For the Kuehmeier family, Juvenile Diabetes is a way of life. Their son, Jay, who is 7 years old and a second grader at Laurel Hill Elementary, was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes when he was 2 years old. Having this chronic disease (that affects an estimated 3 million people in the United States, according to the JDRF Web site) is all young Jay has ever known.

His parents, Kevin and Paige Kuehmeier, have armed themselves with information about the disease. When they moved to the Lowcountry two years ago, the closest JDRF chapter was in Columbia, the Palmetto Chapter. Kevin joined the Columbia chapter, but the Kuehmeiers wanted to have something closer to home.

So, along with a group of dedicated parents and diabetics, they started the JDRF Walk (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International) last year. And this year, for the JDRF Charleston Walk for A Cure, the couple are co-chairs. The walk is on March 5 at Smythe Park on Daniel Island.

Paige said, 'I wanted to try to get something going to fund that research so that our son and many other children will have a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.'

That is just what this walk is for. Paige said that she and Kevin discovered that the walk is one of the most effective ways they have found to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes.

Finding ways to research a cure for JD is so important as they cope with the disease every day in their family.

'Everything affects Jay- whether it is food or exercise or company coming, or even a vacation.'

For someone with Juvenile Diabetes, the person's pancreas produces little or no insulin.

There is no known cause of the disease. But it is known that it is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing islet cells. It is all about keeping the blood sugar controlled.

'It doesn't matter if it is a cupcake or rice, Jay's body cannot process it,' explained Paige.

If one's blood sugar is uncontrolled, complications like kidney failure, blindness and even losing feelings in his hand can occur.

Jay has just reached the five-year anniversary of his diagnosis. The disease affects every major organ in his body. He is on an insulin pump 24 hours a day that gives him insulin every three minutes. When Jay was in kindergarten, Paige felt like he was missing an hour of class a day to go to the nurse on multiple visits.

Thankfully, things are better now, although Jay has to go to a pediatric endocrinologist at MUSC at least four times a year.

'It is a day-to-day management process. But you really have no choice; you want him to be as healthy as can be and do what you can to keep him there,' said Paige.

If Jay's blood sugar is low, he will have to be given crackers and a juice box and tested in 15 minutes.

'The thing with diabetes isthat  tricky things can happen fast,' said his mom. 'You need to take care of it right away,' she said.

Paige said that people often time mix up Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes with Type 2 diabetes. Unlike Type 2, Type 1 is not a result of an unhealthy lifestyle.

'Most people with Type 2 diabetes think that Jay needs to eat better and exercise more. But Type 1 diabetes is not like that. Jay exercises and has a healthy lifestyle,' explained Paige.

There were over 500 people at last year's walk, including 44 teams. The Walk last year raised almost $98,000, but this year Paige hopes to raise $200,000.

The Walk includes a jump castle, an inflatable slide, pony rides, Cupcake the Clown, face painting and food, with all of the proceeds going towards JDRF. Diabetes related information booths will be on hand, as well as food and refreshments for sale.

Dr. Deborah Bowlby, Director of Pediatric Endocrinology at MUSC, said, 'The JDRF walk is a great opportunity for children and families with diabetes to get together and support each other.'

Find more information at JDRF.org. Registration on Walk Day begins at 10 a.m. and the opening ceremony will start at 11 a.m. with the walk immediately following.