Family working to fight childhood diabetes

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
PHIL CAMPBELL – The lives of one local family changed forever with one trip to the doctor's office.
Four year-old Hunter Todd was diagnosed with type one juvenile diabetes in January. Since then his entire family has tried maintain the same diet and lifestyle that Hunter has become accustomed to.
"When he was diagnosed with diabetes, our entire family was diagnosed with diabetes," said his mother, Barbara Todd, of Phil Campbell.
The diagnosis was shocking, Todd said, because there is no family history of diabetes at all.
"It really shocked us," Todd said. "It requires a lot of our family. We spent a week in Birmingham in January learning how to manage diabetes."
Hunter's blood sugar must be checked six times each day and he needs one unit of insulin for every 45 carbohydrates that he takes in.
The cost of living with diabetes can be costly, both physically and monetarily.
That's why the Todd family is working to raise money to fight juvenile diabetes. Hunter's Herd has been established to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The group is currently selling tee shirts to raise money for the cause. A benefit walk will be held in Birmingham on Oct. 24.
Todd said the family hopes to raise $1,000 to donate in Hunter's name.
For information or to make a donation, call 205-993-5191 or email toddfamily@centurytel.net