CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes
Arsaima was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just one year old, which means she does not remember life without it. What she does remember is growing up feeling different. She attended a private school where she was one of only three Black students and the only student living with diabetes. From a young age, she struggled to understand why she was treated differently, from being singled out by teachers during playtime to having carbohydrate counts written on her lunches when no one else did. These moments made diabetes feel incredibly isolating.
At the time, social media, online communities, and devices like continuous glucose monitors did not exist, making it hard for Arsaima to find others who shared her experience. As she grew older, she found it difficult to explain the constant ups and downs of diabetes — how blood sugar can spike just from waking up, crash after correcting, and take a physical and mental toll. Even activities she loves, like walking, require planning due to the risk of low blood sugar. The daily mental load of diabetes, with thousands of decisions that others never have to make, can be exhausting.
In the past, Arsaima struggled with control and carried resentment toward her diagnosis, often feeling weak or judged. Over time, her mindset shifted. She realized she could not fight diabetes, but could learn to work with it. Living with diabetes taught her to recognize patterns, understand her body, and appreciate her health journey.
One of Arsaima’s personal goals was to lower her A1C from 14 to a healthier range. Through perseverance and hard work, she lowered it to 6.9 and is now working toward 6.5. Building community has also become important to her. She often connects with others living with diabetes, even stopping strangers if she notices they share similar devices. Those moments remind her that she is not alone.
Today, Arsaima is proud of how far she has come. Diabetes has shaped her resilience and strength, but it does not define her. She hopes her story helps others feel seen, supported, and less alone.
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