Limitless with T1D: Hannah, Age 19

At 19 years old, Hannah is already a seasoned pro at managing life with Type 1 Diabetes. Diagnosed at age seven, she’s faced the ups and downs of this invisible condition with remarkable strength and a calm, candid outlook.

Now a University student, gym-goer and traveler she speaks openly about everything from the isolating moments of childhood birthday parties to the adrenaline rush of climbing a mountain route in Spain with her pump and gummy bears in tow.

Her story is one of resilience, honesty and inspiration for anyone learning to live with T1D- proof that life with diabetes isn’t about perfection, but about persistence.

1. How old were you when you were diagnosed with T1D?

7 years old.

2. Do you remember what the early days of your diagnosis were like?

I remember certain moments from the day I was diagnosed and some moments from the week after, but I don’t have a very clear picture.

3. What’s something people might be surprised to learn about living with T1D?

You can do everything right, and everything might go wrong. You can eat the same thing, at the same time, with the same starting BG and the same amount of insulin and the results could be drastically different.

4. What’s one word you’d use to to describe your relationship with T1D now?

At peace

5. What’s been the hardest part of growing up with T1D?

Going to birthday parties when I was younger and having to eat an alternative while seeing other kids eat cake, ice cream, etc. Even though it’s nice to have a sugar free alternative, feeling different was very hard.

6. How do you handle days when you’re just over it?

I’ve accepted that I’ve been given this challenge and I will have to deal with it for the rest of my life, and that the best I can do is “dig deep” and keep pushing forward. If I’ve had a bad day, I like to cook a low-carb easy meal, watch a show and go to bed early.

7. Have you ever faced misunderstanding or stigma because of your diabetes?

Every time I tell someone I have diabetes, they ask me if I have the “good or bad kind”. There’s not enough awareness to understand the different types of diabetes and instead of reacting badly, I like to take the opportunity to educate people about Type 1- so the next diabetic person they encounter doesn’t have to explain.

8. What’s something you wish teachers or friends better understood about T1D?

Diabetes has become a very big part of my life and I like talking about it- a lot of people don’t ask about my condition because they think it’s a sensitive topic but I love being asked about it.

9. Do you use a pump, pens or another method- and why does it work for you?

I currently use the Tandem insulin pump. I love that I don’t have to inject every time I eat or need a correction, and how flexible it makes treatment.

10. What’s your go-to treatment for a hypo?

In 11 years I’ve cycled through a lot of hypo treatments. Glucose tabs, juices, marshmallows, packets of sugar and all kinds of gummies. Right now, I’m treating myself with Welch gummies, fruit strips or marshmallows (depending on what’s closest!).

11. Any top tips for dealing with T1D at school or university?

It’s very important to advocate for accommodations as a result of T1D. At University, as a result of advocating for myself, they gave me a flexible attendance policy for diabetes-related absences and extra time during exams in case my bloods drop.

12. How do you manage diabetes during busy days or while traveling?

When I know I’m going to have a busy day, I try to eat things my diabetes appreciates. I have my list of “safe foods” that usually help keep my blood glucose steady, and that helps a lot.

13. What are your favourite hobbies or passions- and how do you manage T1D around them?

I love travelling and going to the gym, and having diabetes doesn’t stop me from doing that! When I’m travelling, I make sure to take extra of everything just in case something fails. Going to the gym is a bit more complicated, but I’ve learnt to understand my body and the best times to do exercise.

14. Has diabetes ever stopped you from doing something- or made you more determined?

I want to say that diabetes has never stopped me from doing anything, but that’s, unfortunately, not true. There are days where I can’t go to class after sleepless nights, when I can’t go to the gym if my bloods are consistently low, etc. That’s the reality of having a chronic condition, that sometimes we have to take a pause or change our plans to accommodate our safety.

15. What’s the most exciting thing you’ve done with diabetes tagging along?

When I finished my first year of University, I went camping for a week in Spain and climbed a via ferrata- an exposed mountain route with metal rungs and cables, with my diabetes kit and some gummies always on hand.

16. If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing about living with T1D, what would it be?

I used to think that if I forgot my sugar one day or misplaced my diabetes kit or had high bloods all day people would think I was a “bad diabetic”. Nobody expects me to have perfect control or always be on top of things, and that’s taken a lot of pressure off of my management.

17. What do you say to children or teenagers who feel scared or overwhelmed by their diagnosis?

It might not be much help at the moment, but it’s important to remember that everything will be okay. Diabetes will teach you to be strong, resilient and will teach you a lot about yourself and your body. At the end of the day, you will have it for the foreseeable future, and the best you can do is ride the highs and lows with a good attitude.

18. Has T1D taught you anything important about yourself?

T1D has taught me that I’m much stronger than I thought I was. I’ve had to manage it through childhood, adolescence and now university. Things that I thought I would never be able to do- like react in crisis situations or become an expert in problem resolution are now second nature.

19. What are your hopes and dreams for the future- and how does T1D fit into them?

One saying that I love about diabetes is “Diabetics can live a completely normal life. The only thing that’s not normal is what we have to do to make it normal.” I am going to do whatever I want with my life and accomplish goals I haven’t even set yet- with diabetes by my side.