Submitted by Sarah Gibson, President of Dawgs for Diabetes

Dawgs for Diabetes (D4D) is a student run organization at the University of Georgia and we are a chapter of the national College Diabetes Network (CDN). Our mission is to provide information to the community about diabetes and support for those living with and affected by diabetes.

Along with education, we support and raise money for local non- profit diabetes organizations. Our biggest event is the award winning “The Campus Tour: A Diabetes Perspective” in October. It gives high school students the opportunity to learn about the transition to college by participating on Q&A panels and taking a walking tour throughout the UGA campus. I am the passionate president of this organization and am honored to have been able to change people’s lives through this organization’s involvement in the diabetes community.

D4D is involved in Breakthrough T1D’s annual Athens One Walk, formerly the Walk to Cure Diabetes, by not only raising money but by proving entertainment for the walkers to ensure a wonderful day. Along with the One Walk, Dawgs for Diabetes has been involved with the TypeOneNation Summit  as a resource for information, insight, and encouragement for upcoming college students. We are excited to tell people about D4D and facilitate discussion on teen panels!

At the TypeOneNation Summit on March 19^th, we will be panelists in the “Transitioning to College” workshop and are most excited to answer questions about transitioning with type 1 diabetes. In addition, we will spend the entire day in teen-only sessions. We hope to inspire them to start new CDN chapters and/or be a part of an existing chapter. The bond a chapter has is unexplainable and we want to be able to join more to our family!

The TypeOneNation Summit and events like our Campus Tour are great opportunities to ask questions (and hear questions) and get honest, real-life answers. The information you gain will help to prepare for the transition ahead of time rather than stressing out the week before you pack the car to move to campus! These events also create a network that you can reach out to when in need or have questions.

We hope you will come meet us at the TypeOneNation Summit!

To register and explore other workshop options, click HERE.