Every day, the JDRF community is moving #ForwardAs1 to improve the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Meet Lauren and Elizabeth, moms to incredible T1D Champions Claire and Olivia. These two families share a special bond and in honor of National Diabetes Awareness month, Lauren and Elizabeth shared the importance of community and friendship in navigating life with T1D.

How did your families meet?

Elizabeth: My family and I moved to Irvington about ten years ago. I met Lauren at a gym class and after talking, we realized she grew up in the house I had just moved in to! But, we didn’t really connect much afterwards because our kids are different ages.

What are your families’ connections to T1D?

Elizabeth: Olivia was diagnosed with T1D three years ago, right before the holidays which was tough. Then soon after the pandemic happened, and we felt isolated. We didn’t know any other students in our district who had T1D, and the school staff didn’t really know about it. We had to educate them on T1D and how Olivia manages it during the school day, and I think Olivia just felt alone. Compounded by the pandemic, I think the first year was maybe tougher than it could have been or should have been. We were doing a lot of Zoom meetings with other children Olivia’s age to give her an outlet to talk about it and talk through it. Fast forward to a few months ago, our doctor reached out to us and said there’s someone in our neighborhood who was recently diagnosed with T1D around Olivia’s age, and that’s how Lauren and I connected again.

Lauren: In August, Claire was a little bit off and not feeling great, and then she was playing lacrosse in 90-degree weather and fainted during a tournament. We were persistent with the doctor to get blood work done, and then they immediately sent us to the hospital. In the hospital, the doctor said there was a family in our district who also had a daughter with T1D and asked if they could connect us. I said absolutely, because you’re so overwhelmed when you come home from the hospital not knowing much—which is when Liz and I got back in touch.

How has the relationship between your families helped you adjust to life with T1D?

Lauren: Fresh out of the hospital, Liz invited Claire and I over to her house. Liz and Scott sat me down on their couch and listened to everything I had to say and told me everything I needed to hear. Claire and Olivia went up to Olivia’s room, and Olivia was the most supportive of Claire, I mean just wonderful. Once we got in the car, Claire said, “It’s so nice to have a friend who is going through what I’m going through and knows what’s going on.” The girls are very similar in personality—they’re spunky, bubbly, sporty, and just instantly bonded. When Claire got her pump, Olivia came over and was showing her how to use it. Olivia has just been so encouraging and always listens.

It’s the same thing for me with Liz and Scott…it doesn’t matter when it is, they’re always available to talk and answer questions. They understood that Halloween was going to be tricky for us, so they asked Claire and I to go with them. The relationship between our families has changed the whole experience for Claire but also for me, as a mom of a newly diagnosed child.

Elizabeth: Being a young girl in middle school, there’s so many challenges—the social dynamics, hormones, etc. and then to manage T1D on top of it all, it’s a lot. One day, Olivia was walking home and saw Claire with some friends having frozen yogurt and bubble tea. Olivia came home and said Claire looked upset and confused, and that her friends didn’t really understand that this was going to be something difficult for Claire to navigate. She then texted Claire and let her know that everything was going to be alright. They’re lucky to have each other.

Lauren: When Olivia texted Claire that she understood how difficult this is, that she could do it…it was just so amazing. They really are so lucky to have bonded in this way.

Elizabeth: I think one of the hardest parts is that people think they know what T1D is. And in their thinking that they know what it is, they have no idea how difficult every day is, and that a simple trip to a frozen yogurt store can make you feel so vulnerable, insecure, and angry. Having people around who you trust and understand how you’re feeling is a real game-changer. It doesn’t even have to be someone in your neighborhood, finding someone virtually who you can relate to is super important.