MT . LEBANON ’ S OXENREITER
Feted by JDRF
Mt . Lebanon resident Carol Oxenreiter receives the JDRF Chairman ’ s Choice Award .
BY PAUL GLASSER
Mt . Lebanon resident Carol Oxenreiter was recently recognized for her leadership at JDRF , receiving the Chairman ’ s Choice Award in June .
She began volunteering for the foundation in 1995 , after her 13-month-old daughter , Monica , was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes . Three years later , her son , John , was diagnosed as well , at age 8 . Type 1 diabetes , also known as juvenile diabetes , is an autoimmune disease that prevents an individual ’ s pancreas from producing insulin . Insulin is required to help the body extract energy from food . It ’ s unclear what causes type 1 diabetes , although genetics may be a factor , and there is no cure for it . Oxenreiter says the diagnosis shocked her because there was no history of type 1 diabetes in either her or her husband ’ s family .
“ The onset was extremely rapid ,” she says . “ Over a weekend [ Monica ] went from fine to deathly ill .” Since Monica couldn ’ t talk yet , Oxenreiter had to monitor her blood sugar constantly . Since there is no cure , Oxenreiter had to carefully control what foods her children ate and how much they exercised . Having blood sugar that is too high or too low could result in a seizure or coma .
“ It ’ s a constant balancing act ,” she says . “ It ’ s a much more difficult disease to control than people ever said it was . You do your best to control it but there are always glitches . But John and Monica never complained , and that ’ s the most impressive thing .”
Her children have successfully managed their diabetes . John , now 26 , has become an assistant district attorney in the Bronx , New York City , and Monica , now 21 , is conducting clinical research at Harvard University . They have also participated in several JDRF events and have lobbied members of Congress . Oxenreiter began assisting the JDRF by volunteering for different events and conducting outreach before joining several committees . She eventually became the chair of the research committee and joined the international board of directors in 2010 . The international board of directors coordinates efforts around the world to support research related to treating , preventing or curing type 1 diabetes . She served on the board for six years and will become an advisor and ambassador who gives speeches on behalf of the foundation .
Oxenreiter says she did not know she would receive the chairman ’ s choice award , which recognizes some of the foundation ’ s most dedicated leaders . She was selected because of her commitment , passion and courage .
“ I was deeply honored ,” she says , and is optimistic that new discoveries will lead to more effective treatments for type 1 diabetes . For example , a “ smart ” insulin is being developed that would allow individuals with type 1 diabetes to take a pill or injection once a day , as opposed to multiple times per day . The insulin would be released only when the body needs it . In addition , scientists are developing an artificial pancreas that would use computer algorithms to continuously monitor blood sugar and control insulin delivery automatically . She hopes both technologies could be available within a year .
“ It sounds totally crazy and sci-fi , but the speed at which things are being brought into clinical trials is incredible ,” Oxenreiter says . “ Things are moving at a much faster pace than they used to .”
JDRF raises money and funds for innovative research related to type 1 diabetes , and for several years Oxenreiter helped solicit and evaluate grant applications . She says JDRF has encouraged researchers to explore ways of curing , treating or preventing type 1 diabetes . That has become increasingly important since government funding for research has been on the decline .
“ We are passionate about trying to move the research forward ,” Oxenreiter says . “ The JDRF has really forced the issue .” ■
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