When Audrey was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 11, the sudden reality of managing a chronic condition felt overwhelming. Like many newly diagnosed individuals, she questioned whether a “normal” life was still possible. But finding the Breakthrough T1D community changed everything. It showed her that a T1D diagnosis doesn’t mean putting dreams on hold. Instead, it can reveal a remarkable capacity for resilience, determination, and advocacy.
Living with T1D is a nonstop responsibility that extends far beyond what most people see. Audrey wishes more people understood the constant decision-making, mental focus, and adaptability required every day. One moment in particular tested that perseverance. During a seventh-grade mile run, Audrey had spent months training to demonstrate how much stronger she had become. Just before the race began, however, her blood sugar dropped dangerously low, forcing her to sit out while her classmates started without her. Disappointed but determined, Audrey treated the low, waited for her levels to stabilize, and then stepped onto the track alone. Starting long after everyone else, she pushed through the challenge and crossed the finish line with the fastest time in her grade.
That same determination continues to shape her life. Just one year after her diagnosis, Audrey joined a 12-day boating expedition and learned how to navigate the pressure limitations of diabetes devices underwater to earn her scuba diving certification. Today, as a junior in high school, she independently manages her diabetes while excelling in field hockey, lacrosse, and track. Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged early as well. In middle school, she created a fundraising team called “Twizzlers” for the Breakthrough
Whether she’s walking the red carpet at the 2024 Breakthrough T1D Gala or raising awareness through advocacy efforts, Audrey remains committed to expanding access to affordable insulin, diabetes technology like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, and ultimately, a cure. Her story is a powerful reminder that while living with T1D presents real challenges, those challenges do not define a person’s potential. As Audrey says, “We have power over the disease, not the other way around.”