What if there was a place where everyone had T1D? No one would have to feel like they were different because of their diabetes. They wouldn’t get odd or rude questions and comments from people passing by. Everyone would understand what it’s like to have T1D. That’s just what you’ll find in The Adventures of Captain Lantus, where Beta Town is full of citizens of all ages who have type 1 diabetes.
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7-year-old Max has type 1 diabetes,
in fact, everyone in Beta Town has but that’s what makes Beta Town so cool. One day, while guarding the insulin cube against the dastardly King Carb’s plans to steal it, Max gains superpowers from a top-secret insulin pump and turns him into Beta Town’s very own Superhero, Captain Lantus.
Will Captain Lantus save the day? Find out in the exciting and beautifully illustrated story The Adventures Of Captain Lantus.
Truth be told
When Gary and Max sent me a copy of Captain Lantus, I was kind of nervous about reading it. Before the book was even published, Gary promoted it quite a bit in one of my Facebook groups, Parents of Type 1 Diabetics – Canada (feel free to join if you have a child who has T1D), so I was familiar with the characters and the story.
I was worried that I wouldn’t like a children’s story about T1D where the bad guy was an angry round man named “King Carb” and an insulin pump was something that provided superpowers to the main character. I immediately associated those things with “carbs are bad for people with T1D” and “insulin pumps are superior to MDI”.
If you did the same thing when reading the excerpt from the back of the book, I’m happy to tell you, you’re in for a treat!
Things I love about Captain Lantus
The whole book is a light, fun read with T1D facts sprinkled naturally throughout the story.
I personally found it wonderful to see that “Mayor Bolus” is a black woman. Having a character who is in a position of power and who is in 2 minority groups is so important for our children to see. I have no idea how intentional that choice was. In any case, I think it was a great decision.
I’ve seen several people with concerns about the bad guy, King Carb. I understand that hearing that name and seeing an image of a heavy set, balding, middle aged character is a bit worrisome. Lots of parents of children with T1D have a heightened awareness of how diabetes is portrayed in books, TV, and media.
Despite his name and the way he looks, King Carb really isn’t associated with insulin or diabetes in the story. The people of Beta Town eat all sorts of foods, there is even a fair going on during all of the action. This book completely normalizes food for people with T1D without specifically focusing on the subject at all.
Educational and Fun
My kids really enjoyed the story. I think it works as a stand-alone superhero story. You have to have or understand T1D to appreciate the plot. It has a very subtle focus on type 1 diabetes, while many of the names and places are common T1D terms.
I realized that I should probably be teaching my children more about diabetes when Jordan (my 11-year-old who has had T1 since he was 2) asked me what the significance of “Beta Town” was. For those who, like him, don’t know… the beta cells in the pancreas are the cells that produce insulin. People who have T1D don’t have these cells (or have very few of them) because their bodies mistakenly attacked and destroyed the beta cells.
While Jordan didn’t understand what “Beta Town” was named for, and even though he’s almost a teenager, he said he, “really liked that a 7-year-old boy turned into a superhero with an insulin pump.”
I guess no matter what age you are, seeing a superhero character who has similarities with you is pretty exciting.
The people behind Captain Lantus
Max is a young boy in the UK who has type 1 diabetes. He was diagnosed when he was only 18 months old. As most of us have experienced, dealing with T1D was a struggle for Max’s parents as well as Max himself.
When he was 6, Max came up with an idea. He had compared himself to Ironman, Max’s insulin pump being the same as the arc reactor in Ironman’s chest. He wanted to create a story that would inspire other children with T1D to feel like superheroes. And with the help and support of his father Gary, Max’s book came to life!
Stay tuned for the next adventure
The Adventures Of Captain Lantus is just the beginning. The Rapson family has plans to create a series of Captain Lantus stories. The next book is expected to be released in the summer of 2021.
Keep up to date with Captain Lantus on Facebook or head over to the Captain Lantus website to order your copy today!
Happy Carb Counting!
~ Leah
* I was given a free copy of The Adventures Of Captain Lantus. All opinions in this article are my own. *
Have you read The Adventures Of Captain Lantus? What is your favorite T1D children’s book? Tell us in the comments!
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