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.
We are so looking forward to hearing you speak here in Niagara :)
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