Rachel Rook

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes

Rachael was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the age of nine, immediately after returning from a two-week Spring Break road trip to Disneyland with her family. One of the biggest signs was something she remembers vividly: being the youngest of nine people packed into an RV, and somehow drinking more water than all of them combined. She also remembers eating more than usual while in Disneyland, yet losing 14 pounds over the trip. When the diagnosis came, it was a huge change, but Rachael reflects on that time with surprising positivity. Even though she had never met another person living with diabetes and did not know what it meant, she knew it was not her fault, and she saw it as something that made her unique in a good way.

From the very beginning, Rachael approached diabetes with independence and determination. She was excited to learn and insisted on doing everything herself. In fact, the day after her diagnosis, she began giving herself her own injections. She was so committed to being independent that her parents never gave her a single injection. Looking back, it was a lot of responsibility for a nine-year-old, but it also revealed something that still defines her today: resilience, capability, and an unwavering belief that she can learn and follow through, even when things feel overwhelming.

Today, diabetes technology helps make management much more manageable, and Rachael has lived with T1D for over half of her life. In many ways, diabetes has become built into her routine and identity, something she often manages subconsciously. Still, there are challenges most people never see. Rachael always carries a purse full of backup supplies and juice boxes. She always has a medical device attached to her. She also lives with the fear of forgetting supplies, especially in an emergency. High and low blood sugars can also happen at the most inconvenient times, and managing them becomes an extra layer of planning, particularly before a big event or performance.

Outside of diabetes, Rachael is a natural leader with a strong passion for fashion and community. She is the President of the Fashion Club at UBC. She ran for the position without overthinking what it would require, and after nearly a year in the role, she is incredibly proud of how she has led a large and diverse team of talented individuals. Under her leadership, the club has experienced significant internal and external growth, and she has proven she can take on big challenges and thrive.

Rachael also speaks passionately about the impact of D-Camps. She strongly recommends D-Camps and says it helped shape her life in a meaningful way. She met her best friend at camp when she was 14, and more than seven years later, they are still best friends. The bonds she formed at camp were unique because everyone shared an understanding that did not require explanation. Camp was also a place where she felt completely normal, surrounded by others who truly understand life with diabetes.

Rachael is modeling in the Pump Couture Fashion Show to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and support D-Camps. Her message is empowering and full of perspective. Diabetes is something you live with now, but you are still you. It can become a kind of superpower, teaching independence, responsibility, and self-empowerment. You do not have to limit yourself in any way because of diabetes. Anything is possible.

#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma