Anna Marie Hughes

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 10, and this condition has shaped so much of my life. Over the years, I’ve faced more complications than I care to count—each one a reminder of the physical and emotional toll of this disease, but also of my determination to keep fighting.

The most difficult chapter came during the pandemic, when my son was diagnosed with Type 1 at just 2 years old. Managing my own health while learning how to care for his around-the-clock needs was overwhelming, heartbreaking, and life-changing. But it also gave me new purpose. I became determined to show him what living well with diabetes can look like.

Today, I live a much healthier lifestyle—one rooted in discipline, education, and self-advocacy. I’ve transformed how I manage this disease, and for the first time in years, I feel genuinely good. My most recent A1C was 5.5—a number I never thought I’d see.

This 25-year medal represents more than time—it represents endurance, growth, and a promise I’ve kept to myself and to my son: to never give up, to keep learning, and to keep living a life I’m proud of.