See our community. See T1D.

Imagine a world where everyone understood what it means to live with type 1 diabetes (T1D). That’s our goal every November for Diabetes Awareness Month: to create a global movement that shines a light on T1D and the resilient people who face it.

Building awareness and understanding about T1D is more important than ever. When we see T1D, we move closer to life-changing breakthroughs in research, advocacy, and support—helping people with T1D live fuller, healthier lives as we drive toward cures.

Together, our stories change how people see T1D.

Sonia Sotomayor Lives with T1D & United States Supreme Court Justice

Sonia Sotomayor

Lives with T1D & United States Supreme Court Justice

“[People living with T1D] bring more to the world than people who don’t have conditions. We have greater tenacity. We have greater strength. We have greater courage. We should be darn proud of ourselves.”

Matt Edgington Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Ride Coach and Participant

Matt Edgington

Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Ride Coach and Participant

“As I started to ride more, everything just started to click: the better my blood sugar was, the better I was able to ride. The more I rode, the easier it was to control my blood sugar. Breakthrough T1D Ride became a revolving door that had a huge impact on my life.”

Princess Padmaja Kumari Parmar Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Global Ambassador

Princess Padmaja Kumari Parmar

Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Global Ambassador

“Growing up with this condition instilled in me a sense of discipline and responsibility that has remained present throughout my life. It taught me resilience, self-awareness, and the importance of self-care—lessons that extend far beyond managing blood sugar levels.”

Phyllis Kaplan Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

Phyllis Kaplan

Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

“Every time I meet a newly diagnosed child or talk to a parent managing T1D with tools my parents couldn’t have dreamed of 50 years ago, I’m reminded why this work matters. We’ve come so far, and the future is even brighter.”

Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D. Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D CEO

Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D.

Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D CEO

“The one thing that I always say to people is the best advice my parents gave my brother and me is, ‘You’ll do anything your friends do, and more.’”

Lauren Raiche T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

Lauren Raiche

T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

“We firmly believe that raising awareness and engaging with the community are essential steps toward making meaningful progress and, ultimately, achieving cures.”

Kris Leeper Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Influencer Partner

Kris Leeper

Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Influencer Partner

“The future of type 1 diabetes is bright. We are on the cusp of living longer, experiencing fewer complications, and enjoying a life without limits.”

Moira McCarthy T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

Moira McCarthy

T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

“We, just an average American family impacted by T1D, were able to lead, push, advocate, and win our way to access to smart devices like automated insulin delivery systems. We helped create a solution.”

Dennis Goldensohn Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Volunteer

Dennis Goldensohn

Lives with T1D & Breakthrough T1D Volunteer

“At heart, I’m still a 16-year-old kid from Brooklyn and can play stickball and sing doo-wop harmony on the street corner. I’m going to be here forever—that’s my attitude. Type 1 diabetes is still not getting in my way!”

Sam Glassenberg T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Play Advisory Council Member

Sam Glassenberg

T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Play Advisory Council Member

“To experience type 1 diabetes onboarding is…the most frustrating and punishing experience possible for the patient and caregiver alike. We’re improving T1D onboarding with a game that is actually fun to play, so no other parent has to go through this experience again.”

Natalie Stanback T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

Natalie Stanback

T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Advocate

“Giving visibility to an often-invisible condition like T1D has opened dialogue. It’s a conversation that isn’t always comfortable, but when minds are open and voices are heard, there is so much learning to be had.”

David Corsaro T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Walk Captain

David Corsaro

T1D Parent & Breakthrough T1D Walk Captain

“When we were connected with Breakthrough T1D, it was an awakening. We met people going through the same roller coaster of emotions that we were. We met people who told us, ‘We understand,’ in a way that our family and friends could not.”