Amanda Laforet

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on September 17, 1999 with a blood sugar of 984. It has been a journey, no pun intended in the last 25 years to have the ability of MDI to pumping. I have learned so much a long the way, though life is not filled with rainbows and lollypops, there have been quite a few disadvantages as things have progressed, but much more positives out of the disadvantages and negatives. Through the amazing medical team I have had along this journey it has helped in so many ways with Diabetes because I have never once felt alone on the rollercoaster, no matter how many ups and downs I have and to physically face, I give a lot of credit to my first adult Endocrinologist who has since retired and my Endocrinologist I have been with since her Fellowship in Endocrinology. The professor + Endocrinologist she had was also my Endocrinologist who I do see on occasion. By having a supportive team, that support goes a long way to help ensure the success. Because of Type 1 I have had an increase in other autoimmune disorders to which I try and not let get me down, and I will admit there are days where Diabetes is rough. I suffer from Diabulimia and I have learned tools and techniques to help me navigate the real world with Type 1 and everything else I go through. A quote my grandmother always said was “We are Shoemakers and we have a steel rod in our backs.” I wear a cape of steel that I use to help navigate a rough moment and I look toward the brighter side of everything. I got to attend an amazing Diabetes conference, I am the Social Coordinator of my Type 1 Diabetic meet up group and I have gained a ton of friends through Type 1 Diabetes connections. Diabetes is not a day to day journey, but a second by second journey that I will continue to rise above like Phoenix getting a set of wings.