VANESSA MESSENGER

Pens a Paws-itive Tale to Help Kids Understand Diabetes

by Melissa Fales
photo by Daffodil Smiles Photography

Teddy, an adorable, upbeat cartoon Pomeranian, steals the show in Vanessa Messenger’s new book, Teddy Talks: A Paws-itive Story about Type 1 Diabetes. Teddy Talks offers a glimpse into the daily life of a Type 1 diabetic in a simple way that children can understand. Throughout the book, Teddy tells kids about the things he and his human, Emily, do every day in order to manage her diabetes. “As a Type 1 Diabetic and mother of two, I know firsthand how challenging it is to explain medical conditions to kids,” says Messenger, “which is why I want this book to help families who are looking to understand.” 

Messenger’s Type 1 diabetes affects her everyday life. The disease prevents her pancreas from producing insulin. “Because of that, food doesn’t get broken down and converted into energy,” she explains. “Instead, it remains as sugar in my bloodstream, so I take insulin injections five or six times a day to ensure my blood sugar levels don’t become too elevated. I also wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) so I can be aware of my blood sugar levels at all times. If my levels get too low, that means I need to have a piece of candy, juice, or fruit to help normalize it.”  

Messenger approaches her diabetes holistically. “I try to manage stress and my mental health by eating well, prioritizing daily workouts, and practicing gratitude every morning,” she says. “I’ve found this to be especially important since my diagnosis because blood sugar levels aren’t only affected by what I eat, but also vary depending on my levels of stress and activity.”

Initially after her diagnosis, Messenger says she felt overwhelmed and isolated. “I knew nothing about Type 1 diabetes and had a lot of misconceptions,” she says. “Ultimately, finding a community of other diabetics who are thriving was my biggest emotional turning point. I am especially inspired by advocates like singer Nick Jonas and Robin Arzón, the VP of Fitness Programming at Peloton, who maintain active lifestyles and impressive careers while simultaneously managing their diabetes.”

Messenger was so touched by the level of support and encouragement she received from those whom she calls her “diabuddies” (other adults in the diabetic community), she wanted to give kids with Type 1 diabetes a similar experience. Although she’s brand new to writing children’s books, she’s been a proven communicator for years. “With my background in psychology and broadcast communications, I’ve always been passionate about creating a connection with people through storytelling,” she says. “I was determined to help create that same sense of belonging and connection for children with T1D through Teddy Talks. When the book was released in October 2021, she added “children’s book author” to the long list of titles she holds. “I’m a mom, a Product Lead at Google, and considering I’ve been a Type 1 diabetic since 2010, I like to joke that I’m also full-time pancreas,” says Messenger. 

Teddy Talks includes “Teddy’s T1D Terms,” a glossary of common words related to diabetes and in it, Emily demonstrates how she uses her continuous glucose monitor to track her sugar levels throughout the day. “The book aims to explain Type 1 diabetes and showcase how a positive outlook and healthy daily choices create a foundation for a fulfilling life,” says Messenger. “I wanted to anchor on the message that diabetes doesn’t have to hold you back. I hope that it’s a lesson that many people, with or without diabetes, can relate to and be inspired by. Beyond that, I especially want it to cement the importance of optimism while facing adversity.”

“Whether a child is impacted directly by diabetes, or knows a loved one, friend, or classmate with it, I hope the story will shed a positive light on the condition and explain it in a way kids can easily understand.”

The character of Teddy is based on Messenger’s real-life beloved pet, Teddy. “Although he isn’t a certified diabetic alert dog, he provides a lot of emotional support which is why I thought he’d make the perfect mascot to bring awareness to a common yet underrepresented condition,” she says. “Whether a child is impacted directly by diabetes, or knows a loved one, friend, or classmate with it, I hope the story will shed a positive light on the condition and explain it in a way kids can easily understand.”

Messenger says Emma Latham’s illustrations perfectly complement her text. “I was so fortunate to work with Emma on Teddy Talks,” she says. “She was the most amazing partner, and her illustrations truly make the story come to life. Her style is so playful and vibrant, which really captured Teddy’s essence.”

With Teddy Talks, Messenger set out to create a book that family members will be able to read together and one that she hopes will serve as a conversation starter about Type 1 diabetes and health in general. “I know that it can be a very overwhelming and complex condition to manage, and I think this is especially true for families dealing with a new diagnosis,” she says. “My goal is for families to become less intimidated by diabetes and be inspired to learn that this condition impels Type 1 diabetics to make healthy choices every day, which I believe is a silver lining.” 

The road to publishing Teddy Talks was lined with a few surprises for Messenger. “There was an initial learning curve when it came to starting my own publishing company (Messenger Publishing) which required establishing legal and business entities, but it was an exciting challenge,” Messenger says. “Ironically, writing the book was the easy part.”

Messenger is donating a portion of the sales from Teddy Talks to fund medical trials in diabetic research. “I wanted the book to not only spread a positive message but also give something more concrete back to the diabetic community,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the medical advancements that have changed the way we are able to manage this condition and I’m honored to be partnering with Dr. Denise Faustman. Her lab is based out of Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard-associated, top-ranked research hospital in the United States.” 

In addition, Messenger donated 100 copies of Teddy Talks to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. She says she was inclined to make that donation knowing how it feels to receive a diabetes diagnosis. “I did it so families can leave there after a new diagnosis with something tangible to take home that hopefully gives them some encouragement.” 

Messenger is already in the early stages of writing her second book about Teddy. “I hope to turn this into a series based on the touching feedback we’ve heard from parents, educators, and medical professionals so far.” 

For more information about Vanessa Messenger and Teddy Talks: A Paws-itive Story About Type 1 Diabetes, visit messengerpublishingbooks.com and find Teddy on TikTok
@TeddyTheT1Dog.