Meet Julia

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2004 and it's hard to believe that was over two decades ago. In many ways, it feels like I’m just getting started, yet in others, it seems as though diabetes has been part of my life for centuries. Being a mere mortal, this paradox doesn’t quite make sense. I often think that in past lives, I might have escaped diabetes, only to be burdened by something else. Because if it weren’t diabetes, it would almost certainly be something different. That’s just human nature. And that’s really the point—diabetes is my “something.” We all have our own challenges. I didn’t always view it this way, but thankfully, time grants us perspective, experience, and healing if we let it, which can significantly impact our lives with chronic illness.

When I was first diagnosed in January of 2004, I remember feeling sorry for myself. I had just celebrated my 10^th birthday and didn’t feel quite like myself. I was irritable, tired, and moody, experiencing unexplained weight loss, frequent bathroom trips at night, and an insatiable thirst. I had many of the classic warning signs of type 1 diabetes. When my mom took me to the doctor, it became clear I wasn’t just dealing with the flu or a bug. My home life was okay and I was too young to be going through puberty, so what was going on? The doctor took a blood glucose reading, which came back overwhelmingly high, confirming my diagnosis. With solemness, she sat my mom and me down to deliver the results. My mom cried and I didn’t yet understand why, nor could I fathom what I would experience in the following week—lying in a hospital bed with an IV in my arm, clinging to Rufus the Bear, spending most of my time learning about diabetes and my new life. What a ride it was. This diagnosis changed my timeline, or perhaps set it in stone.

Diabetes became a constant annoyance, like a check engine light I couldn’t turn off and an alarm I couldn’t silence. I cried for weeks in the back of my favorite teacher’s classroom, mourning the life I thought I would have and the one I still struggled to understand. Even today, I still don’t fully comprehend it, but I’ve made peace with that. It took me a while to reach the acceptance phase of grief and to be honest, it still ebbs and flows. My journey with type 1 diabetes has not been linear—no progress in life ever is. Without those ebbs and flows, we wouldn’t grow as individuals, within our communities, or as members of society.

Now, as a woman in my 30s, I’ve found comfort in not knowing. I’ve found opportunity in uncertainty. The truth is, no matter how much we plan, there are so many elements beyond our control. Control is merely a perception. The only aspects we can truly control are our perspectives, emotions, and motivations. Yet, I believe it's still possible to influence my situation. I manage my blood sugar levels by incorporating regular walks, following a mindful nutrition plan, spending time with friends and family, and pursuing creative projects that fulfill me. All these elements contribute to my overall health and wellbeing.

Accepting what is within my control has unlocked me and allowed me to fuel my sense of purpose. Likewise, it has helped me realize that type 1 diabetes doesn’t control me either. Time, experience, and perspective have given me the grace to live comfortably with type 1 diabetes. While I can’t say that life with this condition gets easier as you age, I can say that if you are willing to lean into it and find ways to make it work for you, managing it becomes easier. When you learn to be the adult caretaker your child self with type 1 diabetes needed, life becomes much more comforting, even with a chronic illness. And that’s the best thing we can ask of ourselves.

I am living proof that type 1 diabetes doesn’t have to hold you back. Throughout high school, I dedicated myself to participating in nearly every extracurricular activity related to the performing arts, often playing lead roles in school plays and musicals. I don’t recall ever feeling limited or scared about having low blood sugar during a performance. Instead, I felt energized by the opportunity to immerse myself in a character.

As a young speaker and group performer, I qualified for global and national competitions. After high school, I went on to college and then lived independently on the east coast for several years. I even interviewed Sabrina Carpenter long before she became well-known at a Z-100 Jingle Ball red carpet event. She was genuinely lovely! I have traveled internationally, and in 2019, I spoke in front of an audience of 200 at a Change.org All Team Retreat, where I emphasized the importance of insulin accessibility. For over a decade, I have contributed numerous articles and resources to the diabetes community. They remain my top priority in most of what I do as a professional.

I manage my household, maintain a relationship with my boyfriend, care for two pets, and navigate a full-time job while pursuing ongoing education and enjoying my hobbies. So while I may not be limitless—no human is—I work well within my limitations. And while I have acknowledged many of the flows in my life, there have also been many ebbs. And they were equally important. There have been many challenges in my life that have shaped who I am and they will continue to influence me throughout my journey. Failures provide opportunities for growth in character and knowledge. For those of us impacted by diabetes, we understand there will be lows in many aspects of life, but equally, there will be highs and wonderful moments.

The moral of the story is that everything is possible with type 1 diabetes if you believe it can be. And remember, you are worth believing in.