Greg Leonard

The Riley Kid of the Week for this week is Greg Leonard. Please read his story and learn more about diabetic ketoacidosis below!

“Greg was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), when he was 8 years old. We recognized that he wasn’t acting like himself, and he had been complaining of stomach pains. This continued for about 5 days, so we took him to the pediatrician. By the time we got to his pediatrician’s office Greg was in diabetic ketoacidosis; this is a life threatening complication of T1D. We went to the emergency room, and they notified us he would have to be transported to Riley. The Riley teams taught us how to manage T1D, and has been Greg’s care team for his ongoing treatment. There is no cure for T1D.” - The Leonard Family

It is important to know the signs of diabetic ketoacidosis: lethargic, weak, drowsy, difficult to wake, excessive thirst, frequent urination including bedwetting in a toilet trained child, dehydration, stomach pain, fruity smelling breath, confusion, vomiting, and/or sudden, unexplained weight loss.

Beyond Greg’s love for PUDM, he loves games, reading, and basketball. Greg hopes to become a marine biologist one day. If he could spend one day as an animal, he would choose an orca or megalodon!