Diabetes in Fiction

Have you ever wondered how children perceive themselves and their families’ reactions after being diagnosed with diabetes? It’s tough fighting diabetes, a disease that they might not understand and certainly can’t see. I'M STILL ME, CAN'T YOU SEE? is told through the eyes of a child conquering diabetes. Together you will find inspiration and peace as you fight an invisible disease. The rhythmic story along with the imaginative illustrations will entertain and empower your child. The last page is dedicated to families who have the power to triumph over the hardest of situations and give hope for a healthy future.

Sherry the Sheep loves to draw, play basketball, and swim with her friends—oh, and she has type 1 diabetes! At school, Sherry is nervous about what her new friends might think when they see her taking insulin and wearing a CGM. Join Sherry as she learns how to teach her classmates about diabetes and decides she may not need to hide it after all.

Come along as eight-year-old Rhodes and his best friend Alana set out on their first adventure! Missing the school bus leads to an exciting journey and an opportunity for Rhodes to tell Alana about living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). As a result, a new friendship is formed between these two spirited and confident kids. School Bus Secret is the first book in a new children’s series called, The Adventures of Rhodes and Alana. This story will capture the imaginations of young readers with three chapters and color illustrations on each page. Parents, educators, and clinicians will appreciate the subtle lessons about friendship, responsibility, and life with diabetes. A valuable teaching tool for newly-diagnosed T1Ds, pediatric endocrinologists, diabetes educators, teachers and classmates of type 1 students, families and grandparents.

Jax the Cat likes to play soccer, eat sandwiches, and ride his bike with his friends — oh, and he also has type 1 diabetes! For Jax, one of the hardest parts of living with type 1 diabetes is noticing how he feels when his blood sugar is low. One day, he goes on a walk to find other kids with type 1 and learns a few new things about low blood sugars along the way!

How does a child respond to a sudden diagnosis of type 1 diabetes? Through Andrew’s eyes, you’ll get a first hand look at the symptoms, diagnosis, and everyday routine of type one. At 4 years old, he manages his new responsibility while still managing to enjoy everything a kid his age should. The fun rhyme and playful scenes make this book accessible, not only to diagnosed children, but to the family members, friends, and classmates looking for an inside look into T1D.

Join Olivia, a spirited six-year-old, who discovers she has Type 1 Diabetes. As Olivia copes with the changes the diagnosis brings to her life, she confides in her loving mother, who reminds her of her beauty, intelligence, and courage. One day, Olivia spots a shiny object on the arm of her classmate Kyle, and plucks up the courage to ask if he is also a diabetic. To her surprise and delight, he is! With newfound confidence, Olivia and Kyle excitedly share their discovery with their parents, celebrating the fact that they’ve made a lifelong companion in each other. Dancing with Diabetes is a tale of self-discovery, friendship, and acceptance that encourages children to understand and embrace diversity, fostering empathy and inclusivity.

Mallory Edwards is the queen of plans and hers are always on schedule. Captain and soccer goalie for Clear Lake University? Check. 4.0 student? Check. On track for graduate school and an amazing career? Check. Everything is right on target. Until it suddenly isn’t. On top of grieving the loss of her father, a crumbling relationship with her mother, and a recent type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Mallory realizes her perfectly constructed plans are at risk of unraveling if she doesn’t find an internship by the end of her junior year. And of course, the one thing standing between Mallory and a secured future is Kenneth Gray. Kenneth Gray, a former nationally ranked swimmer, is everything Mallory isn’t. The neutral to her vibrant. The spontaneous to her rigid. The only sparks that fly between them aren’t the good kind, which is why it might be best they’re nothing more than rivals. But Kenneth has a secret. Unbeknownst to Mallory, the game they created together, the Brain Bowl, is at risk of ending. In one semester, Kenneth must not only secure his own future, but also find a way to keep Mallory in his life. Outside of their game. Suddenly, the line between rivals and something more seems thinner than ever before.

Miller Stratton is a survivor. After a harrowing childhood of poverty, he will do anything it takes to find security for himself and his mom. He’s putting all his hopes and dreams in the fragile frame of his guitar and the beauty he creates with its strings and his soulful voice. Until Violet. No one expects to meet the love of their life at age thirteen. But the spunky rich girl steals Miller’s heart and refuses to give it back. Violet McNamara’s life hasn’t been as simple as it looks. Her picture-perfect family is not so perfect after all. Her best friend Miller is her one constant and she is determined not to ruin their friendship with romantic complications. But the heart wants what it wants. As Miller’s star begins to rise to stratospheric heights, what will it take for Violet to realize that she’s the girl in all of his love songs?

As a surgical intern, my life is a relentless cycle of work and more work. If I lose focus, even for one second, my career could be on the line. So when my living situation unexpectedly changes, the last thing I need is the distraction of house hunting. Which is why I don’t hesitate to say yes when my best friend and esteemed surgeon, Dr. Parker Winters, comes to my rescue with an offer I can’t refuse: A room in his luxurious penthouse, free of charge. The only condition? Keep an eye on his little sister. It sounds straightforward until I discover my new roommate is none other than the woman who’s been haunting my thoughts since I first met her. The one who never called me back and is now utterly off-limits. In the fiercely competitive field of orthopedics, I’ve learned to fight for what I want. But what if what I want most is the one thing I should avoid at all costs – my best friend’s sister?

Social life? What social life? Romance? Not a chance. Working as a lifeguard at Sea Side Cove and passing her classes takes up all of Katie’s time and energy. She just needs to survive this semester and one more, and it’ll all be worth it. But the new surfing instructor must have knocked a screw loose when he hit her with that door, because Hunter’s got her daydreaming about a future. Even the cat likes him. The Wishing Well is a charity organization that helps sick kids go on family vacations. They need volunteers for a fundraiser on a cruise ship. Katie can’t afford to give up a day of pay to work for free until she finds out Hunter is the one asking. Eight lifeguards board the Championship Casino Cruise, but when armed gunmen storm the ship, they find themselves gambling with their lives.

Ruth is trapped. She’s stuck in her small, religious hometown of Kill Devil, Kentucky, stuck in the closet, and stuck living paycheck to paycheck. After her manager finds out that she lives with her girlfriend, Ruth is fired from her job as a cashier at New Creations—a craft store owned by the church that dominates life in the town.  In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift some yarn but is caught red-handed by a New Creations cashier. Instead of calling the police, the employees lock her in the store—and attack her. When Ruth is forced to stab out one of their eyes with a knitting needle, she realizes she’s facing far bigger trouble than a simple shoplifting charge. As Ruth fights for her life, she plunges deeper into the tangled web of the New Creationists, who are hiding a terrible secret that threatens not only her, but the entire town. This relentless horror novel will have you on the edge of your seat as it hurtles towards a breathtaking conclusion. Will Ruth escape? Or will the shocking secret at the heart of the cult die with her?

Klara and Alex are having trouble connecting, but at least their calendars are in sync. Klara—who’s always thought of herself as a little different, a sneaker in a world full of kitten heels and polished boots—is feeling a disconnect these days. She has type 1 diabetes, currently works in a dead-end job, and is in desperate need of a change. When her dad falls ill, Klara begrudgingly agrees to help run his small construction company while he recovers, even though it means moving back home and pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone to the extreme. Alex has been a shell of himself since his brother died in an accident. He’s unemployed, has bills piling up, and is distant from friends and family. His therapist is encouraging him to keep things manageable by setting up a calendar, checking off tasks each day, and looking for work to help get him back on his feet. When an ad pops up for a carpenter position at a small construction company, he jumps at the chance to take a step forward. Klara’s and Alex’s stories unfold through a series of miscommunications in this clever and witty novel from debut author Ally Zetterberg that’s about finding acceptance and even love in unexpected places.