When people think about type 1 diabetes (T1D), they often picture devices and insulin. What they do not always see is the full person behind the diagnosis. The dancer. The leader. The teenager balancing school, friendships, and a condition that never takes a break.
Meet Brooke, a sophomore, class president, dancer, and member of the T1D community who shows us that life with T1D is about far more than what meets the eye.
A diagnosis that changed everything
Brooke was just seven years old when her life changed through a T1D diagnosis on November 8, 2017. Before diagnosis, the signs were there but easy to miss.
“Those few months before was when I had started to become sick. I was eating a lot of food and drinking lots of water (which also caused me to go to the bathroom a lot). My mom thought I was just going through a growth spurt since I had always been a tiny child.”
After three days of stomach pain and losing weight despite eating more than normal, a visit to the doctor quickly became an emergency.
“They tested my blood sugar and ketones. A few minutes later the doctor told us I needed to be rushed to the ER immediately because of high glucose levels and high ketones.”
Brooke, at 44 pounds with a blood sugar over 600, spent three days in the ICU where ice chips and sugar free Jell-O were all she could manage to eat. She later moved to the children’s ward, where she and her family began learning how to manage T1D through finger pricks and insulin shots.
“My small fingertips had purple bruises all over them from the constant finger pricks.”
Brooke left the hospital with the tools to manage her T1D and one lasting reminder of those early days, she still cannot eat Jell-O.
After consistent management, Brooke was able to add a continuous glucose monitor about three to four months after diagnosis, and two and a half years later she received her first insulin pump.
What people do not always see
From the outside, T1D may look manageable. But Brooke explains that the emotional weight can be just as real as the physical work.
“One thing I wish people understood about living with type 1 diabetes is that it’s so much more than what you see on the surface. Type 1 diabetes is a constant 24/7 monitoring that takes a lot of effort.”
Even with support, there can still be loneliness.
“Friends and family members of people with type 1 diabetes can be so supportive and helpful. The hardest part about all of that is the loneliness you still will feel. They can help and support you all that they can, but they will never know what you go through. For me, feeling like my friends or family not knowing what I’m going through can be lonely. I think more people need to understand that T1D is so much more than what they see.”
More than diabetes
T1D is part of Brooke’s story, but it is far from the whole story.
“I love being busy! Most of my time is spent dancing. I’ve been dancing for almost 13 years.”
She is also deeply involved in leadership at school as she works through her fifth year on student council and is halfway through her time as sophomore class president. Beyond school and dance, Brooke loves choreographing and performing in musicals, spending time with family and friends, and staying connected. She also loves the ocean, pink, butterflies, sea turtles, bows, TikTok, hearts, reading, and anything High School Musical.
And while T1D brings challenges, it has also brought something meaningful into her life.
“Overall, even though type 1 diabetes can be challenging, there are sometimes when I love it so much. I love the people I’ve met through the community and the friendships I’ve made, I love having the knowledge to educate people about T1D, and I love that it makes me unique. Type 1 diabetes is something so special to me and I love being able to be someone who can show the positive sides of type 1 diabetes.”
You are not alone
Brooke’s story is a powerful reminder that while T1D is a 24/7 job, no one should have to face it alone. Community matters. Connection matters. Feeling seen matters.
We invite you to connect with the Desert West Chapter of Breakthrough T1D to find support, attend upcoming events, and build friendships with others who understand life with T1D.
Visit BreakthroughT1D.org/desertwest to learn more and get connected. Together, we do not just see T1D. We see the incredible people living full, vibrant lives with it.
