For Nikki DeFruscio, the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community has always been more than a support network. It’s a place of belonging. Diagnosed with T1D at just two years old, Nikki has spent nearly her entire life navigating the realities of the condition while helping others feel seen, understood, and connected along the way.
Living with T1D has taught Nikki that there is often a gap between what people think diabetes is and what it actually involves. One of the biggest misconceptions she encounters is the belief that T1D is easily managed through a strict diet and insulin alone. In reality, diabetes management is far more complex.
“There are 42 factors that affect blood sugar,” Nikki explains. “Food is just a drop in the bucket.”
She also wishes more people understood the mental and emotional weight that comes with a chronic illness. Even after doing everything “right,” blood sugar levels don’t always cooperate. It’s a reality familiar to many people living with T1D and one that highlights the constant unpredictability of the condition.
Despite those challenges, Nikki has found strength through community. As an adult, she noticed that opportunities to connect with others living with T1D weren’t always easy to find. Determined to change that, she became involved in helping create spaces where people could share their experiences, learn from one another, and simply feel understood.
One of her proudest accomplishments has been helping start the chapter’s Looped In meetings for adults with T1D. What began as a way to build community for herself quickly became something much bigger.
“Starting the Looped In meetings for adults with T1D not only created a sense of community and support for myself, but also gave me a sense of fulfillment providing that for others as well,” she says.
For Nikki, some of the most meaningful moments come from simple conversations with people who just get it. The ability to casually mention a blood sugar reading without needing to explain the context is a small but powerful reminder that she isn’t alone in her experience.
Her commitment to community extends to fundraising as well. Through a Looped In walking group, Nikki and fellow supporters raised more than $1,000 for Breakthrough T1D. She has also organized a yoga fundraiser and continues to find creative ways to bring people together while supporting the mission.
Giving back feels especially meaningful because of her history with the T1D community. As a child, Nikki and her mother were deeply involved in local efforts and advocacy. Although resources and connections became harder to find as she entered adulthood, she was determined to find her way back and help create the kind of support system she knew others needed.
Outside of her volunteer work, Nikki works for NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and stays incredibly active, spending her free time hiking and weightlifting. Her lifestyle challenges assumptions about what people with T1D can achieve and serves as a reminder that a diagnosis does not have to limit anyone’s passions or goals.
Looking ahead, Nikki hopes for a future where people without T1D have a deeper understanding of what the condition truly entails. Until then, she remains committed to building community, raising awareness, and helping ensure that others living with T1D never have to navigate the journey alone.