Lachlan in a fight with rare diabetes

The tot has been diagnosed with the rare neonatal diabetes, present in only one in 500,000 births.

After a tumultuous few weeks in which Lachlan plummeted below his birth weight, he became the youngest Australian to be fitted with an insulin pump.

Parents Tracey Cars-tensen and Mick Richardson say they initially became suspicious something was wrong with their first-born when an ultrasound at 34 weeks showed Lachlan to be the size of a 28-week-old.

“But even then we didn’t know what we were dealing with, we just thought he was going to be a small baby,” Ms Carstensen said.

“We had no idea he had diabetes — it was a big shock.

“I was still trying to get my head around being a mum, let alone having a sick baby and being flown to Melbourne. But we got through it.”

Ms Carstensen said the family owed a debt of gratitude to the staff at Wodonga hospital, who picked up on the warning signs and had their boy sent to Melbourne for treatment, as well as to Lachlan’s medical team in the capital for their vigilance and dedication.

The insulin pump is attached to Lachlan’s leg, but will move to his back and then his bottom as he gets older.

“They said he pretty much could live a normal, happy life — play sport and go to the beach,” Ms Carstensen said.

“The technology’s just amazing.”

Lachlan weighed just 2.2kg when he was born on April 10, but is now 3.9kg and loves his food, thanks to the work of the pump.

The couple said they were looking forward to a bright future with their son.

“It’s been very emotional and very trying,” Ms Carstensen said.

“We’ve had a few scares but he’s on the mend now.

“And we got home in time for Mother’s Day, which had been my wish.

“When they said we could go home I was just over the moon.”