Brooke’s Story

May 1, 2002 seemed like an ordinary day, but what happened that day changed my life forever.

It started out as a routine checkup at the Pediatrician. I was three years old and my parents noticed I had been excessively thirsty, something that once seemed so insignificant. When we mentioned this to the doctor, she suggested a blood glucose test. We watched as the blood test meter reached 600, an abnormally high blood sugar. I was then rushed to the hospital and before I knew it, I had an IV in my arm and doctors were asking me hundreds of questions.

That same day, I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, a chronic life-long disease where the pancreas produces little or no insulin. I soon discovered checking my blood sugar, giving myself injections, and closely monitoring my health would become my new reality. I knew this would be a new obstacle to everyday life, but this was not going to stop me from following my dreams. From dancing for many years of my life to being a runner and participating in races, I have never let diabetes stand in my way. 

Type 1 Diabetes has shaped who I am as a person. After living with this disease and facing the challenges that come with it, I was inspired to make a difference. Shortly after I was diagnosed, I began visiting newly diagnosed patients in the hospital to comfort them. As I got older, I started speaking at conferences and organizing walks to raise money for diabetes research. I recently wrote “Dancing with Diabetes,” a Type 1 Diabetes Children’s Book, to help others cope and relate to the same difficulties I have had to overcome.

When my little brother was diagnosed 4 years ago at age 9 with Type 1 Diabetes as well, I knew I needed to do something. I realized there were not many children’s books out there for young children with diabetes and I wanted to change that. I started writing and illustrating the book my junior year of high school and finished it a year later. It is now available on Amazon and I am working on promoting it through social media and diabetes conferences and giving some of the proceeds back to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). 

Through the highs and lows, Type 1 Diabetes has changed my life, but I like to think for the better. I try to get others in my community to come together so we can learn from each other and share a common bond. 

 Brooke Miller