Mile 75

When she was in the fourth grade, Ma’Lonniya was diagnosed with Stage 2 Type 1 diabetes, which put her in a higher risk category for eventually becoming insulin dependent. The 9 year old was advised to start paying closer attention to her diet, and started regularly monitoring her blood sugar with the help of her family.  One particular day, her mom Ray’Shana checked Ma’Lonniya’s blood sugar and saw a reading of over 200. Following her medical team’s advice, they immediately went to the emergency room at Manning Family Children’s. What started as a visit turned into an overnight admission as doctors worked to bring Ma’Lonniya’s blood sugar down.

While Ma’Lonniya was at Manning Family Children’s, Ray’Shana learned about a new treatment, TZIELD, which can be used to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes, when the body can no longer produce enough insulin on its own and may require insulin injections. The treatment is administered through a daily intravenous infusion over a 14-day period. By intervening early, TZIELD gives patients more time before they need insulin therapy, which can be life-changing. By delaying full insulin dependence, TZIELD allows for a more gradual adjustment and may improve long-term outcomes. It’s an exciting step forward in diabetes care. On December 15, 2024, Ma’Lonniya became the first patient at Manning Family Children’s to complete TZIELD treatment.

Ma’Lonniya is much less stressed now, and is managing her diabetes well, and enjoying life as a busy, happy 10 year old, still under the care of the endocrinology team at Manning Family Children’s.