Name: Keanna Skinner

Age: 16

Age at diagnosis: 10

Involvement with JDRF: Youth Ambassador

What is an obstacle you’ve faced in living with T1D, and how did you deal with it?

Being treated differently. I just have to remember that people don’t understand.

What’s one way T1D has made you a better person?

Having type one diabetes has made me more understanding and less judgmental.

What do you wish someone had told you when you were first diagnosed?

That things are really going to change with friends, school, and sports.

Have you encountered any misconceptions about T1D? If so, how did you respond?

My teacher wouldn’t let me go to the nurse, so I told my mom because I knew they were wrong, and everything was taken care of.

Who has been your biggest supporter in managing your T1D?

Probably my mom, because she’s always there for me and helps me with everything. She always sets up for our JDRF fundraiser and makes having diabetes a bit easier for me.