Meet Jill Folsom and Ian Joyce
For Jill Folsom and Ian Joyce, life with type 1 diabetes T1D is not just something they manage. It is a force that fuels their purpose. Their journey spans generations, roles, and nearly five decades of lived experience, but at its heart is one shared commitment. To build a future without T1D.
Ian has lived with T1D for almost 50 years. Jill’s journey began when her son Connor was diagnosed at just five years old. Together, their perspectives, one as a person living with T1D and the other as a caregiver, have shaped not only how they navigate daily life, but how they show up for a community they care deeply about.
Connor, Jill & Ian
A Community That Feels Like Family
For Jill and Ian, the T1D community is more than a cause. It is family.
Over the years, they have built lasting relationships and found a deep sense of purpose in giving back. Whether it is Walks, Rides, runs, galas, or advocacy efforts, they show up again and again with heart and determination.
Their connection to the mission runs so deep that it only seemed fitting to them, since they met through Breakthrough T1D, to get married the morning of the Breakthrough T1D Gala and then celebrate their wedding later that night at the event. It is a reflection of how closely their personal milestones and their passion for the cause are connected.
The Reality Behind the Scenes
While awareness of T1D has grown, Jill and Ian know there is still more for people to understand.
The reality is constant and often invisible, requiring both physical and mental endurance. Ian recalls sitting in business meetings, quietly hoping his continuous glucose monitor will not go off, knowing it could interrupt the moment and require explanation. It is a small, everyday experience that reflects the constant vigilance required to live with T1D.
They also challenge a common misconception that life saving tools like insulin, continuous glucose monitors, and insulin pumps are accessible to everyone. For many people across the United States, affordability and access to consistent, quality care remain real challenges.
Turning Passion into Impact
Jill and Ian do not just believe in the mission. They live it.
Together, they have completed 56 Rides, participated in countless Walks, ran a half marathon, attended numerous galas, and organized grassroots fundraisers. Every mile and every dollar raised reflects their belief that progress is driven by people who choose to show up.
This year, they are expanding their impact by piloting a new fundraising initiative called Breakthrough at the Border. This effort brings together participants from New York and across the country to strengthen community and accelerate progress.
“Too many people want T1D cured but stay on the sidelines, they say. We refuse to do that.”
Hope for the Future
Despite the challenges, Jill and Ian remain hopeful.
They have witnessed remarkable advances in T1D research over the past 50 years, and they believe the momentum has never been stronger. Ian can imagine a future where he removes his insulin pump within his lifetime. For the next generation, they believe that future may be even closer.
Living Without Limits
Outside of their advocacy, Jill and Ian lead full and accomplished lives. Jill is a nurse practitioner and college professor, bringing both expertise and lived experience into her work with patients and students. Ian serves as the COO of a health nonprofit, continuing his commitment to improving lives on a broader scale.
“Do not accept the limitations others place on you, he says. I have spent my life proving them wrong.”
Perhaps most inspiring is Ian’s belief in possibility. Despite skepticism from doctors and peers, he became a licensed pilot, logging more than 150 flights and proving that T1D would never define his limits.
More Than a Diagnosis
For Jill and Ian, T1D is part of their story, but it does not define it.
They have seen what is possible when people refuse to let a diagnosis limit their goals, dreams, or sense of purpose. Through advocacy, community, and determination, they continue to move forward, not just for themselves, but for everyone impacted by T1D.
For Jill and Ian, this is not just a cause.
It is a mission, and they are all in.