WHEN her son, Nathan Nicholson, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Chelsa Halliman was surprised. After all, he was only one year old.

She told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview that before his diagnosis, he was urinating frequently; he wouldn’t sleep because he was restless, and he was losing weight and drinking a lot of water.

“I was very surprised when I found out because I wasn’t thinking that a baby, at the age of one, could be diagnosed with something like diabetes,” Halliman recalled.

Diabetes is a disease that impairs the body’s ability to use blood glucose. In diabetics, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body cannot use insulin properly. There are two major types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. With Type 1 diabetes, the type that Nathan has, it most often appears during childhood or adolescence and people with this type must take daily insulin injections to stay alive.

Nathan was diagnosed in 2012. He is now three years old.

“He is very active,” Nathan’s mother shared. “Looking at him it is not clear that he is a diabetic, none of the signs are manifesting now.

“I am not sure if there is a specific age [when it will]…” Halliman continued. “He understands his diet and he does everything, such as physical activity… he is involved.”

Halliman disclosed that her son loves vegetables.

“I had to change his diet. At the time I think he was having formula, so I had to change to ensure that he had something more balanced in terms of proteins, carbs, vegetables,” explained Halliman.

She said it is not difficult to get Nathan to eat properly because, since he was diagnosed early, he was never exposed to a lot of other types of food and as such isn’t really missing out on anything. However, he does occasionally ask for candy, but once Halliman explains to him how it will affect his blood sugar, he understands.

When he is to get his insulin injections twice daily, Halliman told the Sunday Observer that Nathan prepares himself by counting to three until she is finished.

His mother, who shared that she has family support, has also made changes to her own lifestyle since her son’s diagnosis.

“I watch what I eat, understanding the importance of eating on time, deciding and having correct proportions,” Halliman told the Sunday Observer.

Is Halliman worried about her son’s future?

“Sometimes I think about it, but for the most part, no, I believe things are going to get better,” Halliman declared.