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Dancers raise money for diabetes research
Riley Trainor, 13, of Potomac Falls has been dancing since she was 3.
She now competes in all kinds of dance styles, including jazz, ballet and lyrical.
Five years ago, Riley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She has to wear an insulin pump constantly, and she has to prick her finger to check her blood sugar about eight times a day, but she hasn't let that hold her back from anything.
In fact, she has embraced her diabetes and found a dance community where her instructors and classmates embrace it as well.
"It makes it easier for me because I love to dance," Riley said, explaining that people with diabetes need to stay active but also monitor their blood glucose levels closely. "The only thing I can't do is become a scuba diver or a truck driver."
This is because Riley can't get the insulin pump she wears on her hip wet, or sit too much.
At Riley's dance center, Studio Bleu , with locations in Ashburn and Sterling, Dancing for Diabetes Week will take place June 23-27. Newcomers can try out any dance class for $1.
All proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
"We try to do things for our students and let them know we care," said Studio Bleu Managing Director Kimberly Walsh Rishi, who said she has several dance students who have diabetes. "We're excited about this week and seeing how much we can raise."
Riley was first diagnosed at 8 years old, after she had lost about 15 pounds in only two weeks, said her mom, Betsy Trainor.
Then one morning her skin looked gray. Riley was rushed to her doctor's office and within 30 minutes she was on her way to the hospital.
It was there that her family was told she had Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes, which meant her body was basically attacking the insulin-producing cells in her pancreas, which Riley needed to regulate her blood glucose levels.
From then on, Riley has had to test her blood sugar using a tiny drop of blood about eight times a day. She also wears a pump, which delivers a steady drip of insulin.
Riley's mom even comes in at night around midnight and pricks her finger while she is sleeping to get a blood sugar reading.
"The hardest thing is that it never goes away," Riley said. "It's always with me."
Riley has become pretty independent and now knows the exact amount of insulin to take before any meal, especially when she is about to eat carbohydrates.
But still, Trainor said, sometimes it can be hard leaving Riley at a friend's house or sleepover because the parents might feel they are unable to handle Riley's condition.
At the dance studio, though, she said, she feels completely comfortable while Riley is there.
Director Rishi said growing up, one of her best friends had diabetes, as do her mother, aunt and brother-in-law.
"Studio Bleu has made us feel like part of their family," said Riley's mom. "They really care about her."
Contact the reporter at ecoe@timespapers.com
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