Voluntown boy serves as diabetes ambassador
PrintVOLUNTOWN – Many people know Justin Stickman as an outgoing, straight-A student at Voluntown Elementary School.
Like many other 12-year-olds, he likes playing soccer and basketball. He's a Boy Scout and member of the National Honor Society.
What some don't know about him is that he's been living with diabetes for eight years.
" I don't let diabetes control my life," said Stickman, who has been named this year's New London County Youth Ambassador for America's Walk for Diabetes. "I control it."
That message, and Justin's can-do spirit, serve as inspiration to the 17 million people nationwide - 6 percent of the U.S. population - who suffer from diabetes. If not managed well, diabetes can cause heart disease and stroke, blindess, kidney disease, nerve disease, amputations and impotence. Stickman will officially begin his tenure as youth ambassador on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at a team captain kickoff at the Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton, where he will speak about living with diabetes.
The three-mile diabetes walk will be held Sunday, Sept. 21, at Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford. More than 300 participants from throughout eastern Connecticut are expected for the walk, which also includes a "teddy bear" loop for kids. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 10 a.m.
A fitness festival will be held before and after the walk, and entertainment will include a performance by the Mohegan Wolves cheerleaders before the walk, a Home Depot "kids' workshop" after the walk and karate demonstrations. To register, go to www.diabetes.org/walk, call 1-888-DIABETES, or call the Backus Diabetes Management Center at 892-6906.
Christopher Sorli, MD, Medical Director of the Backus Diabetes Management Center and Program Chairman for the diabetes walk, developed the idea for the local walk, now in its second year.
Dr. Sorli said Justin's story is becoming more common. Diabetes is commonly thought of as a disease affecting people over age 45, but is increasingly being diagnosed in children. He said with help from people like Justin, he hopes the walk will become the largest of its kind in Connecticut.
" Justin is a perfect ambassador," Dr. Sorli said. "He brings a youthful face to the American Diabetes Association, which does a lot of work with young people. This also gets more young people involved."
Justin is already hard at work in his role as ambassador. He recently filmed a public service announcement to run on WFSB Channel 3, and spoke to about 40 people at a diabetes walk kickoff at the Mystic Marriott in Groton. Justin, who wears an insulin pump that allows him to eat normally and regulate the insulin in his body, is the son of Mel and Kathy Stickman. He also has a sister, Brittany.
" He's never let diabetes get in the way of anything he does," his mother said. "He never complains."
" I'm very proud of him," added his father.
Jaymie Sommers, a close friend of Justin's, said he is an inspiration to her.
" He's nice, he always smiles, and if you didn't know him you wouldn't really know he had diabetes," Jaymie said.
Krista Howell, area manager for the American Diabetes Association, said Justin is doing a stellar job raising awareness about diabetes, the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States according to the ADA. And there are concerns that the death figure is low because many people with diabetes don't even realize they have it.
" Justin is an amazing boy," Howell said. "He really has such great control over his diabetes. He leads a normal life and that's an inspiration to everyone."