Wendy Novak's inspiring journey shared in new book about Type 1 diabetes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- If you have Type 1 diabetes, you can understand the daily struggles that come with it and the long-term effects it can have on your life.

The Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute in downtown Louisville helps kids with diabetes across Kentuckiana. The woman that the institute is named after, Wendy Novak, has written a new book.

"Diabetes and Me" was written to help people understand the disease and takes readers on a journey of what someone goes through if they were to be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Ashley Novak-Butler, daughter of Wendy Novak, visited WDRB Mornings on Thursday to talk about her mother's book and her journey with Type 1 diabetes.

Wendy Novak was diagnosed with the disease at just 7 years old and has been living with it for over 60 years.

Medicine has advanced tremendously since she was diagnosed, so Novak has many years of experience as she has gone through her life with Type 1 diabetes.

"It was a lot of figuring out how to manage her body," Novak-Butler said. "As you grow and change, so does your diabetes."

One of Novak's major challenges she faced was her pregnancy with Ashley. She was told when she was little that she would never had children and she had to seek out a doctor that would take her with the risks she was facing. She was able to give birth to Ashley but lost her eyesight for a period of time after due to her diabetes.

"I hope that people can read the book and be encouraged and feel empowered for anyone that has Type 1 diabetes or has a family member or friend that has it," Novak-Butler said. "I hope they feel encouraged that they can manage the disease and do whatever they want with their life. My mom did, and she didn't have all the tools available to her that people have today."

The Novak Center is a great place with many different specialists and specialties, so children who come are able to have their needs met.

The diabetes institute is on the seventh floor of the center, and they are working on improving research to bring the latest advancements to their patients. They also provide support to patients and families that are struggling with the disease to give them the encouragement to learn how to manage their daily life.

"Diabetes and Me" is available online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books A Million. All proceeds benefit the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute.