Heather Shelton is a freelance media anchor and a full time mother to her five year old son. Heather is also living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Heather and I were virtually introduced and after emailing back and forth we met up for coffee.

Heather was diagnosed with T1D 27 years ago, at age nine. She has had experience with many different stages of living with T1D from early diagnosis when she and her family learned to give shots, to growing up with stereotypes such as “catching” diabetes surrounding her at school.  As an adolescent she dealt with burn out and would go days without testing her T1D, except when her mom made her.  And then in college, drinking, bad eating habits, and erratic sleeping patterns caused her to lose control.  Later, Heather gained control and welcomed her son, Isaac into the world. While it was a struggle being pregnant with T1D, Heather maintained an A1C in the sixes throughout.  Now she is on a pump, and is dedicated to not letting T1D get in her way.

“I feel the healthiest I’ve ever felt, and I think it’s because I’m in control of my diabetes. Just like any other person with Type 1, I have my up and down days, but I’m a firm believer that ‘if you take care of it, it will take care of you’.”

Heather has had an intense professional career in media and has learned to juggle living with T1D while working long hours in difficult circumstances. Once, she applied for a part time media job and discovered that diabetes was considered a disability. However, she made it her goal to never let diabetes interfere with her career choices.

“I never wanted diabetes to hinder my job performance or to be an impediment to my dreams.  I learned to always be prepared while on production. There were times when I would be low on camera and would start acting strangely.  But my team members who would remind me to check my blood sugar and I’d go off camera to quickly eat before going back on and continuing my story”

When asked if she had any advice for fellow type one’s, Heather said,

“I know it sucks. It sucks that even if you eat well and take care of yourself, things will go crazy.  But I think that if you try your best to take care of yourself, you’ll be pleased with how you feel.  Treat your body right, especially when you’re young, because it’s going to matter later on, when you’re my age.”

Heather has had her highs and her lows (pun intended) with diabetes, but she is an excellent example of living a fulfilling life with T1D. And she reminded me,

“Never forget, we’ll get a cure. Keep that hope!”

By Guest Blogger Philly DePiante

Philly is a freshman at CPCC majoring in Business and Administration.  She was diagnosed at the beginning of this year with T1D on January 9^th and woke up three days later.  Philly is an active volunteer in our office and is a welcomed bright ray of sunshine in our office each week!