To say that Miles’ diagnosis was life altering news is the understatement of the century. We were clueless that his change in temperament, thirst, hunger, and weight were all signs pointing to type 1 diabetes (T1D). When Miles was diagnosed at age 3, we entered a whole new world; one with words like “bolus,” “correction factors” and “carb ratios”, and one with endless finger pricks, and around the clock alarms signaling high and low blood sugars. Such unfamiliar territory was scary, anxiety provoking, and lonely. Friends and family were there for us but we quickly learned that without first-hand experience, understanding T1D is challenging.

In the weeks and months that followed, it was difficult to think about anything except taking care of Miles. Slowly but surely, we started to see how comforting it was to connect with other T1D families. As we started exploring more of what JDRF has to offer, up to and including the annual One Walk, we embraced the opportunity to be part of the community and help spread the word about JDRF and T1D.

We weren’t sure what to expect at our first walk in 2022 but it turned into such a cathartic and humbling experience. Surrounded by so many people with type 1 was a reminder of how strong and resilient these warriors are. It helped to show Miles that he is not alone. He has a whole community that understands his challenge and wants to share in his wins.

The funds raised for the walk each year help with new technology to manage T1D and hopefully one day will lead to a cure. With T1D, hope is not something we feel everyday but the walk left us with a renewed sense of optimism.

We hope that you will join us at a JDRF One Walk near you this fall or organize your own Walk Your Way Day by registering for the location closest to you and selecting “On My Own”. Grab family, friends, classmates, coworkers, and neighbors, build a team, design a t-shirt, have some fun, and help us step closer to a cure!

Sincerely,
Lee Carlo

Lee Carlo, Captain of Boston Walk Team, Miles for Miles

P.S. To learn more and register, visit walk.jdrf.org or contact the chapter at greaternewengland@jdrf.org.