In a tumble of flying hair and girly giggles two pre-teens wrestle the family dog on the

Barwis family living room floor.

Maegan Barwis, Charlie Holborn and Otis enjoy a little post school playtime, but the pink bulk of insulin pump clipped to MaeganB次元官网网址檚 waistband hints at the extra responsibilities foisted on the 12 year old.

The Langford youth was diagnosed with juvenile, or Type 1, diabetes in March 2011.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables her body to get energy from food.

B次元官网网址淚f IB次元官网网址檓 low I feel a certain way. If IB次元官网网址檓 high I feel a certain way,B次元官网网址� she said of her unbalanced levels.

The pink pump helps her keep those sugars in balance.

B次元官网网址淔or her lunch I have to write the amount of carbs and she does the math to figure it out,B次元官网网址� explains mom Leah, of school lunches.

B次元官网网址�(The pump) gives me the amount of insulin I need for the amount of carbs I eat,B次元官网网址� Maegan adds. She hops to her feet, skips to the dining room and returns with a small black kit. Deftly she unzips then plucks out a test strip to pop in the top of the pump. She pulls a black pen-shaped tool and pokes a finger pushing out a pinprick of blood and swipes it across the test strip.

She bears the extra burden with finesse beyond that of most Grade 7 students.

B次元官网网址淭he responsibility she has now is a lot more than the average 12 year old,B次元官网网址� says dad Brett. B次元官网网址淲e do put a fair bit on Maeg. Ultimately B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 the one who has to live with it. We want her to be educated and take ownership of it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢aeganB次元官网网址檚 very aware of her body. She knows sheB次元官网网址檚 low before she tests and it will wake her up,B次元官网网址� Leah adds.

That doesnB次元官网网址檛 stop dad from waking in the wee hours to check on his little girl, on the odd chance she doesnB次元官网网址檛 awake.

That fear limits the Langford youthB次元官网网址檚 sleepovers, though Charlie is among her closest friends, and the one place she likes to overnight.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the only place I feel safe because sheB次元官网网址檒l take care of me, almost mothers me,B次元官网网址� Maegan says throwing a laugh in CharlieB次元官网网址檚 direction. Her pal just grins back.

CharlieB次元官网网址檚 part of the education component of MaeganB次元官网网址檚 new required lifestyle. SheB次元官网网址檚 among those at 脡B次元官网网址檆ole John Stubbs who watched a video when Maegan returned to school.

B次元官网网址淲hen I was first diagnosed we sent in a video for the whole class to watch,B次元官网网址� Maegan says.

Education is a priority for the whole family.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lack of awareness of how it affects a child and a family,B次元官网网址� said Leah who chaired the local fundraising gala, the Promise Ball, last month. B次元官网网址淚 want to help educate.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hen a cure is found, we will be taking advantage of it. We want to do our part to make it happen,B次元官网网址� Brett adds.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Learn more about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation online at www.jdrf.ca.