From the author: Living with diabetes since age 4 has been far from easy. Yet, I don’t look back at my life and see my diagnosis as a setback, quite the opposite actually. It has been my single most powerful motivator to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life. Diabetes has shaped me into the person I am today and I couldn’t be more thankful for it. What you may hear about kids and adults living with type 1 is that while they have a disease, they can still do everything a “normal” person can. This statement has always left a bad taste in my mouth. Diabetes is MUCH more than a burden. It’s more than just a barrier to push through to make it to the realm of “normal.” Your diagnosis DOES NOT have to be something that holds you back in life. It can be what sets you apart and makes you EXTRAORDINARY. My diabetes has pushed me to far surpass normal and jump headfirst into an exceptional life with exceptional successes (and failures) along the way. With this book, instead of dwelling on the negatives of life with type 1, I chose to highlight the many amazing perks, explain the skills one builds while living with type 1, and share the stories of some amazing young individuals who embody them. Seeing diabetes through a positive lens has allowed me to truly thrive, and through sharing others’ stories and mine, I aim to help you do the same.