A teen is continuing to share her story of living with diabetes in hopes to raise awareness about those who are not familiar with it.
Anne Pettigrew, 16, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 11-years-old, and became a youth ambassador with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada (JDRF) the following year.
In 2018, Pettigrew had the opportunity to be a delegate for a Kids for A Cure event on Parliament Hill. She explained to The Sam Laprade Show with guest host Derick Fage on Nov. 11 why this was important.
“It gives people, living with Type 1 diabetes, a chance to share their own authentic versions of their stories,” she said. “Type 1 diabetes is so complex, there’s so many moving parts to managing it and you don’t really understand how to live with it unless you’ve lived with it.”
Pettigrew said, public events like the Kids for A Cure event, give politicians and lawmakers, an opportunity to understand what resources need to be in place for people living with diabetes. It also allows others to understand the perspective of living with diabetes.
She takes insulin every day and similar to others living with Type 1, she has to be cognizant of how much insulin she needs depending on a myriad of factors including her diet and how often she exercises.
While health costs associated with diabetes can be on the high end, she noted that medical devices such as insulin pumps and glucose monitors are life-saving and makes it easier for people living with diabetes.
“If I don’t have the continuous glucose monitor that I use every day, I would be here talking to you,” she explained, adding that not everyone living with diabetes can afford or access diabetes-related resources, which is something she’s hoping lawmakers will change sooner rather than later.
Listen to the full conversation with Anne Pettigrew below:
