Liverpool dad creates kids’ diabetes book to stop children with the condition feeling alone

A Liverpool dad has written a children’s book series about type 1 diabetes to help children feel less alone than he did growing up.

Tim Manning, 48, from Halewood, says being diagnosed with diabetes left him feeling ‘scared, vulnerable and very lonely’.

He says:

“It was a really miserable time.

“Traumatic may not be the right word for it – but that’s how it felt for me.”

He adds:

“The most important thing for me now is getting the message across and helping kids and parents know and understand more about it in an age appropriate and engaging way.

“I hate to think about any child going through what I did now.”

Tim, who’s married to critical care nurse Laura and has three children, Lucas, 16; Freya, 13, and Isla, seven, was diagnosed with the condition when he was around eight or nine years old.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Because the pancreas can no longer make insulin—the hormone needed to convert blood sugar into energy—glucose builds up in the bloodstream.

Short-term acute risks can be diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) when the body doesn’t have enough insulin and starts breaking down fat too quickly which creates ketones that make the blood acidic and is life-threatening if not treated quickly, and hypoglycaemia if blood sugar levels drop too low which can lead to shakiness, confusion, and potential loss of consciousness. 

Long term issues include cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, eye and kidney problems.

Tim was admitted to hospital after suffering from a range of typical symptoms including weight loss, an unquenchable thirst and frequent visits to the loo – especially at night – and constantly feeling tired.

But instead of feeling more assured that there was a solution after discovering the problem, he says he felt more alone than ever.

“I was discharged and you’re on your own.

“There was no support or aftercare and, from what I’m told by people who have got in touch with me via social media, it can be the same now.

“I felt I had no way of controlling my diabetes or understanding it, and I started playing truant from school.

“Before I was diagnosed I had plenty of friends but, whether I changed or they did because they didn’t know how to treat me and I didn’t know how to be accepted, they slowly dropped away.

“I’ve probably only just got to grips with having type 1 diabetes properly about three or four years ago after getting a pump which means having a continuous glucose monitor on my arm which checks my levels and gives me the correct dose of insulin all the time.

“Before then I had seizures and I kept my blood sugar level high all the time … which isn’t recommended.”

Tim began writing his first book, Alex: A Story About Living with Type 1 Diabetes, shortly after lockdown when he was forced to take time away from work due to being vulnerable.

“It affected my mental health and, though I wasn’t big on social media, I started going on Instagram and TikTok and talking to other diabetics who I discovered had had the same experiences in the past as me. And, mainly, I was contacted by parents whose children had been diagnosed and wanted to know more for themselves and their kids.

“In the first couple of months I had 1,500 followers on Instagram!”

His first book was designed to help young readers understand type 1 diabetes in a positive and relatable way. Through Alex’s story, children can learn about living with diabetes, building confidence and knowing they are not alone.

Subsequent books are Alex and the Low Blood Sugar Day that helps young readers understand low blood sugar (hypos), recognise the signs and symptoms, and learn how to stay safe and confident when blood glucose levels fall; and Alex and the Power of Insulin, about what insulin does and why people with type 1 diabetes need it to stay healthy.

Tim, who’s written and illustrated the books that are available on Amazon, explains:

“What started as one book has grown into a real passion for improving diabetes awareness and education, especially in schools.

“My dream is to get the books in every school in the UK to help those who have it, and those who don’t, learn more.

“Type 1 diabetes can be life-threatening, and it is life changing, but it doesn’t need to be life destroying if you understand more about it.”

Find out more and buy Tim’s books here.

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