Juan "JC" Aragone

Novo Nordisk Patient Ambassador

Professional Tennis Player

JC Aragone is a professional tennis player who has competed in major tournaments, including the US Open and Australian Open. He grew up playing tennis in Buenos Aires, and following his family’s move to the US, became an accomplished junior player.

During his junior career, JC encountered some health issues. While taking a routine blood test, his doctor was concerned by his high blood sugar levels. He was quickly referred to a doctor who diagnosed him with type 1 diabetes at the age of 17.
Although the news was discouraging at first, JC wasn’t prepared to give up his dream. Through hard work and education, he navigated managing his diabetes - both on and off the court - in collaboration with his doctor.

JC went on to be awarded a tennis scholarship at the University of Virginia and spent a lot of time and energy adapting to his new normal. Following his college graduation in 2017, JC secured a spot at the US Open. Since then, JC has continued to build his professional career while prioritizing managing his diabetes.

JC has partnered with Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company dedicated to diabetes care, to raise awareness of the importance of proper diabetes management. He hopes to educate and motivate others on how to manage diabetes, while still striving to accomplish their goals.

Lauren Plunkett, RDN, LD

Registered Dietitian - Children’s Minnesota

Owner at LP Nutrition Consulting LLC

Lauren was diagnosed with T1D when she was 11 years old, and like many people new to diabetes, she struggled to perfect her diet, physical activity, and insulin management. However, she built a foundation of values based on responsibility and independence. Her ambitions have taken her all over the country in pursuit of education and life experiences. Above all adventures throughout the years she found the greatest value in the consistent effort to live a healthy lifestyle.

In pursuit of a degree in dietetics, she vowed to never forget what it felt like to be the patient. While learning the tremendous science of nutrition she found that her diabetes management was improving, and realized that healthy eating with consistent exercise had made an enormous impact.

Today she is a Registered Dietitian at Children’s Minnesota and a Certified Diabetes Educator. Her personal experience coupled with expertise as a nutrition educator bridges the gap between patient and professional. She takes personal responsibility in her role, and hopes to show people of all ages living with T1D that they can be healthy, achieve their goals, and can seize the day just as well as anybody, if not better.

Sam Marzouk, Ph.D., L.P.

Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist

Dr. Sam is a pediatric psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.  He applies evidence-based psychology to help kids and teens with diabetes who face common related issues such as acceptance, burnout, and anxiety.  He also helps parents of T1D warriors form a more supportive and collaborative relationship with their child.   Dr. Sam is the founder and owner of Promethean Psychology, an outpatient psychology practice in the Minneapolis area, where he provides outpatient psychological services to children and adolescents.  Before founding Promethean Psychology, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the McNeely Pediatric Diabetes Center through Children’s Minnesota.  In addition to his routine clinical work, Dr. Sam regularly provides workshops, trainings and talks to parents, mental health professionals, schools, pediatricians and other medical pediatric providers on topics relevant to child and adolescent mental health.  He is also a contributing author to the Minnesota Pediatrician, a quarterly educational newsletter of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.