Andrew Cummings was diagnosed with diabetes last week. His parents believe Vicki Borchers, Andrew's kindergarten teacher at Franklin Elementary, had a part in saving their son's life when she shared her concerns that Andrew may be showing symptoms of diabetes. Pictured here are Borchers and Andrew. [Click to enlarge]

That's what Andrew's parents, Colleen and Gary Cummings believe.

When the Le Mars boy was admitted to St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City May 19, Andrew's blood sugar had spiked into the 500s -- normal blood sugar levels are between 75 and 110.

Borchers, Andrew's kindergarten teacher at Franklin Elementary School, called his parents earlier that afternoon and shared her concerns that he might be showing symptoms of diabetes.

"He was just not looking well," Borchers said.

Andrew was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1.

Years ago at Clark Elementary Borchers had another student that had been diagnosed with the disease so she knew the signs. Borchers and another teacher had earlier also discussed their concerns about Andrew's weight loss, frequent bathroom breaks and sleepiness.

"He wasn't acting like himself at all," Borchers said. "He just did not have a whole lot of zip."

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For the Cummings, Borchers' concerns opened their eyes to the same types of behavior they had been seeing in their son.

"My wife and I saw some things going on with our son but we didn't really put the pieces together," Gary said. "We weren't ever educated about diabetes."

Colleen said Borchers' concern for her son went above and beyond.

"Most teachers think of it as a job, 'I come here I do my job and I go home,'" Colleen said. "She picked up his attitude and personality and knows him well enough to know that something was wrong."

Andrew, who was discharged from the hospital May 22, began to improve once he started to receive regular insulin shots to regulate his blood sugar levels.

"At first he cried a lot," Gary said. "The more we talk with him, he's understanding he needs these shots to keep him healthy."

Diabetes results from a problem with the body's immune system. In a healthy body, specialized cells in the pancreas make insulin, which is a hormone that allows the body to use energy from food. In Andrew's type of diabetes, the immune system mistakes the special cells as invaders and attacks them causing symptoms of diabetes to occur, according to the American Diabetes Association website, www.diabetes.org.

Since his body can't create insulin, Andrew will need to take insulin shots the rest of his life and learn to monitor what types of foods he eats.

Those are lessons he and his family will learn together, and so far one of the most difficult for Andrew's parents has been giving him the insulin injections.

"It's still really emotional," Gary said. "I can't get it out of my mind that I'm not actually hurting him.

Gary hopes his family's experience will help create awareness.

"We feel that even though this is a bad thing, good is going to come out of this," he said.

And Andrew's family is glad to have their son back to his normal self.

"He's totally different now," Gary said. "He's our Andrew."

They contribute that change to Borchers caring enough to get involved.

"She's not only teaching our kids, but making sure they are healthy," Gary said. "God just placed her (here) in the right time."

Box:

According to the American Diabetes Association's website there are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, who have diabetes. The disease often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem harmless.

Some symptoms include:

*frequent urination

*excessive thirst

*extreme hunger

*unusual weight loss

*increased fatigue

*irritability

*blurred vision