Diabetes, Health, and Well-being are all Hutchison family daily events. We attempt to do the right things at home and on the go. Janet and Jerry are both Registered Nurses and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. Thirty-five years ago, they made the decision to learn as much as they could about diabetes to help their 10-month-old baby be able to manage his diabetes. That’s right – he was 10 months old, couldn’t talk when they discovered he has diabetes. It changed their lives. Janet was working in the Emergency Department as a Registered Nurse and started spending her days at home schooling their sons. Jerry was the Assistant Fire Chief and EMS Director at the Fire Department. He retired early and enrolled in nursing school. He received his register nurse and went on to become Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Jerry worked at a local hospital as a diabetes educator and taught paramedics at the community college.
Jerry and his family have been helping with a diabetes camp in Texarkana for 31 years. Jerry started working at camp before his son was able to attend because a child had to be 6 years old to be a camper. He (Jonathan) attended camp from 6 until 18 years of age and then he became a group leader for area teenagers. Jon’s wife helped him after they were married, and Janet and Jerry’s younger son (Jared) became the archery coach and anything else that needed to be done. The camp typically has 35 – 40 kids come to the camp each summer. This year (2023) was the 31st anniversary of K.I.D.S. (Kids Improving Diabetes Safely) Camp.
Jerry was personally diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes when he turned 57 years of age and began taking insulin shots. His doctor and others thought he was crazy for taking insulin shots, but he was already used to giving shots (multiple times per day when Jonathan was little and living at home) so Jerry felt that was the right thing to do. Jerry believes that controlling the amount of insulin he is taking is better than attempting to eat and exercise to match the “pills” he would be taking. It is our desire to help other people learn about diabetes and caring for their health.
Janet and Jerry
Registered Nurses
Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists
Certified Nutritionists and Certified Wellness Coaches
Certified Insulin Therapists
Certified Insulin Pump Trainers: Medtronic, Tandem, and Omnipod
Certified Continuous Glucose Monitor Trainers: Dexcom, Freestyle, and Medtronic
Certified Kidney Health Coaches
Certified Holistic Health Practitioner
Certified Naturopathy Practitioner