T1D

#t1d…. That's the hashtag used over 4.7 million times across social media platforms. Until about a month ago I didn’t know what it was or what it meant. It’s used by people that have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. They use that hashtag to tell the world that they are strong, that they are fighters and embrace the challenges they face everyday. I was quite fascinated by the support that they show one an another. Type 1 diabetes is a autoimmune disease where the pancreas produces little to no insulin and affects 8.7 million people around the world, roughly just 2% of the world population. In the United States approximately 1.84 million people have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and about 200,000 under the age of 20 have been diagnosed. The youngest of them, under the age of 10 are referred to as warriors. This is where I come in…

As a father of a recently diagnosed type 1 diabetic, my son found out in the hospital on his 4th birthday. It was devastating news. I didn't understand how a healthy, energetic and happy 3 year old could end up having diabetes. I remember staying up that night reading everything I could to better understand. I dedicated myself to any resource I could find. I'm not a big social media guy anymore but reading everyone else's experiences has helped me process his disease. Thank you! Furthermore just 2 weeks prior to his diagnosis, his older brother had a severe allergic reaction to something currently unknown. His face was swollen so bad he was unrecognizable and our minds haven't yet process that nor did we get a chance to.

So to my little warrior, stay strong. My promise to you is that you will never be a burden. I will be there every step of the way for as long as you need me..

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the leading global organization funding innovative research to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. If you want to make a difference and support a loved one, a friend, or yourself, you can simply donate to their cause.