Meet Ginny: Living Life to the Fullest with Type 1 Diabetes

I was diagnosed at the age of 6. I was scratched by a dog and the wound just wouldn't heal. Along with weight loss and excessive thirst, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I still lived as a "normal" kid, climbing trees, bike riding, swimming, and playing ball, but I had to take daily shots to stay alive. I credit my mom who raised me as a single parent for her support and love that allowed me to be a kid, an adolescent, and an adult that lived normally with type 1 diabetes.

I graduated high school, went to college, studied pharmacy, went to grad school, and worked as a clinical pharmacist in the CCU. I also was involved with diabetes care meetings, and patient and medical staff education. I've been wearing an insulin pump for almost 30 years and loving how far we've come (from boiling glass syringes and peeing on Tes-Tape).

Now retired, I can really enjoy hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering. I love climbing peaks and summiting high points. I can frequently be found in humid and sub-zero temps, local mountains, and distant mountains doing my climbs while living an amazing life with T1D!