CV Grad Leads Fight to Cure Juvenile Diabetes

Lisa Frishman Treese, a 1989 graduate of Chartiers Valley, moved to the Altoona area but still has roots here with her family and comes back often. That's because her 7-year-old son, Zachary, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes four years ago and she has been bringing him to Children’s Hospital for care every three months.

“Most people don’t understand the difference between Type I and Type II diabetes,” said Treese, who grew up in Scott Township.

Type I is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas attacks itself and no longer produces insulin. It’s a lifetime thing and can’t be reversed. People with this disease are insulin dependent for life. Type II diabetics are insulin resistant and may be able to regulate levels through diet, exercise, and monitoring.

Type I diabetes usually onsets during childhood and is on the rise, according to the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI). It is estimated that almost 26 million Americans have diabetes, and about 10 percent are Type I.

After the diagnosis of her son, Treese began looking for support groups with other parents of children with Type I diabetes. While doing fundraising for the American Diabetes Association, Treese found other moms looking for the same type of support. There weren’t any formal organizations set up in her area so she started an informal group where moms could share feelings, tips, and ideas on how to best deal with this difficult disease. The concept really caught on.

Treese found the Diabetes Research Institute, located in Miami, and wanted to work through them because their research is directed toward finding a cure and a large percentage of their donations go directly toward research. They have also helped her find contacts and network with other parents and provided help for her to get a group started.

The DRI support groups are called the PEP squad, for “Parents Empowering Parents” and Lisa set up her own with about 15 families in her immediate area, although she doesn’t call it that. She also organized a walk at their local school to raise money for DRI. Now in its third year, the event raised $26,000 this year and people came from all over to get involved in the support and networking of a smaller group.

In addition to the group for moms, they have expanded to provide support for children with the disease and created opportunities for the kids to meet other kids with diabetes and share what it’s like to live with the disease.

“Talking with other kids helps the children to feel that they’re not alone,” Treese said.

She has helped many other moms organize events at their schools and other groups across the country get up and running. Her next step is to take it back home.

She hopes to start an effort in the Chartiers Valley and Greater Pittsburgh area because “there has to be a ton of parents out there looking for support.”  Simple things like setting up the DRI as a Macy’s shop-for-a-cause charity, or starting a local walk.

“It doesn’t have to be about raising money. My goal is to promote awareness and help others find support,” she said.

Treese can be reached via email at treese7@verizon.net or on her personal Facebook page where she has set up several groups relating to her son’s cause and DRI’s research to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.