CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes
Mira was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 2015 when she was just seven months old. Because she was diagnosed so young, Mira does not remember life without diabetes. For her parents, the diagnosis was a rollercoaster of emotions. They were in shock, especially because no one else in the family lives with type 1 diabetes. Mira was the first. At such a young age, it was difficult to comprehend, and it brought a lot of questions and uncertainty. Mira’s endocrinologists have shared that she is the youngest patient they have ever encountered to be diagnosed at BC Children’s Hospital.
One of Mira’s biggest daily challenges is something many kids living with diabetes know well, the waiting. Mira has to wait before eating so insulin has time to work, and that can be especially hard when she sees friends, classmates, and cousins eating right away. Mira does her best to live life as normally as possible, and unless she tells someone, most people would not even know she is living with diabetes.
Mira also wants others to understand something important. Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar. Like many people living with T1D, she has experienced moments where others assume the wrong things about diabetes, and she hopes her story helps correct misconceptions and reduce stigma.
Wearing an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor gives Mira more freedom to do the things she loves without always worrying about her blood sugar levels. Still, explaining these life-saving medical devices to people who do not understand can sometimes feel difficult. Mira is learning how to be confident and proud of the tools that help keep her safe.
Mira is incredibly proud of how she handles the big emotions that can come with highs and lows. She is proud of her resilience and her strength, even on the hard days. Her message to others is comforting and hopeful. You are not alone. Do not be afraid to ask questions and reach out for support. With help from family, friends, and your medical team, you can still do anything you want to do.
Mira loves to dream big. When she grows up, she wants to be a chef or a police officer. She has traveled internationally several times and has enjoyed adventures like theme parks and beach trips. Diabetes always requires extra planning, but Mira goes with the flow and does not let it stop her from doing the things she loves.
Mira is modeling in the Pump Couture Fashion Show to raise awareness, help change the conversation about living with diabetes, and support D-Camps.
#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma
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