If Julia Balobeck sleeps through her phone’s alarm, it can be life-threatening.
The 18-year-old from Crafton has diabetes and wears a device that alerts her to low blood sugar through her smartphone.
It also sends a warning to her mother’s phone.
“At night she gets some crazy low readings,” said her mother, Michelle Balobeck. “And if she doesn’t hear her phone, and sometimes she doesn’t, that can be scary. I am glad there is technology so if something is happening it lets me know.”
The teen wears a pod — a tubeless, waterproof insulin pump — that supplies insulin based on her glucose reading and how many carbohydrates she is eating. Another device reads her blood sugar every five minutes. It is the screensaver on her phone and is also connected to her mother’s phone.
There was a time when her mother woke up three times every night to prick her daughter’s finger for a blood sugar reading. Julia Balobeck was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 4.
Michelle and Joe Balobeck started “Julia Balobeck’s Step Out Diabetes,” a fundraiser to help raise money for diabetes research. Big brother Zack has been one of the biggest supporters for his little sister. The idea for the event was created after the family began participating in the annual American Diabetes Walk since the diagnosis.
The idea for the fundraiser came from Julia Balobeck, who at a planning meeting for the annual walk, asked her mom, “What are we doing to raise money?” The family is part of the logistics committee for the walk. They’ve raised more than $60,000.
They walk under the team name of Julia’s Jewels. This year’s “2020 Tour de Cure: Pittsburgh” on Oct. 3 will be virtual.
So will the 12th annual Julia Balobeck’s Step Out Diabetes. It is at 2 p.m. Sunday. You can buy tickets here.
The first few years it was held at Chartiers Country Club. They outgrew the space and moved it to the Ascension Church Worship Site.
The Circle Inn in Crafton, which previously has catered the food, is hosting the family and 10 people who won a drawing to attend a performance by Scott Blasey, founder and lead vocalist for Pittsburgh’s own The Clarks, which will be seen on Facebook live.
Blasey had a sore back and walked by Joe Balobeck’s chiropractic office.
“He adjusted me and I have seen him pretty much every week since that day,” Blasey said. “We’ve developed a friendship so when he asked me to help, I didn’t hesitate. Music can help in so many ways. It helps with our mental state. When we are able to use our platform to raise funds for a cause we think is worthwhile, that is so important.”
Blasey, of Peters, will be performing this gig solo. He and the band will be at the Brownsville Drive-In on Sept. 25-26. They usually play 45 to 50 shows and will probably do 10 this year via Facebook Live.
“You have to adjust because of the pandemic,” Blasey said. “It’s so hard because it’s what I do. I need it for my mental health. It’s tough not to play.”
“Scott is a doll and we love him to pieces,” Michelle Balobeck said.
