Welcome to JDRF Bay Area’s blog, One on 1, a series of interviews with people who live with T1D. Members of the community will talk about how T1D affects them, how they manage it and how they have conquered it. Today we talk with Hillary, an eight-year-old model who realizes that T1D is not a reason to stop following her dreams:

JDRF Bay Area: Do you remember when you were diagnosed with T1D? How old were you?

Hillary: I was 4.5 when I was diagnosed. I remember I felt like I had the flu, my heart was beating really fast and I was very thirsty. I was very, very sick. My mom took me to the doctor. He said that I had type 1 diabetes and that I was in DKA. I spent a week at Children’s Hospital in Oakland.  They were very nice but I just wanted to go home.

JDRF Bay Area: Congratulations on your success as a model! How do you manage your T1D when you are working with top Bay Area companies?

Hillary: Thank you. I always check my blood sugar before every photoshoot. My mom and I always tell the photographers/crew that I have T1D and that if I’m feeling shaky I will need to take a short break to check my blood sugar and drink juice. I always bring my favorite low kit box (a pencil box that I decorated with stickers) it also holds my insulin pen and tester. The other models are always interested in my supplies and they think it’s cool that I can give myself shots. A lot of them are scared of needles but I’m not!

JDRF Bay Area: We hear you recently modeled for an Apple ad. What was that like?

Hillary: It was a lot of fun!! I have an Apple iPod that I have my favorite diabetes aps on and I’ve always liked Apple! They were all really nice and they actually knew a lot about T1D. They also had really yummy, healthy food at the photo shoot and my mom and I used my iPod to figure out the carb counts. Apple is a really fun company to work for!

JDRF Bay Area: What are your dreams for the future? 

Hillary: I wish the world didn’t have T1D. I wish for a cure every night and on every star I see. When I grow up I want to be a scientist and make medicine that will cure things like cancer, food allergies and especially T1D.

JDRF Bay Area: We are so impressed with your attitude. What would a cure mean to you?

Hillary: A cure would mean no more shots, no more lows and no more finger pokes. My mom always says attitude is everything. T1D doesn’t control me; I can control it.

JDRF Bay Area: What do you want people to know about T1D?

Hillary: If you were just told that you have T1D, I want you to know that you’ll be OK and that you can still do anything any other kid can do! I want you to know that having good blood sugar will make you feel better. So check it often, listen to your doctor and parents and take good care of yourself. You can do it! What I want others to know about T1D – type 1 and type 2 are very different! I have T1D. Not every person with T1D has a pump. I like my insulin pen and I’m not scared of giving myself shots. It feels good to teach others about T1D. Everyone says I’m very brave but inside I know I’m just a normal girl.