Owensboro teen to share journey with Type 1 Diabetes for National Diabetes Awareness Month

In recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month this November, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville invites members of the media to meet 13-year-old Owensboro native Beau Ehlschide, who has been managing Type 1 diabetes since he was 4 years old.

Beau’s journey began just before preschool when he exhibited symptoms of severe thirst, weight loss, and lethargy, leading to a blood sugar reading of 600. His family spent Labor Day weekend in the hospital receiving a crash course in managing his condition to keep him safe. Beau's story highlights the vital importance of a timely diagnosis and the comprehensive care required to treat the body, mind, and spirit.

Today, the condition affects every aspect of his and his family's life. Beau must carry his supplies and equipment at all times, and his entire household collaborates to monitor his blood sugar. Navigating extracurricular activities, school, sports, and social events requires constant vigilance. Fluctuating blood sugar levels can cause him to feel physically ill, lose concentration, experience severe thirst, or miss out on activities. The constant monitoring can also take a toll on the behavioral and mental health of the whole family, emphasizing the need for a welcoming and supportive environment where caregivers and the community know how to respond to a medical emergency.

Despite these daily obstacles, Beau approaches each challenge with courage, a positive attitude, and unwavering determination. He has developed amazing leadership skills, passionately advocating for other individuals with diabetes. By opening up about his daily life, Beau hopes to clarify Type 1 diabetes, educate the community on management and overall well-being, and inspire other young people navigating chronic health conditions.

Pediatric endocrinologists and clinical care teams from Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital will also be available to discuss the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, secure and validated management technologies under clinician oversight, and how our teams facilitate access to community resources to support quality care for people in need

Event Details & Coverage Opportunity

  • WHAT: Media availability, one-on-one interviews, and b-roll/photo opportunity.
  • WHO: Beau Ehlschide (13-year-old pediatric patient from Owensboro, KY) and his family, Pediatric diabetes care team members, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
  • WHEN: Wednesday, November 11th, at 1:00 p.m. CST
  • WHERE: Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Center for Children (3900 Washington Ave
    Evansville, IN 47714)
  • VISUALS & INTERVIEW ASSETS:
    • In-person interviews with Beau, Beau’s parents on navigating a pediatric diagnosis.
    • Medical commentary on pediatric diabetes care and community awareness.
    • B-roll opportunities inside the Center for Children clinical and support spaces.

This is not an event open to the public, and only for the media to attend.

PLEASE RSVP IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND.

About Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent

Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent (PMCH), part of Ascension, one of the nation’s leading non-profit and Catholic health systems, is a full service, dedicated children’s medical center providing the highest quality, family-centered care to children and adolescents in the state of Indiana and beyond. A Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and Level I Children’s Surgery Center, PMCH is staffed by more than 250 experienced pediatric sub-specialists along with pediatric nurses, social workers, child life specialists, chaplains, and other health professionals with a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to family-focused care. PMCH has more than 160 licensed beds, which includes a 15-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, a 17-bed Pediatric Emergency Department, and a 97-bed Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, providing the highest level of acute care as established by the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The PMCH Trauma Center is one of two in Indiana to achieve the Level I Pediatric Trauma verification to deliver advanced care for even the most severe injuries. The Pediatric Burn Center is a regional burn center for Indiana, equipped to deliver care for minor and life-threatening burns, including skin grafts, surgery, and scar management. The hospital offers 24-hour on-site coverage by pediatric hospitalists, intensivists, neonatologists, and board-certified emergency physicians, and provides safe and streamlined critical care transport by ambulance and air.  Visit www.getpeytonmanningcare.com.