Trempealeau family uses corn maze to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes

TREMPEALEAU, Wis (WKBT)-- Kinley Schwertel is 11-years-old. She enjoys helping out on her family farm in Trempealeau, feeding animals and tending to day-to-day chores with her parents. In 2023, she started showing signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication where the body isn't able to produce enough insulin.

"Up until she was diagnosed, she was really really thirsty and she lost a lot of weight. I knew something was off," said Kristina Schwertel, Kinley's mother. "It just wasn't characteristic of the stomach flu and the alarms were going off in my head that this was something different and we needed her to get checked out."

Kinley went to urgent care where she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

"It's not lifestyle related like type 2 diabetes where eating things that you're not supposed to be eating said Morgan Grabinoski , a pediatric nurse practioner at Gundersen. "It's just when the body doesn't work at its highest level."

The body also goes after islet cells causing prevention of insulin and blood sugar to rise. Kinley now has to wear a patch and a pump. The patch gives her blood sugar readings so her pump can give her insulin. Since her diagnosis, the family has paid closer attention to food labels and nutrition facts.

"There are a lot of kiddos affected with type 1 diabetes. Before Kinley was diagnosed, we did not know what it was at all," Schwertel said.

Schwertel Family Farms operates as a greenhouse and seasonal roadside stand. Last year, the family created a maze to entertain folks and raise awareness about different issues. This year, it's type 1 diabetes. The family is placing signage near the maze to spark conversations about it.

"We talk about it and people understand its nothing to be scared of or afraid of it. There's lots of kiddos that have it and let's support them and celebrate them," Schwertel said.

A portion of all tickets to the corn maze will benefit the Chad Erickson Memorial Thunder Ride for Juvenile Diabetes , a fundraiser helping families whose children are impacted by the disease.

The maze is open every day from 10am-4pm until the end of the month. The Schwertel's are looking at more ways to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes.