By: Sarah Hathaway On October 10th, 2022 I earned my Life rank in Scouts BSA and began focusing on what was once a faraway goal: Eagle Scout. I had some ideas for my project and I knew I wanted to do something that means a lot to me and benefits as many people as possible; this led me to think about the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. I am an advocate for the organization and I know CDF has made an impact on others just like me so I was hoping I could come up with a plan to help families affected by T1D. I reached out to the Community Engagement Manager, Sydney. I believe that she was really ..read more

My name is Gracie Lambrecht and I have been living with type 1 diabetes for 12 of the 16 years of my life. Even though I lived for a few years T1D-less, I can’t remember a life without it and while I wish I could say it’s been a walk in the park to deal with, it most definitely has not. As a kid, the burden of pricking fingers, changing pump sites, and treating low blood sugars at midnight was not something that I was really tasked with handling. My parents took the responsibility of my diabetes care so I could be as “normal” of a kid as I could be. As I got older, I began taking more respons ..read more

By Lori Finch As parents, the only thing we can be sure of is change. This is especially true as you send your child off to college. However, when you send your type 1 child off to college, these changes could result in death. Every type 1 parent knows that this statement is not an exaggeration. All parents worry about the usual college issues like academic stress, roommate issues, sleep patterns, eating habits, and alcohol and drug use. Type 1 parents also have the added worries of blood glucose levels, insulin management, and DKA just to name a few.nnSo, what is a type 1 parent to do? Up unt ..read more

By Gavin Volden Hi, my name is Gavin and I am 11 years old. I have lived with type 1 diabetes for seven years. Living with type 1 diabetes is very hard because no one understands what it’s like.nnLiving with type 1 diabetes is hard because you have to get insulin and it makes me feel shaky and out of this world. Sometimes when I am low, I don’t feel good and when I am high I get hot and it is hard to focus. When my blood sugar isn’t high or low, I feel great! I also wear cool devices.nnI wear an Omnipod 5 insulin pump and a Dexcom and they help manage my blood sugars and keep me healthy. The O ..read more

It’s important to know that Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are extremely different diseases. While they both deal with insulin and the body, their causes and treatments are very different.nnType 1 diabetics CANNOT make their own insulin. Type 1 is a genetic, auto-immune disease. It is thought that type 1 is present in the body’s genetic code and then it presents at various times. Basically meaning, it’s lying there in wait and decides to show itself at various ages. The majority of type 1 patients get diagnosed in their childhood and when they are adolescents, however it can happen later in life a ..read more

by Ellie Hampton Like my mother and my grandmother before me, I started tumbling when I was 3. Throughout pre-diagnosis, I was just like any other kid without a care in the world. I was making new friends and learning a new hobby that I have grown to love.  Tumbling for me has become a part of my life that makes me very happy and excited but has also had its challenges throughout my diagnosis.  Diabetes is a struggle with normal daily activities but even more so with any type of physical activity. My experience with it is that if my blood sugar is low I feel shaky, my vision changes ..read more

By Kerry McCawley   I have been a type one diabetic since I was 21 months old, and I’ve dealt with many ups and downs with my disease. Everyone, from family to doctors, has told me about the possible complications of diabetes, such as retinopathy and loss of limb. Still, no one really discussed depression with me. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “People with diabetes are 2 to 3 times more likely to have depression than people without diabetes. Only 25% to 50% of people with diabetes who have depression get diagnosed and treated.” With this big of a number, I ..read more

  My name is Mattison Leva (Matti) and I am 11 years old. I live in Colorado Springs, CO. Shortly after I turned 11 and just a couple of weeks into the fifth grade, I was diagnosed with T1D. After my family and I noticed some of the symptoms at home (thirst, fatigue, hunger, weight loss) my pediatrician took our concerns seriously, and shortly thereafter I was admitted to Children’s Hospital with DKA. Upon returning home, I have taken a hands-on approach to my new life with T1D. I actively participate in the day-to-day management of my diabetes and with the help of my family have been ab ..read more

by Brittany Volden Children with type 1 diabetes can play sports, just like everyone else. My son Gavin, who lives with type 1 diabetes, began riding dirt bikes 4 years ago. I asked Gavin why he likes riding dirt bike and he said, “I love riding dirt bikes because it is just so fun! Nothing else matters. I just ride.” When Gavin is on his bike, he isn’t thinking about diabetes. He isn’t thinking about carb counting or site changes. Dirt bike riding is an extreme sport that gives him some sort of control over his life. I think the reason he enjoys that is because there is so much that he is no ..read more

Navigating the life of a chronic disease is no easy feat. Whether you are a father with type 1 diabetes or a father of a child with type one diabetes, we appreciate you! In honor of Father’s Day, some of our CDF advocates have written blurbs about how their father has supported them with diabetes care and/or how he helps in everyday life!  Chesney, CDF Advocate I love that my dad and I play golf. He always supports me. My dad makes sure that my diabetes is great. My dad is helpful, My dad is kind, and my dad is smart. I think my dad is the best dad in the world! My dad teaches me to keep ..read more