CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes
Sophie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on June 1, 2024, when she was five years old and in kindergarten. At the time, she did not understand why it was happening. It only began to feel real when she returned to school and had to explain to her friends why she wore a pouch with supplies and juice boxes, and why adults needed to help her when her phone alerted them.
One of Sophie’s biggest challenges is managing diabetes during school and activities. She hates having to sit out or miss out on fun when she is low and needs help. She also feels sad when treats come around and she cannot have them because her blood sugar is already high. At school, she sometimes has to watch other kids enjoy snacks while she cannot have the same things in the moment.
Living with diabetes has shaped Sophie’s confidence in a powerful way. She wants others to know that the devices she wears do not define her. Sophie competes in dance and cheer competitions and wears her insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor with pride. She has also learned that it takes strength to answer questions and help others understand what living with diabetes looks like. Sophie wants people around her to see that she is normal, and that diabetes does not take that away.
Something unique about Sophie is that her mom also lives with T1D and was diagnosed at the age of 13. Together, they help each other with medical device changes, and their bond is strengthened by shared understanding.
Sophie is modeling in the Pump Couture Fashion Show to help change the conversation about diabetes and reduce stigma through visibility. Her message to someone newly diagnosed is that most people do not understand diabetes and may ask silly questions. It is okay to correct misinformation. For those supporting someone with diabetes, she encourages giving grace and giving space. She believes people living with diabetes should not feel crowded by too much attention.
#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma
CHANGEMAKER SPONSORS
