A West Michigan woman took advantage of the pandemic to write a children’s book educating children about type 1 diabetes after she was diagnosed with the disease in her 20s. Published nearly a year ago, the book is a bestseller and earned the author a spot on a Times Square billboard.
Knowing that type 1 diabetes is commonly diagnosed in children, Vanessa Messenger had the idea of writing an inspirational picture book to support families.
Vanessa Bote
Photo Provided/Vanessa Messenger
Vanessa Bote
Photo Provided/Vanessa Messenger
Vanessa Bote
Photo Provided/Vanessa Messenger
Vanessa Messenger of Portage, Michigan published Teddy Talks: A Paws-itive Story about Type 1 Diabetes almost a year ago.
She titled the book Teddy Talks: A Paws-itive Story about Type 1 Diabetes after her nickname, Teddy. And was inspired by the likes of Robin Arzon and Nick Jonas, who didn’t let diabetes limit their success.
“This book was a big passion project of mine,” Messenger said. “When I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes it was very overwhelming because I didn’t know it was an autoimmune disease and for something that had no known cause or cure.”
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s thought to be an autoimmune reaction where the body attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Patients must use manufactured insulin to treat the chronic condition.
To help kids easily understand things they might hear from their doctor or a friend or classmate with the disease, Messenger says Teddy Talks: A Paws-itive Story about Type 1 Diabetes begins with a glossary of common terms.
“I hope this book embodies that same sense of encouragement for children directly affected by T1D and fosters a sense of understanding and empathy for those indirectly affected,” Messenger said.
It stars Messenger’s dog, Teddy, who helps a young girl navigate her diagnosis and make healthy choices.
You may have seen Teddy on Tik Tok or Instagram with the @TeddyTheT1Dog account. Messenger launched the account as a promotional tool to build an audience in the run-up to the book release.
“I started posting videos when I was pregnant with my daughter during quarantine,” Messenger said. “During an isolated period, it’s been really nice to connect with so many people around the world.”
“Like any dog owner, I naturally think my dog, Teddy, is the cutest, most lovable dog, so I wanted to share his personality,” she continued. “It’s been exciting to see so many people connecting with him through TikTok and the book.”
Teddy and Messenger have reached more than 1.4 million people on TikTok.
Photo Provided/Vanessa MessengerAdditionally, Messenger is proud to have donated hundreds of copies of the book to children’s hospitals and organizations across the country, beginning with the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
A portion of the proceeds from the book will help fund ongoing clinical trials to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. It is sold at several major retailers.
Rates of both types of diabetes have been increasing in US children in recent years. More than 540 million people worldwide have diabetes, including approximately 37 million in the United States. Most have type 2 diabetes, and many more have higher than normal blood sugar levels, or prediabetes.
