"We have taught completely illiterate people how to technically deliver insulin," said Kaufman, telling me it takes about four hours to train an adult.
Kaufman's credentials aren't bad, by the way. She's a former head of the American Diabetes Assn., and she runs the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
At Liliana Parker's school, a nurse is funded one day a week by the district, and the parents' booster club pays for two additional days. On the days when there's no nurse, Greta Parker has to visit the school every two hours to monitor Liliana's condition.
Greta quit her job as an insurance agent to be free for those visits, field trips and other events.
Just before noon Friday outside the museum, Liliana pricked her finger and got a blood sugar reading that was still a little high.
She often does the insulin injection herself, but she let her mom do it this time in the soft flesh of her left arm.
Did it hurt? I asked.
"Just a pinch, but I don't really feel it," Liliana said, and then she joined Sebastian and Ellie for a picnic on the grass.
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steve.lopez@latimes.com
