Jennifer has not had one full night of sleep in the past 10 years. What began as a doctor’s visit in 2005 for a rash ended in the diagnosis of type one diabetes (T1D) for her six-year-old daughter Alexis.

At that visit, Alexis’ pediatrician did a urine analysis in which they found ketones and a subsequent blood test revealed sugar levels at 576 mg/dL.

“At the time, that number meant nothing to us. We didn’t know anything about diabetes. It was by complete accident we found out this was even something Alexis was dealing with,” said Jennifer.

Jennifer acknowledged that her family did not know what symptoms to look for, and it wasn’t until the benefit of hindsight they realized Alexis showed signs. Even just prior to the doctor appointment, while searching for a lunchbox for school, Alexis had to use the restroom at every store. She exhibited signs of excessive thirst. They just did not recognize them as problematic.

From the doctor’s office, Alexis was admitted to University of Michigan where she stayed for three days. Alexis remembers being provided with Rufus, the Bear with Diabetes® to practice administering insulin shots..

Recalling her first shot: “The nurse said, ‘Are you ready for this?’ And I remember telling her yes, to which she replied, ‘You’re already done. Wasn’t that easy?’”

When the hospital told Jennifer that Alexis could be discharged but that they were welcome to stay another day, Jennifer opted to stay to learn as much as possible about what to do.

“It was very scary! When we came home, I was counting all of her carbs right and doing everything they taught me, but I wanted to go back to the hospital where I knew she would be safer. I cried a lot,” said Jennifer. “Even letting her play outside with her friends was scary. What if she started going low and her friend didn’t notice?”

Alexis, now 16, agreed, “It’s still scary.”

“People take T1D more lightly than what it is, thinking ‘You just check your blood sugar and count your carbs.’ But it’s more than that. Even if you live two days exactly the same, your body doesn’t react the same. You always have to check. You always have to be vigilant,” said Jennifer.

“Advances in technology have been so important. My pump has helped me so much because I can do much more than I thought than without it,” said Alexis.

For example, up until the past year, lulls in Alexis’ sugar at night did not wake her up, so Jennifer continues to check Alexis each night while she’s sleeping. Though Alexis is on a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM), the alarm does not wake Alexis up. Still, the CGM makes it easier for Jennifer to check Alexis during the night because she can review the monitor instead of having to set up her kit and poke her.

Still, Alexis feels like she can do anything anyone else can and doesn’t let T1D hold her back. She plays varsity soccer, works out and has hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon twice.

“Advances in technology have been so important. My pump has helped me so much because I can do much more than I thought than without it,” said Alexis.

This is the reason Jennifer and Alexis have participated in the Breakthrough T1D One Walk every year for the past decade. Their first walk, under the team name Lexie’s Cure, occurred within a month of Alexis’ diagnosis.

“I thought it would help Alexis to get involved and meet other kids who were just like her,” said Jennifer.

In their peak year, Lexie’s Cure had more than 20 members; their core family members continue to participate every year. Including the $3,000 they’ve raised so far this year, Lexie’s Cure has collectively raised more than $38,000 to help Breakthrough T1D fund the necessary research to cure, treat and prevent T1D.

“The thing that keeps me going is all the support I get from friends and family,” said Alexis.

The Breakthrough T1D Metro Detroit/Southeastern Michigan Chapter will host more than 5,000 advocates at the GM Tech Center in Metro Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 and more than 2,500 supporters at Hudson Mills Metropark near Ann Arbor on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015.