Ciara Sharpe

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes

Ciara was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on July 7, 2015, just after finishing kindergarten. At the time, she was absolutely terrified and had no real understanding of what was happening to her. Everything felt unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and overwhelming, and it took a long time before she was able to come to terms with her diagnosis. As she grew older, Ciara learned how to live with diabetes rather than letting it control her life, which helped her manage it in the best way she can.

One of Ciara’s biggest ongoing challenges is the constant monitoring that diabetes requires. Even when she feels prepared and has everything planned, things do not always go as expected. Blood sugars can change quickly, devices can malfunction, and unexpected situations can throw off an entire day, creating stress and frustration. That lack of predictability can be especially difficult, but Ciara continues to adapt and move forward.

Living with diabetes has made Ciara stronger and more confident. It has pushed her to develop resilience at a young age and has opened doors to opportunities she never imagined having. She is deeply grateful for the experiences diabetes has brought into her life and the strength it continues to build in her each day.

Outside of diabetes, Ciara loves playing sports and staying active. She dreams of one day having four kids, and she hopes to show them that it is okay to be scared and okay for things to be hard. She believes that nothing worthwhile is ever easy, and that every day you show up and keep going, you grow stronger.

Ciara is modeling in the Pump Couture Fashion Show to raise awareness and help change the conversation around diabetes. She wants to show others that while diabetes is part of her life, it does not define who she is or limit what she can achieve.

#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma