When it comes to seeing firsthand the real-world difference participating in the JDRF One Walk can make, Dana Armstrong has a front row seat. For Dana, that journey began twenty-five years ago when her four-year-old son Steven exhibited signs of type 1 diabetes (T1D). She had been working as a registered dietician and diabetes educator for more than seven years and so recognized the symptoms right away. Steven had never wet the bed but then it happened two nights in a row. He was constantly thirsty. Dana brought home a glucose meter. “His blood sugar was 563. I knew exactly what I needed to do. I told the endocrinologist ‘he’s got type 1 diabetes’ and then I went to the pharmacy and started him on insulin.”

Soon after that fateful day, Dana was introduced to JDRF through Sandra and Alan Silvestri who were helpful mentors. At the time, there was no Walk in their community. So, Dana’s family, together with the Silvestris, kicked off a JDRF Walk in Monterey Bay. Dana formed her Walk team, Steven’s Special Super Stompers, and began fundraising. Her son loved writing letters for the Walk, getting his school involved, and celebrating on Walk Day. In his family’s Walk letter from 2004, Steven wrote, “Every day I try very hard not to let diabetes interfere with my life. But every day I have a disease that demands attention. While research has come a long way since I was first diagnosed, I cannot imagine how wonderful my life would be without diabetes.” See the full 2004 letter below.

Today, Dana continues to fundraise and advocate for T1D research. She works with JDRF to rally participants and supporters of the JDRF One Walk. As the Director of Diabetes Services, Salinas Valley Medical Clinic Diabetes and Endocrine Center, she sees how difficult managing T1D can be for many people. “Insulin is not a cure. Diet is not a cure. It’s really hard to be a pancreas. There’s no forgiveness,” she says. She also sees the life-changing benefits of T1D research. The clinic is working with several patients who are early users of the Medtronic MiniMed 670G, the first artificial pancreas. “Knowing that the funds raised from the JDRF One Walk have helped to advance tools like this shows me that we can all make a difference. I have seen with my own eyes that A1Cs come down when using artificial pancreas technology – and with no dangerous lows! How amazing is that? I’ll take that for now, until the cure is found.” Steven is now 29 years old, a working professional, and in line to receive the 670G. “He’s over the moon excited,” says Dana.

Dana will keep walking until a cure is found. “When I see people coming together, even in terrible weather, it’s always a good thing,” says Dana. “I’m walking so I don’t have to work anymore. I’ll be happy to lose my job.” Join Dana at the JDRF One Walk Monterey Peninsula on October 1 at Lovers Point Park or find a Walk near you at walk.jdrf.org.