Two wheels the road diabetes

Chapter VII Luisa changes her mind She never thought she’d stick to watching a cycling race on tv, like it was the moon landing. But those guys really got her. Luisa had been sitting there asking herself some questions and when Diego and Simone came back from the park she was quiet. She measured her son’s blood sugar and made lunch following, as usual, the doctor’s instructions. Even during lunch, she was not in her usual mood.

“Breast or wing?” she asked “Wing for me – said Diego “Is everything alright?” Simone asked “Yes, yes, I’m fine” “You seem a bit distant” “No, it’s just that… we’ll talk about it later” For the whole afternoon Simone had been wondering what had happened. He was a caring father and a loving husband - family and job were his whole world. He owned a well established hardware store and he could provide for the family.

Luisa worked as a translator which was a job that she could do from home. This made sure she had some financial independency without taking time off from caring for Diego.

Diabetes aside, the kid was going through a lot: from elementary to middle school, new classmates, some questions that are hard to answer…

After dinner Simone poured himself a bitter and sat on the couch. Diego was sleeping and Luisa sat thoughtful, right beside him.

“So, do you want to talk now?” “Your father called today” “What happened? Is he ok?”

“Don’t panic. Nothing like that. He told me to watch the Milan-Sanremo race on tv. You know I’ve never really been into sports, I barely watch the world cup with you and Diego when Italy is playing. But in the race there was a team of diabetic kids, I mean cyclists, diabetic cyclists.”

“Diabetic cyclists?”

“Yes, a whole team, they’re professionals, racing with the champions. So these guys went spinning ahead, I heard that’s what you call it, and they were at the top for almost the whole race. I don’t know who won in the end, I don’t really care. What really impressed me though, was their strength. Even the commentator 125