During a recent conversation, Q reminded me that diabetes doesn’t define her. Read why kids with diabetes have wisdom beyond their years.

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In many ways diabetes shapes who our kids are. It gives them independence, great math skills, and maturity beyond their years.
I recently had an idea for a pretty involved project that would require a lot of Q. It’s a really great idea.
She politely declined.
I was taken by surprise because she has always jumped at the chance to educate, advocate, and volunteer.
But not this time.
She told me that diabetes isn’t her whole life and it’s not what she wants to be known for.
I’m not sure if it’s because she’s a teenager now. I’m not sure if she has so many other things to explore and focus on. I’m not sure if it’s something else entirely.
As she explained to me her reasoning I found it incredibly interesting that she would rather be known for something else and just happen to also have diabetes rather than being known first and foremost for being diabetic.
When I started listing off famous people with diabetes, she reminded me that those people are not famous because of their diabetes.
They are famous but also have diabetes.
She has lived ten years with type 1 diabetes — the majority of her life and really all she’s ever known — and it has always been part of who she is. But she has the wisdom to say that it’s not the most important part of who she is or how she wants to be seen.
Additional Resources:
- Get Q’s perspective “In Q’s Words“
- Read blog posts written by Q on D-Kid Blog