Everything Has Carbs (2020)

Marleigh Neumeyer is a preteen girl who has been living with Type-1 Diabetes for 2 years. Like many diseases this one effects the whole family all day, everyday. Erin Neumeyer, Marleigh's mom, along with her father, Keith Neumeyer, and her brother, Dylan Neumeyer, all play their part in helping to monitor her blood sugar and adjusting their own habits to make it easier for Marleigh to live happily with Type-1 Diabetes. Like most kids her age she wants to make decisions for herself, so to avoid being constantly monitored she sneaks out of bed early in the morning and has strategies for keeping her mind off the incessant presence of diabetes by playing video games, making music or playing with her big brother. She has taken more of an interest in cooking but still doesn't like doing math every time her blood sugar goes high or low and every time even the smallest amount of food crosses her lips. This day is a typical one in her life where nothing bad happens but it does accurately represent the mental pressure of this disease and how everyone in her life has had to adapt in order to manage it and keep Marleigh alive and healthy. The end credit sequence was created by Marleigh Neumeyer and highlights the gadgets she uses to track and monitor her blood glucose (sugar) levels. This film was produced in 3 days for the Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge 2020 Home Edition. Some of the footage was shot documentary style but a majority was reenactments of actual events with the real people portraying themselves.