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I was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes when I was four years old. The body changes most food into a
form of sugar called glucose. Insulin is a hormone that allows the body to use this sugar for energy. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or
cannot use insulin properly.
There are 2 types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the body does not produce any insulin at all. For some reason it occurs most often in
children. This is the type I have. The other type is Type 2.
I always have to be prepared. I carry a fast-acting sugar, wear diabetic
identification, tell all my teachers and friends about my condition and what to do for me if I get into trouble, and, of course, prick, prick, prick. My family is a wonderful support. They help me out a lot.
When blood sugar levels are not maintained properly, children with diabetes can be threatened with either of two emergencies: hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), caused by
the buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), occurring when blood glucose levels drop too low. Hypoglycemia is also called insulin reaction or insulin
shock. Both situations can be dangerous if I do not take care of myself.
I live in Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA. I have been singing since I was three. I have been
performing in public since I was four. There is beautiful music in North Carolina and I have been surrounded with a musical family. My father, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother,
great-aunts and uncles are all musicians or music teachers. I have a lot of encouragement to live out my dreams. I want to use my talents to help others, and my disease helps to focus
that.
I am enjoying my music. I always pick out the music that I want to sing. I can sing in 5 different languages so nothing ever gets boring. I also like
to perform in front of people and I find recording studios exciting.
You can go to my Recordings to hear me sing.
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Many things have happened to me in the five year period of this website. First of all, I still love to draw, but not
butterflies anymore. I draw lots of fairies, and I really enjoy drawing portraits of my classmates. I continu e to take piano lessons as well as dance. I
particularly like ballet and jazz. And I even have started writing stories and books. I also am learning gradually to play the guitar and will soon be taking
horse back riding lessons. As you can see I have a very busy schedule.
For many years I taught myself to sing by listening to CDs. Last year I started
taking voice lessons with Elaine Baker in Raleigh, NC. She has really helped me understand how important it is to use your voice properly.
We have two theatre groups in my town. I have been in several plays. I have been in three Missoula plays: Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood, and Beauty Lou and the Country Beast. I have been in the Stage Struck
play Peter Pan ( I was the voice of the Mysterious Lady and a lost child). I was also in the Center Stage play, The Sound of Music in which I was
Marta and my little sister was Gretel. My sister also enjoys acting and Bye, Bye Birdie will be the third play we are in together.
I continue to sing at local civic clubs and churches. During Christmas 2006 I sang in the North Carolina Capitol Building in Raleigh with other
students that take lessons with my voice teacher.
The North Carolina Theatre has a very active program for youth. Each summer there is a camp called Kids On Broadway. I
auditioned with 60+ young people. Twenty-six were selected for the three week (very demanding) camp which taught voice, dance and drama. I not only was accepted
but I won the vocal scholarship. I was also the only eleven year old, making me the youngest. It was a very intense camp which improved a lot of my acting skills.
In early March 2007, I won the CBS Living Room Live Kids Edition. I then performed on the show live in New York. Click here for photos.
 After winning the CBS national contest, I went on to
debut in April with the NC Opera Orchestra prior to the performance of LaBoheme (which I was also in). That was one of my dreams come true. I sang O Mio Babbino Caro
and received a standing ovation.
 
In July 2007 I sang two outdoor concerts in St. Louis, MO, with The Compton Heights Concert Band. See my photos.
Another fun thing was singing the National Anthem at the Durham Bulls baseball game. I am sure you have heard of them.
I am still much involved with diabetes events. Click here to see my parents and me at the JDRF Hope Gala in April 2007. I was a soloist there.
Within these five years we have had quite a few additions to our family. I now have a cat named Gretel, and my sister has one named Zoey. So now
we have three animals, including our dog, running around the house. They are all so sweet and the best pets... excuse me... siblings you could ever have!
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Copyright 2002 - 2007 by Madeline Cannady Edwards. All rights reserved.
While you are here, please read our copyright and disclaimer policies.
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xxx
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