year globally claims the lives of nearly 36,000 without ever receiving a diagnosis.
She also revealed that “the stigma attached to diabetes is an unexpected reality for us, so educating our friends, family, and community is vital.”
For #WorldDiabetesDay, the foundation is launching a campaign to help the world see the signs of diabetes and they want you to share yours. It’s simple, hold up your fingers to show how many signs you saw and share them on social with the hashtag #SeeTheSigns.
To see their complete interview, watch the video above.