Jaimee Roy

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a month after I turned 17, during my senior year of high school. While my family was all living at home with me, they were preoccupied with the needs of my sibling, and I was forced to enter the diabetic journey on my own. It was scary, unknown, and felt very overwhelming. But, as with many hurdles in life, there was no use sitting down and throwing a pity party for myself (although I definitely did try!). I knew I had to figure it out – even if it was on my own – and make the best choices for me. I left for college half way across the country six months later. In the years since, I got married, had two beautiful, healthy children, and have been able to live an almost entirely “normal” life. But it wasn’t until about six years ago that I found a lifestyle solution that provided me with beautiful glucose readings and an A1c consistently around 5.7. I am very grateful for the technology of my t:slim X2 insulin pump and the connected Dexcom G6 system. I am grateful that I’ve experienced no real complications from the disease to this point. And I’m grateful that when I learned a better way to manage my T1D, I did better at managing it. I just passed my 29th Diaversary, and I’m looking ahead to many more. I want to see my two (now teenage) kids graduate high school, find themselves as adults, and thrive. I want to travel more. I want to live without excuses.