Reese Rises to the Challenge of Living with T1D

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Meet Reese.

At seven years old, Reese arrived at Albany Med in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and received the life-changing diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Like many people living with T1D, Reese was also diagnosed with a second autoimmune condition: Hashimoto’s Disease. Studies have shown that type 1 diabetes can often occur alongside other autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s, celiac disease, Addison’s disease and more.

Reese’s mom, Suzanne, shared that his T1D diagnosis felt “like a gut punch:”

“I remember my head just spinning with all the information we were getting. When your child gets diagnosed, you become their doctor, nurse, nutritionist, etc. It was a lot to swallow in the beginning.”

They began learning the ins and out of diabetes management, from counting carbs to finger sticks to insulin corrections. And soon enough, T1D became a part of their regular routine.

Reese (pictured R) with his parents.

Finding Success in Wrestling

Growing up, Reese didn’t enjoy sports like baseball, basketball or soccer. But one day, he came home from school with a flyer for the local youth wrestling program in Averill Park and told his parents he’d like to try it out. Once he started, Reese was hooked! In his first year wrestling, he was awarded “Rookie of the Year” and has kept at it, improving every year. He even made the Varsity wrestling team in his first year of high school.

Reese on the wrestling mat.

Managing T1D as an athlete presents a unique challenge. The body’s glucose levels respond differently to certain types of exercise, and it was a learning curve for Reese and his parents. With the extra energy he expends in practices, training, and matches, Reese had to learn what foods would best fuel him and keep his blood glucose levels stable while he competed.

Eventually, they found what worked for Reese, and he now feels confident in managing his diabetes on and off the mat. He closely watches his levels with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and always has extra devices & insulin on hand in case an insulin pod or a CGM gets accidentally ripped off during a match!

In January 2025, Reese placed 1st in his weight class at the Saratoga Invitational for wrestling.

Reese & his family have found the wrestling community to be tightknit and very supportive of him. One of his coaches even wrote him a letter of recommendation for his college applications.  His coach shared that he got emotional reflecting on the level of commitment required to train, condition, and compete in such a difficult sport like wrestling while also managing diabetes.

But T1D hasn’t hindered his success in wrestling. In early January 2025, Reese competed in the Saratoga Invitational and placed 1st in his weight class. At last year’s Sectional competition, Reese placed 5th and just missed a spot in the State Championship by a few places. His goal this year is to win Sectionals and go to the State Championship. And he’s well on his way!

Reese also plans to attend college in the fall of 2025 and wrestle for his chosen school.

Inspiring Others Living with T1D

Recently, a friend and fellow wrestler reached out and said “Reese, I just got diagnosed with type 1 [diabetes].” Struggling to adjust to his new normal of living with T1D, his friend asked for advice. Reese  talked him through what worked for him over his 10 years with the disease.

His friend’s parents also reached out to Suzanne for support. They said, “We knew that Reese [had diabetes], but we never thought anything of it. Until [our son] got diagnosed, and we were like ‘Oh my god, how did Reese do it?”

Reese wants other kids with T1D to know that they aren’t alone, and that diabetes doesn’t have to keep them from achieving their dreams. When asked what he would tell someone who was just recently diagnosed, he shared:

It [can be] scary at first because there are a lot of unknowns. But you’ll get the hang of it.  Do exactly what you’re doctors tell you to do. Eat healthy foods, fruits, veggies, protein. Don’t let your diagnosis be an excuse from not doing or becoming what you want to be.  [Having diabetes] does not define who you are. 


Have you been recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D)? Find resources at www.BreakthroughT1D.org/newly-diagnosed/