Riverhead - On the football field, lacrosse pitch or baseball diamond, Frank Leotta's son, Matt, is like any other kid. When not competing, he is smiling and laughing like any other eight-year-old would. However, since he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, or Type 1 diabetes, at 18 months, Matt and his family have had to closely monitor his blood sugar.

On Sunday, October 25 at Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead, dozens of walkers will hit the pavement on Matt's behalf as part of the Walk To Cure Diabetes from which all proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the route is approximately two miles. In addition, it is considered a Halloween walk and prizes will be given out for those with the best costumes.

Matt Leotta (center) and father Frank meet with New York State Congressman Steve Israel.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system that attacks the beta cells in one's pancreas and thus stops the production of insulin. With this, Matt has to check his blood 10-12 times a day to make sure his sugar level is sufficient. Unless he's playing sports, he wears an insulin pump that gives him a constant infusion of insulin; when he eats something, the pump injects insulin to counteract the carbohydrates from the food.

It's taken time for the family and for Matt's friends to come to grips with the condition. "We just want people to know what's going on so when they see kids checking their blood they don't get scared," said Leotta, a grassroots leader for the JDRF. "Originally people thought Matt was a little bit different and were afraid to invite him over to play dates, but fast-forward three years and he's fine. Everyone knows it's not a big deal. They're comfortable with him and his blood sugar and they know it's not a huge handicap."

Matt and his family have to check his blood before any athletic event in which he participates before removing the pump - much like Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, Olympic gold medal swimmer Gary Hall, Jr., and former Gonzaga hoops star Adam Morrison. Last week, however, Matt's blood sugar dipped and he was taken off the field. "He becomes very agitated," said his dad. "He's not in the right frame in mind. It takes a long time for the sugar to kick in so he's thinking normally and is clear-headed." A half-hour later, though, Matt was in the end zone, chalking up six points for his squad.

Although there is no cure for diabetes, strides are being made to change that. As a grassroots leader, Leotta has met with a number of Long Island-based Congressmen to ensure that voting continues for bills that create funding for juvenile diabetes research. According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 17.9 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and an additional 5.7 million are living with it without knowing it.

Those interested can visit www.walk.jdrf.org to register; all participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of $200 for the cause. Matt will walk as part of a team called The Matt Pack, which will include somewhere between 25 and 30 walkers, including the entire Dowling College women's volleyball team.