Healthcare and Medical News: When the ADA is mentioned, someone shares their story

Dear Friend,

I was thinking back to an endearing story of my oldest daughter when she was going into the second grade. She was at summer camp and noticed a little boy there who was a year younger than her wearing a continuous glucose monitor. She went over and said, “Excuse me, do you have diabetes?” The counselors were surprised that she knew what the device was and asked how on earth she knew. My daughter proudly told them, “My mommy helps people living with diabetes!” I had been working for the American Diabetes Association^® (ADA) for less than a year and didn’t even realize my 7-year-old knew what the word diabetes meant.

When I crossed paths with the little boy’s mom a week or so later, she beamed with excitement while telling me about how my daughter made her so happy knowing about diabetes and how she had been looking out for her son. The mom immediately shared her personal journey with her son’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, how they’re still learning how to best manage it, what’s been hard, and what’s helped.

Now, this happens all the time. Whether I’m at the grocery store, on a plane, or just making small talk—when I mention the ADA, people open up. They tell me about their parents, their kids, their own diagnosis. People with stories about diabetes are everywhere.

And it makes sense. Nearly 1 in 2 Americans is living with diabetes or prediabetes. That’s half of us. It’s not just a statistic—it’s our neighbors, our coworkers, our families, and others in our community.

November marks the start of American Diabetes Month^®, and it’s a time to come together and take action. By donating today, you'll fund life-changing research, advocacy efforts, and support for people living with diabetes—and right now, every gift is matched, dollar for dollar, up to the $150,000 campaign total.

Double My Donation

If you’ve been touched by diabetes—or know someone who has—please donate today. Your impact will be doubled.

Thank you for being part of this community. Together, we’re changing lives.