Thirteen-year-old Jack Delicata laughs affectionately when his little sister refuses to hand him a piece of chocolate,as he knows she is acting in his best interest because he has diabetes.

“She is only five... Sometimes I try to test her. I say: ‘Kate, can I have a chocolate?’ She says: ‘No. I know you can’t have,” Jack smiles, as he confesses that the smell of chocolate makes him nauseous.

Jack was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, when he was just a one-year-old, so sweets were never really part of his diet and he does not miss them.

His father, Chris, recalls what it was like for him and his wife, Michelle, to learn that their baby had this life-long condition.

“When Jack was one he started losing weight and throwing up. We initially thought it was gastric and our paediatrician confirmed it,” he said. However, his wife insisted on carrying out further tests in hospital. It turned out the boy had diabetes.

“Until then, I only thought diabetes hit elderly people. I would have never dreamt a young boy could suffer from it too,” he said.

The first year was very difficult for the parents but they realised self-pity would not get them, or their son, anywhere. Mr Delicata read about diabetes, contacted the Maltese Diabetes Association and started helping out with fund raising. He then happened to attend a conference of the International Diabetes Federation in Cyprus as he was asked to replace a colleague. He liked the idea of making a difference and he eventually became a member of the board of the federation.

“I always believe that if I want things to change I have to give my humble contribution. I’m not a doctor, I’m a parent, but I live with diabetes through my son,” Mr Delicata, who was elected president of the IDF European region in 2009, says.

Earlier this month, Mr Delicata also won the European Citizens’ prize for his outstanding contribution to the fight against the disease.

Jack appreciates that his father got so immersed in his condition and remembers him travelling to attend “sugar meetings” when he was younger.

Four years ago, during a routine blood test, Jack was also diagnosed as being coeliac, a gluten intolerance.

“I never really experienced taking sweets but I used to take bread and galletti nearly every day. It’s harder to live with the coeliac disease,” Jack says, adding that he loves pasta and pizza.

“Usually, when we go to a restaurant I ’m a bit edgy. I’m never completely sure the food does not contain sugar or gluten or was cooked with something that does,” he says.

Apart from the fact that Jack has to be careful what he eats and has to keep an eye on his blood glucose levels, he feels he can lead a pretty normal life. The support he has from his family and friends makes things easier. “I have a lot of support from my family,” he says as he explains that he has a 10-year-old brother, Adam, and five-year-old sister, Kate.

“I’m very impressed about how they really care about me. My friends’ mums really make sure the food is good for me. I’m really glad to have friends like these who care for me and make sure that whatever I’m eating is good. If I ask for crisps they go to check the instructions and ask whether it’s good for me ... They notice when my sugar level is dropping while playing football and know what to do,” he says.

Of course, he adds, there are the disadvantages of having diabetes. “The main disadvantages are with playing ... Sometimes I have to stop halfway through a game because my levels drop,” he says.

Jack participates in the annual international football tournament for children with diabetes and, for the past three years, he played with the UK team.

“It’s unbelievable. There are 160 children all the same like you. It’s different than playing with normal children. They’re all like you. I always look forward to the tournament. We’re all the same and can talk about how we take the insulin,” he says, adding: “Diabetes is not the end of the world. With the support of family and friends one can lead a normal life.”

Understanding diabetes

It is estimated that 10 per cent of the Maltese population suffer from some form of diabetes and 15.6 children out of every 100,000 have type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, can occur at any age but it is most often diagnosed in children, adolescents or young adults. Insulin is a hormone produced by cells in the pancreas and is needed to move blood sugar, or glucose, into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy. In type 1 diabetes, these cells produce little or no insulin. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy. This leads to a series of symptoms that include fatigue, getting very thirsty, urinating more often, weight loss, blurry eyesight, shaking, sweating and nausea.

www.diabetesmalta.org