This is a photo of my Grandmother's family. On the floor, from the left, is my Great Aunt Elaine Rohling, my Great Aunt Marilyn Izzo, and my Grandmother Regina Orton. Seated in the chair is my Great Grandmother Geneva Sesselman, and seated on the arm of the chair is my Great Aunt Veronica Martin.

Elaine Rohling was diagnosed with Adult Onset (Type II) Diabetes. She died in 1995 from complications of the disease (pancreatic cancer).

Marilyn Izzo has recently been diagnosed with Adult Onset (Type II) Diabetes.

Regina Orton was diagnosed with Adult Onset (Type II) Diabetes in 1973. In 1979, she spent over a month in the intensive care ward of Saratoga Hospital in a diabetic coma. Her kidneys failed and she suffered a heart attack. Although she recovered, her kidneys failed again in 1995 and she underwent years of hemodialysis treatment. Regina received a cadaveric kidney transplant in 2000. Although she has lost her eyesight to diabetic retinopathy and her mobility to severe osteoporosis from the years on dialysis, she still lives alone with the help of an aide and my Aunt Debi.

Geneva Sesselman also lost her eyesight to diabetic retinopathy and died of complications of diabetes in 1995.

Veronica Martin recently retired and so far, has no signs of developing Adult Onset Diabetes.

This is what diabetes has done to ONE FAMILY. My paternal Great Grandmother died from complications of diabetes, and my paternal Great Aunt is also a diabetic.