Austin's Story

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 5. Thankfully I was younger when I was diagnosed because I don’t really remember what life was like before I had Diabetes, but people can be diagnosed with diabetes at any age. My neighbor actually has it too and was diagnosed when he was 23. Diabetes, being a huge part of my life for the last 17 years, is something I have learned to manage and keep under control. I have always tried my best to not let diabetes stop me from doing the things I love. I played soccer, football, and track in high school and I play soccer in college. I try to use diabetes as a tool to inspire others and show them that they can still live a "normal" life even with this disease.

I always have a bag with me with my Diabetes supplies, so when I am walking onto the field, you will always see me with a red bag filled with juice boxes and other snacks to bring my blood sugar up when I go low. A common misconception about Type 1 Diabetes is that we cannot have sugary food. This is simply not true. I can eat anything at any time, I just need to make sure that I apply the correct amount of insulin from my pump so that my glucose number does not raise too much from the sugar. Thankfully, I am very well controlled so that I can play soccer, and do other things I love.

I am also a Team Type 1 Global Ambassador. As a global ambassador, I get to give speeches on the organization’s behalf and spread their mission, which I really believe in. The Team Type 1 Foundation’s goal is to show the world what is possible with type 1 Diabetes, and educate people about what the disease is, and spread awareness. The Foundation, as well as myself, want people to see that a Type 1 Diabetic is not limited in what they can do in this world. We want to instill hope and inspiration in people around the world affected with Type 1 Diabetes and provide Nationalized Healthcare in all nations so that Diabetic does not have to spend so much on insulin and other supplies. The average cost of insulin in the US, after insurance, is $510 for a 10-day vial, and this does not include other costs, like pumps, sensors, test strips, meters, and many other things.

Without a doubt, Diabetes has made me a stronger person and soccer player. Diabetes has helped me to understand how food affects my body. I knew how to read a nutrition label when I was very young and knew which foods were healthy for me, and which ones to steer clear of. Type 1 Diabetes has even made me a better person. I was never bullied for it but always felt a little different than the other kids around me because I always had snacks with me and would have to eat them when no one else was eating. This has made me be able to see when someone is struggling with fitting in. I like to be friends with people who feel like they have no one else because I want them to be happy too. Differences do not make us any worse of a person, and everyone should have friends. I also work very hard because I want to show the world that, just because someone has something different about them, they can still make a huge difference and do incredible things. Type 1 Diabetes is not a roadblock, it is just adversity, and everyone deals with adversity.

Thank you for wanting to hear about my story,

Austin Coldsnow