In 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed a resolution designating the Monday before Thanksgiving as “A Day in the Life – Type 1 Diabetes Day”. The resolution calls upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to draw attention to type 1 diabetes (T1D), how it differentiates from type 2, and rally support for the T1D community. This resolution was driven by Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey, who represent the 11th District in New Jersey after meeting with families who are living with T1D. 

We sent Youth Ambassadors, Tommy and Avery Drechsler, to talk to them about the resolution and about their on-going support of the T1D community.

Members Houghtaling and Downey have drafted legislation to further support students with T1D, specifically to allow school nurses to accept dosing changes from parents without requiring a doctor’s orders and to ensure schools with students with T1D have glucagon in case of emergencies.

If you’d like to be involved in advocacy, we encourage you to sign up to be an advocate today.