Cara Lange has always talked to her children, Emily, 6, and Morgan, 4, about living with type 1 diabetes and involved them in her management.

They learnt their numbers and colours by doling out Cara’s jellybeans, her preferred ‘hypo’ treatment, when she needed them. Cara also taught them their address and how to call an ambulance if they couldn’t wake her.

In August 2021, Cara’s blood glucose levels plummeted and didn’t respond to her usual hypo treatments. When she was dropping in and out of consciousness, Emily coolly decided to call 000, then opened the garage door to make sure the paramedics could access the house.

While Cara made a full recovery and was full of praise for the St John’s Ambulance paramedics, her highest praise is for her daughter. “I’m so proud of Emily. She did everything I taught her to do perfectly.”

Cara hopes her daughter will never have to call for an ambulance again but she is glad she taught her how.

She also hopes that, one day, a cure for diabetes will be discovered.

It’s time to unite in the fight for investment in more research for prevention and treatments and, eventually, a cure.

Click the Unite in the fight for change image below to visit the campaign page.