Brooks Roche

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes

Brooks was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 2001. Twenty‑five years later, he reflects on how life changed from those early, foggy years before his diagnosis. What he remembers most from that time is the sense of freedom to eat, play, act, or simply exist without the constant planning and worry that diabetes brings.



Living with T1D added a layer of anxiety that never fully disappears. Managing diabetes means always calculating, always assessing risks, and always carrying an awareness of what highs and lows can do to the body. Even when he appears calm, there is a steady undercurrent of fear that comes with knowing the consequences of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Over time, being in these states so often takes a real toll.

Despite these challenges, diabetes has changed Brooks in meaningful and positive ways. It has helped him become more self‑aware and more empathetic. It has made him a better friend, a stronger advocate, and someone who forms powerful connections with others through shared experience.

In 2025, Brooks achieved a longtime personal goal when he established a scholarship for Prince Edward Island students living with a chronic disease. The very first recipient was another person with T1D from his hometown, something that made the achievement even more special.

Brooks is participating in the Pump Couture Fashion Show to raise awareness and to highlight the real and often unseen mental work that comes with living with diabetes. His message to others living with T1D is honest and grounded. You can probably accomplish a lot in life, but sometimes the path will simply be tougher. Acknowledging that truth doesn’t limit you. It empowers you.

#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma