Mackenzie's Story

I was only diagnosed with Type 1 about 8 months ago in April 2018. It came as a pretty big shock-- I was 19 years old and a sophomore at the University of Connecticut where I compete on the cross country and track and field teams as a distance runner. There have certainly been many obstacles to overcome as I adjust to T1D, especially when it comes to training and figuring out what works and what doesn't with my running. But I'm so grateful to have an amazing coach who works so well with me to figure out what I need and get me back to where I was before my diabetes diagnosis. 

After my diagnosis, I was shocked to learn more about the crisis surrounding insulin access around the world, including in the USA. It seems so wrong that type one diabetics are struggling to obtain medications that literally keep them alive. To try and help those who can't get insulin, I started Mackenzie's Beads (@mackenziesbeads on Instagram). Through Mackenzie's Beads, I make and sell necklaces and donate all the profits to T1International and the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child program, two organizations that supply insulin to those who need it. So far, I have raised over $500 and am hoping to raise even more in the future!!

Mackenzie Pias