Getting diagnosed with T1D at the age of 11 was difficult. So difficult that I said I would never pursue a career in diabetes due to a fear of burnout both in my personal and professional life. But after a year of being miserable from denying my diagnosis, I finally felt ready to join the community. I attended my first Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Walk where I met other people facing the same struggles. I've met so many inspiring members of the T1D community that have motivated me to innovate to make living with diabetes safer. Diabetes impacts everything I do, from sleeping to socializing to studying. I especially felt this burden when I was living alone at college. I struggled with frequent low blood sugars but was not sharing my blood sugar with anyone. This pain led me to start developing Daia, and app that gives diabetics more control in who they share their blood sugar with, and when they share it. Daia texts emergency contacts the diabetic's blood sugar, location, information on how to use the glucagon, and more, so they know exactly how to help during a low! Outside of Daia, I have been involved through researching stem cell re-education as a potential T1D cure in Dr. Yong Zhao's laboratory when he was a part of Hackensack Meridian Health and am on the leadership team of Breakthrough T1D's Young Adult Advocacy Council. I'm excited to continue to volunteer, advocate, and, most importantly, innovate within the diabetic community!

Type one diabetes impacts everything I do. From schoolwork to sports to socializing to even just sleeping, I am constantly worried about keeping my blood sugar within a healthy range. It is an endless struggle and I never get a break. When I was first diagnosed, I found this daily uphill battle to be too much for me, and I wanted to think about the disease as little as possible. But as time went on, I got better at my management and became more connected with the T1D community. This is what truly inspired me to want to give back and help support others who live with this autoimmune disorder. Advocacy is so important. We need to use our voices and share our stories so that the people in power know how urgent it is to provide affordable healthcare and policies that make sense for the people who will be affected by them. In 2019, I took part in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Children’s Congress, where I went to Washington D.C. to meet with my congressional representatives to advocate for increased funding for diabetes research. Since then I regularly meet with my local policymakers and have spoken at televised press conferences about why it is so important to cap the cost of insulin, a life-saving drug that should be accessible to anyone who needs it. Aside from advocacy, another important aspect of living with T1D is being a part of the community. I often help plan and run local educational events. Through JDRF I was a Youth Advocacy Leader where I volunteered and spoke about my T1D experiences at fundraising walks. I am now on the leadership team for their new Advocates in Action program that seeks to promote engagement and advocacy in young adults impacted by T1D. My newly diagnosed 11-year-old self would have never considered a career even remotely related to diabetes; I thought that I dealt with the disease enough in my personal life. But these experiences have allowed me to truly find my passion for health care, especially in the field of diabetes. I am currently developing Daia, which is an app to help with managing blood sugar levels, especially during difficult situations. If you are working out, going to a sleepover, going to a party, or going to be in any situation where you are concerned about your blood sugar, Daia allows you to share your blood sugar and location with select emergency contacts for a designated period of time. If your blood sugar does drop dangerously low, the user’s phone will display relevant medical information so somebody near them who may know nothing about diabetes can hopefully help them out. There are times when I am tired and overwhelmed. While my struggle has made me stronger, it is still just that - a struggle. Despite this, I am motivated by my support system and my desire to improve the lives of other diabetics which allows me to make my pain productive and hopefully make a difference in the world of diabetes and beyond.