Fund A Cure with Danielle Long | Breakthrough T1D Greater New York YLC Rock the Cure 2025

About

I never thought my tiredness would lead to a challenging and life-changing diagnosis. In April of 2020, during the midst of a global pandemic, I went to get bloodwork done due to my extreme tiredness, which I thought was attributed to my medical history of low iron. I will never forget the phone call I received saying that my blood glucose level was in the 600s, and that I needed to go to the hospital immediately.

I was waiting on my flight to South Carolina from NYC to be around family during the pandemic when everything had shut down. I remember calling my mom crying and not really knowing what to do. I ate healthy and exercised regularly, but I soon found out that Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) was not attributed to lifestyle, but was an autoimmune disease that could happen to anyone at any age.

After my week-long hospitalization, my life changed forever. I did all the research I could do to figure out how I could live my best life with T1D. The only real image I saw of T1D was from my dad who passed away in 2017 from years of T1D complications due to lack of knowledge and understanding of this autoimmune condition. I wish I would’ve known about organizations like Breakthrough T1D where their mission is ultimately finding a cure, but also providing resources, research, and funding for people like me to live my best life possible.

I invite you to support me and others with type 1 diabetes by donating or attending Rock the Cure on May 15!