This past weekend, about 100 women with diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2), ages 21 to 80 gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina for the first annual Diabetes Sister’s “Weekend for Women.” So reports Riva Greenberg, author of ’50 Myths That Can Ruin Your Life.’ She wrote a recent article for the Huffington Post about the event and one the higher profile speakers, former Miss America Nicole Johnson.
The event, the brainchild of non-profit organizations Diabetes Sisters and Taking Care of Your Diabetes (TCOYD), was started to help women living with the disease feel less alone and provide them with educational resources. The conference included gender-specific session topics and the chance to get to know others with the disease. Doctors, psychologists, fitness experts and diabetes educators also attended the conference.
Johnson, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 15 years ago at the age of 19, said at the conference that while she would love to be rid of the disease, she “wouldn’t trade it for the world because of the perspective it gives me.” Johnson, who co-hosts of the program, dLife: For Your Diabetes Life!, says the disease has also been a source of motivation for her and pushed her even harder to prove she could win the Miss America crown.
Like many, Johnson started out keeping her illness a secret until her blood sugar dropped so low during a competition in 1997 that she slipped into a coma-like state. From there, she had to convince pageant officials to allow her to remain in the competition. When she returned, she didn’t hide her diabetes or her insulin pump any longer. And two years later, she won the Miss America pageant. Since that time she has been a vocal diabetes advocate, lobbying Congress and getting involved with diabetes-related health insurance legislation. Check out the full blog posting here.
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