18.
This person who hikes and lifts weights to help people better understand type 1 diabetes.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 31 years ago, and at that time, diabetics were treated like fragile dolls. There was a huge list of things that I would never be able to do because it would throw off my blood sugars — I’d either die of hypoglycemia, or have my legs amputated and go blind from hyperglycemia. As time went on I started to give up on having a long life, and started trying out all of those things on the “can’t do” list. I found that I LOVE hiking and after I didn’t die on the Pacific Crest Trail, have taken on long trails all over the US and Canada. Being constantly active is AWESOME for my blood sugars, and because of that, I am able to keep up with my two healthy, hyper kids (another thing that was absolutely impossible 30 years ago).
Today I run, hike, and lift almost daily. A few times a year I volunteer at the hospital by my house, talking to young people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes. I show them pictures of where I’ve been and all of the “impossible” things I’ve done, so they know that diabetes isn’t a death sentence.
—Emmay Friedenson
