Type 1 Diabetes: Orlando's Story

Orlando is a 16-year-old who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007. 

He likes to run and enjoys playing video games. Currently a high school sophomore, Orlando participates in his school’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He lives in Philadelphia with his parents and his older sister, Yeeimy, who all speak Spanish.

Orlando has had some trouble managing his type 1 diabetes over the past few years. He doesn’t like to test his blood sugar or give his insulin all of the time.

Over the last year or so, though, the Diabetes Center for Children at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has worked with Orlando and his sister to figure out a plan that might work better for him. orlando Orlando wanted to try an insulin pump. We made a plan for him to test and give his insulin more consistently to get his A1c down. Hemoglobin A1c is a measure of a person's average blood glucose level over the past two to three months.

In the summer of 2011, Orlando and his sister worked with the Pump Trainers to start an insulin pump. Orlando came back to his first visit with the pump and his A1c had come down to 6.8 percent!

Orlando’s sister helped him to upload the pump data using Medtronic’s Carelink® program so that we could all look at the numbers. A1cs don’t come down by magic, and the Carelink® download showed lots of testing and bolusing and insulin numbers that were low most of the time. What a change!

Next challenge

Orlando still works with his sister to manage his diabetes. Yeeimy checks in with him frequently to make sure he is following his doctors and nurses’ recommendations to keep his diabetes under control.

Now, Orlando is looking to achieve his next big challenge — participating in high school sports. With his new pump, his new attitude and his good diabetes control, we know he can do it!


Originally posted: February 2012


Next Steps
Appointments and Referrals
girl testing blood sugar

Tools to Manage Diabetes

These resources will help your child and family manage blood sugar testing, highs and lows, insulin, nutrition, and more.

young boy smiling

Life With Diabetes

Review our information about support and coping, school, teen topics, and general well-being.


You Might Also Like
Robbie Sitting

Never Stop Learning

After Robbie's diabetes diagnosis, his family's strategy was to embrace education. The biggest game changer in his care has been the use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Ricky

An Athlete with Diabetes

A childhood diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes has given Ricky extra drive to succeed.

tim and his family

A Bright Future

Tim is able to excel in athletics and academics while managing type 1 diabetes with the help of CHOP.