Suppose that Kamaal and Malcolm have asked you to help sell their newest comic book. How will you tell kids about the latest Dr. Diabetes comic book? What will you do to convince them to buy it? article: KANSAS CITY, Kansas. The evil Dr. Diabetes leaps through a hospital window. He is determined to leave anyone in his path with the disease for which he is named. If Dr. Diabetes, a green, wild-haired monster, seems like a comic book villain, that's because he is.

Dr. Diabetes is a character in a series of comic books created by 13-year-old Kamaal Washington and his 11-year-old brother, Malcolm. Kamaal faces his own real-life battle with diabetes. He hopes that the comic books will help spread awareness about the disease and help those who have it.

The comic books tell the stories of children who learn they have diabetes and receive a visit from Dr. Diabetes. The heroes of the comics, Omega Boy and Mighty Boy, save the children from Dr. Diabetes. Kamaal and Malcolm have already produced two comic books and are working on their third. It will tell the story of a government official who refuses to raise money to help find a cure for diabetes. The heroes go on a mission to change that.

Kamaal and Malcolm understand the subject of their comic books. Kamaal was told that he had Type 1 diabetes when he was nine, after he complained of constant thirst and a feeling of illness.

Type 1 diabetes is most common in children and teens. It causes the body's immune system to destroy the cells of the pancreas, which produces insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot properly use sugar from the food it takes in. People with Type 1 diabetes, like Kamaal, depend on injected or pumped insulin for life.

The disease has changed Kamaal's life. The teen checks his blood sugar seven to eight times a day. He must watch how much sugar and salt he eats. He wears an insulin pump so he can get a supply of insulin whenever he needs it.

Kamaal can still remember how he felt when he learned that he had diabetes.

"I got really scared," he said. "I was wondering what would happen to me."

The young boy did not understand the medical words in the books that the doctors gave him. He and Malcolm were drawing one day when they came up with a way to make it easier for kids to learn about diabetes and how to control the disease.

"We decided to do a comic book. We wanted it to be fun and educational," Kamaal said. His dad, Alonzo, an artist, publishes the Dr. Diabetes comics through his company, Omega 7 Comics. The boys' comics, which sell for five dollars each, are available on the Omega 7 Web site. They will soon be available nationally.

Kamaal and Malcolm have sold and given to diabetes groups about 90,000 copies of the comics. They have also given about half of their $135,000 in profits to diabetes causes.

The brothers' parents are proud of the boys' dedication.

"At that young of an age, to . . . want to help others [who] are going through the same situation is very noble," said their mother, Dana Washington. "There are many adults who are uncomfortable . . . speaking about their health issues. [For] Kamaal to be able to talk about something that is so personal is just amazing to me."

The comics have turned Kamaal and Malcolm into diabetes spokespeople. They have won awards and have traveled around the country to speak about the disease.

Kamaal and Malcolm plan to create their own Dr. Diabetes cartoon series and maybe even produce a movie.

"It will always have action and be fun to look at, but it will also be educational," Kamaal explained. "We always want to have a message."

That message could only come from a hero like Omega Boy—or from Kamaal himself—while fighting Dr. Diabetes.

"You control the disease," said Kamaal. "Don't let it control you."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.