A teenage girl continues to share her story of living with diabetes in hopes of raising awareness among those unfamiliar with it. Anne Pettigrew, 16, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 11 and became a youth ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada (JDRF) the following year. In 2018, Pettigrew had the opportunity to be a spokesperson at a Kids for A Cure event in Parliament. He explained on The Sam Laprade Show with guest host Derick Fage on Nov. 11 why it was important. “It gives people living with type 1 diabetes an opportunity to share their own authentic versions of their stories,” she said. “Type 1 diabetes is so complicated, there are so many moving parts to managing it, and you don’t really understand how to live with it unless you’ve lived it.” Pettigrew said public events like Kids for A Cure give politicians and lawmakers an opportunity to understand what resources should 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, like others living with Type 1, needs to know how much insulin she needs depending on many factors, including her diet and how often she exercises. While the health costs associated with diabetes can be high, he noted that medical devices such as insulin pumps and glucose monitors save lives and make living with diabetes easier. “If I didn’t have the continuous glucose monitor that I use every day, I’d be here to talk to you,” she explained, adding that not everyone living with diabetes can afford or have access to diabetes-related resources, something who hopes lawmakers will change sooner rather than later. Listen to the full conversation with Anne Pettigrew below:
