Kerrie Merchant is walking for a world without type 1 diabetes

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$25

Can test blood sugar levels in a child participating in an ‘artificial pancreas’ trial

$50

Can test whether a baby or child is likely to get T1D in a world-first screening study

$125

Can pay the daily salary of a mid-career T1D researcher to make their ground-breaking findings

$250

Can pay for a participant in a trial to investigate a cutting-edge T1D prevention drug

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Total Steps:

32,224

Steps Goal:

248,000

Toby’s Story

Toby battled with chronic abdominal pain for over 18months. We thought he had food intolerance and decided to trial eliminating lactose. Didn’t work.

Abdominal pains continued.

He began displaying the classic symptoms of thirst and peeing tons. He began unusual bed wetting- very sporadic, no pattern. Couldn’t go to the shop without him complaining how thirsty he was.

Abdominal pains continued.

I thought about diabetes, but after an ED trip in March 2023 for this abdominal pain, we still had no answers. His glucose levels were normal in his blood and urine.

Abdominal pains continued.

Went to the GP who got it right- he had Glandular fever.

Abdominal pains continued.

We sought a paediatrician referral and were waiting for our appointment. After this we thought we’d trial a gluten free diet so we could go to the Paed with any evidence. Now, if anyone who is not gluten intolerant or coeliac can appreciate- the bread doesn’t taste very good.

The abdominal pains STOPPED- we thought yes this is it! We might have an answer!

Toby’s weight loss started. Now he was a chubby kid with a lot of puppy fat to lose. He was growing taller too so at first it didn’t seem too unusual- growth spurt plus lower carb intake = a taller slimmer Toby. But the weight loss didn’t stop.

We got to the paediatrician in November. We discussed his symptoms, his normal glucose levels, his weight loss, peeing and thirst- diabetes was considered but not completely because it looked like it was all pointing towards Coeliac disease. The plan was to go back on to full gluten foods and do a blood test in 6 weeks, but before then, do a urine test to check for any infections.

On the 5/12/2023 I got the call.

His urine showed large glucose- where there should be none. This with his other symptoms- the paediatrician said “ I think it’s type 1 diabetes, go to the GP and check his blood sugars, if it’s abnormal- go straight to the kids hospital”

We went to the GP- his BGL was 29.9! Normal range is 4-8. So straight to the hospital we went (we had already packed a bag- I knew in my heart already) by 8pm- he had his first injection of insulin.

I'm walking in Redlands to turn type one into type none!

I'm joining the world's largest walk for a future without type 1 diabetes (T1D) at Les Moore Park on Sunday 2 March 2025!

Why? To help fund life-changing research aimed at improving lives and curing T1D.

Type 1 diabetes can strike anyone at any time, and 8 Australians are diagnosed every day. Diagnosis means a 24/7 fight with no break and facing an extra 180 decisions a day to remain safe and healthy.

Please support my walk today.