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• 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 ...

• 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, ...