Living life to the fullest

Lauren remembers March 3, 2009, as a day that changed her life. That's the day she was diagnosed with juvenile (type 1) diabetes. She was admitted to a local hospital overnight. "It was a very emotional night," she recalls. The next day, Lauren and her family headed to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Children's has one of the largest pediatric diabetes programs in the nation, caring for more than 1,700 patients. Lauren says her family had a "phenomenal experience" at Children's. "Every staff member we came in contact with was wonderful!"

Lauren now uses an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor. The insulin pump eliminates the need for daily shots and helps stabilize her blood sugar levels. The monitor alerts her to high and low blood sugar levels before they become a problem.

Lauren also has celiac disease, a condition that the staff at Children's also helps her manage. Lauren receives follow-up care for both chronic conditions close to home, at Children's in Neenah, Wis.

With the support of Children's, Lauren says that she can still do everything that other kids can do. That's what Children's is all about – the best care for kids close to home.

Learn more about the diabetes program at Children's in the Fox Valley.