Megan and Billy Muir of Suntree were shocked when their 6-year-old received a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

Parents of kids eventually diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes often have very similar stories of excessive hydration, excessive urination (even at night), weight loss and loss of energy and concentration. A trip to the doctor’s office often becomes one to the Emergency Room because kids are in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a critical situation that can result in organ failure or worse.

The saving grace has been their support system, including family, their son’s school, and the Pediatric Endocrinology practice at Health First Medical Group-Gateway.

Scientists are unsure why some people develop Type 1 diabetes. It could be genetic. They also suspect a virus might be a trigger. About 1.9 million Americans, including about 244,000 children, have it.

The Muirs have been on a learning curve – counting carbohydrates, using math to calculate how much insulin to administer, getting used to the insulin pen and continuous glucose monitoring system.

“The biggest thing parents need that we deliver is a diabetes team to work with so that you get up to speed fast,” says Caitlyn Ryan, a Physician Assistant to Omar Hudson, MD, in the Pediatric Endocrinology practice at Health First Medical Group-Gateway.

READ the full feature and find out how Megan and Billy Muir began to suspect something was wrong in Space Coast Daily HERE.