THE parents of a boy from St Teath have been raising awareness of type 1 diabetes, and funds for a charity close to their hearts.

Vicki and Andy Burden’ son Tyler was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2018. Ever since, the couple and their family have been raising money for JDRF, the type 1 diabetes charity, and hope to spread awareness of the condition.

Vicki explained more about Tyler’s condition and how their fundraising journey for JDRF came about.

She said: “Tyler was quiet — it was the beginning of January 2018. We just thought he was tired after Christmas and was doing a lot in his first couple of weeks back at school. He was up a lot during the night, taking himself off to the toilet a few times and drinking all throughout it too. Looking back now, we obviously feel terrible as we thought it was a habit he was getting himself into.”

This routine continued for a few weeks and over time, Tyler began losing some weight. Vicki and Andy made an appointment with the local GP and booked Tyler in to have some bloods taken and give a urine sample for the following Monday.

But over the weekend, Tyler became even more tired, drank even more, went to the toilet a lot. Vicki and Andy knew something wasn’t right and became increasingly concerned.

When examining Tyler’s urine sample, the doctor was able to pick up ketones and informed Vicki and Andy that it was likely he had type 1 diabetes.

The doctor phoned the hospital to make arrangements for Tyler to be sent to Treliske Hospital, where a few tests gave a reading of what blood glucose level Tyler was, which was 34. Tyler’s levels should have been anything between four and seven, and his ketones were also very high.

After lots of prodding and poking, lots of tears and struggling, Tyler was given the diagnosis they were dreading of type 1 diabetes, and was given his first short of insulin via an insulin pen into his arm, helping to bring the glucose levels down and help him to feel better.

Tyler spent three days in hospital, learning how to manage type 1 diabetes.

“Tyler continued to struggle with his injections and finger pricks, whenever he wanted something to eat the thought of having to inject him was horrendous, and hoping that we were doing it right and not to hurt him as he was struggling to get away. We had to wake him at night time to check his levels by finger pricking. We felt so guilty, he was screaming and crying — why was this happening to our little boy?”

Despite the struggles, the family soon learned that Tyler’s diet would not be affected by the condition.

Eventually the family were able to return home, and after two weeks off school, it allowed both Tyler and his parents to get their heads round their new routines.

Vicki said: “We really needed something positive to focus on. JDRF, a charity specifically for children with type 1 diabetes, supported us during Tyler’s diagnosis. They also research to find the latest technology and eventually a cure. We were so grateful to them for enabling a brighter future for our son, that we had to raise money to support them.”

Vicki decided to apply for a place with JDRF in the 2018 London Marathon, and secured a place.

“Luckily we have amazing friends and family that got behind us to make sure it happened,” she said. “Our dear friend Kerri Kitto who owns Churchtown Cafe (in St Teath) offered us the cafe to host Tyler’s coffee morning. We obviously underestimated the amount of support and generosity that was shown towards Tyler, as we raised a staggering £3,405 along with the Just Giving page. It was fantastic to throw all of our energy into something positive, knowing it was all going toward benefitting Tyler’s future and to one day hopefully find him a cure.”

Also in April, Tyler was fitted with a Dexcom, a device fitted to his arm that reads his glucose levels every five minutes and sends it through to an app on the phone, meaning no more finger pricks! Vicki and Andy could also monitor it during the night without having to wake Tyler up.

“Without realising, diabetes was no longer overshadowing our lives anymore,” Vicki said. “In the beginning it was taking up a huge, fuzzy part of our minds. Now it was not taking up half as much and everything looked a lot clearer. Tyler was becoming a lot more outgoing. He started playing football for his local football club, that he absolutely loved.”

The following March, the family decided that as Tyler’s first coffee morning was such a huge success, they would do it again. This time Vicki was lucky enough to get a place in the Brighton Marathon 2019 and the Great North Run in September, running for JDRF. Alongside donations they raised £1,445. Vicki said: “We couldn’t believe how the village came together once again for Tyler and raised another phenomenal amount.”

At the end of the St Teath Carnival in 2019, the committee kindly donated the marquee to hold Tyler’s big breakfast, which raised a staggering £1,050.

After many months of research and pleading with the diabetic team, Tyler was finally offered the Omnipod, another device delivering Tyler’s insulin — meaning no more injections!

Tyler continued to throw himself into everything. He played cricket with All Stars at the beginning of the summer in 2019, plays regular matches and attends training every Wednesday evening with his football team. Tyler was becoming so much more confident in managing his own diabetes, going to a party in the church hall and being able to be left for a couple of hours and thinking for himself.

The family’s third coffee morning was held on March 8 in the church hall, St Teath.

Tyler’s year was made when his favourite celebrity, Johnny Cowling, popped in for some cake! Vicki added: “It was a fantastic morning of cake-eating and catching up with friends and family, and £1,100 was raised, bringing our total since Tyler was diagnosed just over two years ago to a massive £7,000.

“Andy and I would like to say a huge thank you to each and every person that has baked a cake, shown support, donated and come along to a coffee morning or breakfast. We will always be so grateful and it’s down to you that Tyler’s future is looking so bright!”