Sunday, November 17, 2013

Our T1 Youth

Roommates dressed up for World Diabetes Day 2013
In the past four years I have met some pretty awesome people, but more so, some really great youth living with type 1 diabetes.  I find it fascinating as I see youth taking charge, believing in volunteerism, spreading messages and fully engaged in awareness and education. When I was their ages, I was not thinking of ways to raise money to make a difference nor was I going out of my way to teach others about a particular cause or issue. Diabetes has given these youth an opportunity to become passionate as much as diabetes is a burden in their lives.

I've grown incredibly excited for what the future has to offer for type 1 diabetic youth.  As I meet more and more youth living with type 1 I realize that they have so much potential in truly making a difference in the diabetes community. It is a breath of fresh air knowing that they want to make change.  I don't know what it is like living with diabetes as a child nor a teen.  I was diagnosed not long before my 19th birthday, and I had finished high school already.

Even though what I go through on a daily basis with site changes, carb counting and finger poking is similar to what children and teens experience, the disease affects people in many different ways.  I cannot imagine being a youth with type 1 diabetes, but most of them could not imagine what their future will look like and I am so excited to be the one to show them that it will be just like anyone else's future, maybe even brighter.

I really think that there are some strong leaders arising in the type 1 diabetes community, I see
potential and honestly, anything I can do to make them succeed, I will do.  I am so proud to be apart of such an uplifting, tight community.