Insulin pump eases the fight against diabetes
When Michael Lyscio was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four months ago, his mom, Connie, pulled him out of his fourth-grade class at Baxter Elementary School to tell him the news.
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Connie, a Baxter Elementary physical education teacher, said she wasn't surprised when she got the call from her son's doctor that confirmed he had diabetes. She had suspected it since she knew the signs. However, there was still a moment of shock.
"For a second, I couldn't breathe," she said. "But I didn't want to scare Michael."
Michael Lyscio (left), 10, laughed as he talked about living with diabetes with Emily Wyman, 2008 Miss Brainerd Lakes during an interview Thursday at Baxter Elementary School. Wyman was diagnosed with diabetes at age 7. Lyscio was diagnosed last Oct. 30.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Michael, whose father is Brainerd Community Education director Todd Lyscio, is the only student at Baxter school with diabetes but there are several other students with diabetes in the school district.
"Of course he was sad," Connie said when she told Michael the news. "His first question was, 'Are kids still going to be my friend' and 'Am I going to die?' A few days later he asked me why God gave him diabetes."
The Lyscios were immediately referred to the McNeely Pediatric Diabetes Center at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, where they learned how best they can manage Michael's diabetes.
Three weeks ago, Michael received an insulin pump so he wouldn't have to undergo five or six insulin shots a day. Instead the pump delivers rapid- or short-acting insulin 24 hours a day through a catheter placed under the skin.
When Michael eats, he uses the buttons on the pump to give him additional insulin to cover the carbohydrates in each meal or snack. The 10-year-old keeps track of his carbohydrates before he eats them so the pump can give him a supplemental boost of insulin. The new catheter needs to be inserted in a new location every three days, usually around the hip.
Michael has adapted well to his lifestyle change. He loves sports and the outdoors and he can still participate in the activities he did before his diagnosis.
"Sometimes I tell them it's a video game."
Michael Lyscio
"I think it's not as bad as it seemed before," Michael said of living with diabetes.
On March 27, Baxter students will participate in a School Walk for Diabetes, walking during their physical education class to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association.
While Connie Lyscio always chooses an organization for students to walk for each year, this cause obviously became close to her heart this year. Michael's, too.
"I want to help other kids who need a pump or need insulin," said Michael.
The classes that raise the most money will be rewarded with a pizza party.
Emily Wyman, 2008 Miss Brainerd Lakes, shares two things in common with Michael. Her mom, Kris Wyman, is a Baxter second-grade teacher and she was diagnosed at age 7 with Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when a cell causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by obesity and lack of physical activity and is the most common form of diabetes.
Michael Lyscio, a fourth-grader at Baxter Elementary School, recently started using an insulin pump so he doesn't have to give himself five or six insulin shots a day. The pump delivers rapid- or short-acting insulin 24 hours a day through a small catheter placed under the skin. When Lyscio eats, he uses the buttons to program in how many carbohydrates he's eating so he can receive the appropriate amount of insulin.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Wyman, 19, who was home from Concordia College in Moorhead on spring break last week, plans to return to Baxter school for the walk to cheer on the students and support Michael, whose personal goal is for the school to raise $7,000, which would cover the cost of purchasing an insulin pump and accessories for another child.
Emily Wyman, who got her insulin pump when she was 12, plans to study nursing and eventually become a diabetes educator. Her platform for the Miss Minnesota Pageant this summer is diabetes and how if it's under control it doesn't have to control you.
Michael said his classmates are often interested in what his insulin pump does, since it sort of looks like a pager.
"They ask what it is and I tell them," said Michael. "Sometimes I tell them it's a video game."
Michael said it's very helpful for him to talk to other people like Emily who have diabetes because they understand what he's going through.
"It's exciting to find someone who's a diabetic, too," Emily added.
Connie Lyscio said the school district lists the nutritional information of school lunches on the district's Web site, which helps Michael count carbohydrates and program them into his insulin pump.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.