03:31 PM EST on Thursday, March 31, 2005

By John Snyder / 6NEWS

Juvenile diabetes can be a crippling and even deadly disease. Emily Hoffman is one of thousands of children who live with the disease everyday.

On a daily basis this 8-year-girl talks about things such as insulin pumps, carbohydrates and blood sugar levels.

6NEWS

Emily Hoffman is one of thousands of children living with juvenile diabetes.

Every second of the day about half a millimeter of insulin goes into Emily’s body just to keep her blood sugars in the good range.

“Emily has just accepted diabetes as part of her life and has never complained about it or felt sorry for herself in anyway,” said Emily’s father, a Charlotte firefighter.

Her mother, a nurse, knows the key to prevent diabetes from damaging Emily’s eyes or heart is frequent testing.

At times Emily’s blood sugar is checked two or three times a night, sometimes more.

Emily said when her blood sugar is high she gets dizzy or feels sick. That’s life living with diabetes but it hasn’t slowed the girl.

At just 8-years-old Emily already has her eye set on a singing career. Recently she performed with opera singer Ronald Gattis at a church concert.

Emily would like to sing professionally one day, but concedes she may need some singing lessons first.