Diabetes in Fiction

Twelve-year-old Ruth must spend her summer at the University of Toronto, where her mother is hired to clean the Institute of Biological Research. There, the lonely girl is befriended by Dr. Banting and his assistant Mr. Best, who are in search of a cure for diabetes. But much to Ruth’s dismay, the research they are doing involves testing on animals. She’s not the only one concerned about the dogs: a group of animal rights protestors become a regular fixture outside the institute. When the group leader tries to enlist Ruth’s support, she is torn between her sympathy for animals and her loyalty to Dr. Banting and Mr. Best.

Managing a chronic illness like Type 1 Diabetes before the threat of an apocalypse sucked most of the time, but the rationing of food and medicine is quickly making it impossible. Fortunately, Lily’s favorite distraction, Ethan, has been hanging out with her brother more and more. Between visits, Lily finds security in being prepared for the virus and its continually reaching famine. She works in her garden, helps her chemist father create a machine to make insulin in their home and attempts to help her dad find a cure for the virus. But everything comes crashing down when her dad is deployed, and their rations are cut. When her carefully laid plans start unraveling, she’ll not only learn if she can survive, but discover if she has it in her to thrive.

At the steps of the Choosing Tower, Gordon tosses his name into the lottery like all boys his age. When his name is called out and he is proclaimed the new king, what should be a moment of celebration takes a dark turn. Soon, he is hunted by the ruthless Firstcouncillor Trunculin. Pursued by kingdom airships and the very soldiers sworn to protect him, the young king has to align with great warriors and unexpected allies. With the healer Loren and a fearless young warrior named Aline by his side, can Gordon find a way to save himself – and his kingdom?

He was finally about to graduate high school, escape the misery that was his home life, and take off to travel the world with his awesome girlfriend, Kamiko. Solar flares and turning into a mutant put an end to all that. Typical of his luck, he’d gotten a non-standard mutation, meaning he’d never be accepted into the Big Four clans – who were banding together to stave off impending doom. What’s more, he’s sole carer for his human mother, and she hates mutants. At least he still has the newly-mutated Kamiko by his side. But she wants to migrate north with other ‘reject’ mutants, and Dante can’t blame her. Every day they stay put is a day their lives are at risk- from gangs, normies, and even the government. Not mention the whole ‘dying from thirst and starvation thing’. And there’s Bev, his narcissistic, abusive mother. She’s an awful parent, but she’s also the only family he’s ever known. And despite everything she’s put him through, she’s never abandoned him. Could he really abandon her?

DON'T CALL ME SUGAR BABY! is based on the true-life story of a friend’s daughter who developed childhood onset diabetes. The book explores the life-altering changes for the girl and her family as she copes with a chronic condition.

Seven years ago, Penny’s boyfriend was savagely attacked by a bear, setting off a chain of tragic events. Now, fighting a debilitating illness and haunted by her past, she finds herself incapable of emotional or sexual intimacy. As a way to break down the defenses she has built up in her safe Chicago life, she sets out on a cross-country bike tour. On this trip she meets Ndele, a beautiful, mysterious black man who challenges her to confront her ghosts and decide whether to put her past behind her and live or succumb to the terrible uncertainties that plague even her dreams.

Jessa’s week-long trail riding trip into the Rocky Mountains should have been the experience of a lifetime. Ignoring increasingly peculiar symptoms, Jessa sets off into the mountains, determined to enjoy herself despite feeling very ill. To her horror, she finds herself regaining consciousness in an Alberta hospital! This is only the beginning of a long journey of recovery, one which turns Jessa’s life upside down and threatens even her desire to ride.

7-year old Max has type 1 diabetes. In fact, everyone in Beta Town has, but that’s what makes Beta Town so cool. One day, while guarding the insulin cube against the dastardly King Carb’s plans to steal it, Max gains superpowers from a top secret insulin pump and turns him into Beta Town’s very own superhero, Captain Lantus.

Ava Ann Rabbit has recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She has to learn to navigate this new medical world she’s been thrown into, all while finding out where she fits in the world. When her teacher gives the class an assignment to make an art piece about their life, Ava Ann digs deep, and creates a unique project that combines aspects of her life from before and after her diabetes diagnosis.

When Tina Thomas begins to feel unwell and cannot PLAY, RUN and JUMP as well as usual, she starts to get worried. What is going on? Tina is diagnosed with Type One Diabetes and is scared and confused, which are feelings that are normal and okay. Mum, Dad and Tina are soon caught up in a new and scary world. It is a world of doctors, hospitals, medicine, needles and carbohydrates. In this illustrated children’s book, young Tina takes us through her diagnosis and her daily life with Juvenile (Type One) Diabetes, showing us how, with Mum and Dad’s help, she looks after herself and stays healthy so that she can PLAY, RUN and JUMP with her friends again.

Shia is back on another adventure to learn more about diabetes. This time it is with new babysitter and friend, Kimmie. She has type 2 diabetes! Join Shia as she learns how type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are both similar and different!

Nine year old Audrey May knows that life can be full of changes. She’s traveled all over the world with her Dad who works on movies, but she’s never been to a school with other kids. She has no idea that starting a new school will be much easier than finding out she has Type 1 Diabetes . Thankfully she won’t face it alone, she has the love of her parents and her crazy little sister to get her through the ups and downs.