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• Teenage Athlete Refuses To Let Type 1 Diabetes Slow Him Down - An Interview with Matt Allen

  Matt Allen with his family Matt Allen is a 15 year old stock car racer, snowboarder, football player, straight A student and diabetic. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in July 2006, but he hasn’t let that slow him down. Matt has been racing go-karts for more than half his life through the NRKA (Northern Regional Karting Association) and has been making his way through the ranks.  In the first five years of his racing career he progressed from Kiddie Karts (ages 6-8) to Rookie Karts (ages 8-12).  He won many races and consistently placed in the top three.   In 2011, Matt advanced to World Formula Junior karts (ages 12-15).   He won the NRKA World Formula Junior season championship in flying fashion, finishing first place in 9 out the 16 races.    In 2012, Matt defended his title and won the championship again, this time winning 10 out of the 16 races.  He has been recognized as the NRKA Driver of the year in 2012.  Last season, along with racing my go-kart, he took the next step in racing and ...

• Pageants and Insulin Pumps: An Interview with Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson

  Nicole Johnson, DrPH, MPH, MA  has worked professionally in diabetes for over 17 years and has lived with Type 1 diabetes since 1993. She is most well known for her time as Miss America 1999. In recent years, Nicole has gained a reputation for her engagement in diabetes research focused on quality of life, psychosocial issues, and family dynamics in diabetes.  At the University of South Florida, Nicole serves as the Executive Director of Bringing Science Home, a $6 million diabetes research program that focuses on those very topics.  Nicole is also the Chairman of the Diabetes Empowerment Foundation, an organization focused on adults with Type 1 diabetes. Examples of the foundation’s work include the programs Nicole created Students With Diabetes, Young Adults With Diabetes and Diabetes Partners. Over the years, Nicole has served on many diabetes advisory boards including the JDRF International Board, the American Diabetes Association National Board, the Florida Governor’s Diabetes Advisory Council and the National Institutes of Health Council of Public Representatives. Since 1999, Nicole has helped raise more than $27 million for diabetes research and programs In her journalism career, ...

• How to Manage your Diabetes with Nutrition – an Interview with Nicole Brent, RD.,LD,CDE

  I’ve been fortunate to have Nicole Brent as been my dietitian.  She has worked closely with me while training for my competitions to manage my diabetes through proper diet and exercise regimen.  Since I’ve known her, I’ve become much more knowledgeable and successful with regulating my blood sugars.  She has always been helpful with diabetic issues that have arisen.  It is such a treat that she has agreed to be interviewed on diabetes, her area of expertise. Alissa:     Please tell me a little bit about your credentials and how you got involved consulting diabetic clients? Nicole:   I'm a registered dietitian. I have a bachelor's degree then did an internship; Diabetes is very nutritional-related. Medication, exercise, and diabetes all go together and it's something that I was very interested in and felt that I could be helpful. You need 1000 hours working with patients to be able to become a certified diabetes educator. I attained that goal and became a Certified Diabetes Educator All of this education and experience has provided me with the skills needed to help my patients. Alissa:     What ...

• Diabetes and Pageants: An interview with Miss New Hampshire 2016 and T1D, Caroline Carter

  Miss New Hampshire 2016 and T1D, Caroline Carter You can keep up with Caroline by visiting her official Facebook page, Miss New Hampshire Caroline Carter Alissa:   When were you diagnosed with diabetes? Caroline:  I was diagnosed on November 17th, 2008. I was just about 10 years old. Before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I had been dealing with Mononucleosis.  Then something changed. I lost 13 pounds in one week despite the fact that I was eating a lot. I was urinating frequently, and losing muscle alarmingly fast. Ironically, the day I finally went to the doctor I had eaten a bag of nacho chips and a pint of ice cream to keep my weight up. My blood sugar was 545. Alissa:   Does diabetes run in your family? Caroline:  No, an environmental factor eventually led to my diagnosis of diabetes. No one else in my family has diabetes before me, or after. Alissa:   Being diagnosed as a child must have been challenging. How did you learn to cope with your new norm? Caroline:  When I was diagnosed my mom told me that “Everyone has something.” She ...

• Diabetes and Middle School

  My daughter Molly shares her experiences and gives some helpful advice Today is my birthday.  I received the best birthday present I could have possibly wanted when I woke up to my 2 children’s love, hugs and kisses!  I’m blessed to have two beautiful children to celebrate my special day! As diabetics, my daughter and I can’t share in the tradition of eating birthday cake; so instead of cake, Molly gave me the gift of working on this blog together.  I interviewed her on what it’s like to live with diabetes during her first year of middle school.  Even though I sometimes feel sad or upset that Molly has diabetes and wish there was a cure, in a strange way I feel blessed to have a child with diabetes, because of the way Molly handles it.  Diabetic children face many limitations and adjustments. Molly’s challenges living with diabetes includes learning to independently care for herself and thrive emotionally. My daughter has embraced her diabetes with such a positive outlook.  She educates her peers in school about what diabetes is, advocates ...

• Meet and Greet with Charles Mattocks Celebrity Chef and Diabetes Advocate Part 2

  I’m very excited to share the second part of a meet and greet with Charles Mattocks, celebrity chef and diabetes advocate and award-winning film maker, currently living in Florida.  Since part 1 was published, Charles has won Best Director for a documentary at the Hollywood Florida Film Festival for his film Trial By Fire.  Congratulations Charles! Trial By Fire is premiering at the River Oaks Theatre at 7 pm  Please consider contributing to Charles' gofundme effort for his TrialByFire movie.  Your contribution will go towards helping Charles to get the word out about CRPS. Scroll down to start watching the video. Charles has been involved in many interesting projects – He made a name for himself as the  “The Poor Chef”, where he created meals that were tasty, nutritious and affordable, and led to appearances on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox News, The Talk, Martha Stewart, CNN and Dr Oz.  In addition to being the nephew of reggae musician Bob Marley, Charles is an actor, having performed in the title role of the Emmy nominated “The Summer of Ben Tyler”.  He has ...