A major factor in helping to accelerate new treatments and improve outcomes for people living with type 1 diabetes is encouraging more researchers to enter the field of T1D research. To support innovative, driven and passionate young scientists, every year T1D Exchange selects a high school researcher and helps recruit for their study.

This year, we’ve selected Jake Tetenman and Erick Morales from Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY. Jake and Erick are 11th-grade students working with Dr. Jay Fleischman, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist, to carry out this study. Erick and Jake are especially passionate about this research because Erick has type 1 diabetes, as does Jake’s mom.

Erick and Jake are recruiting caregivers and people who are living with T1D between the ages of 11 to 18 to examine the possible association between blurred vision and time-in-range, as measured by a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Their hypothesis is that vision changes may be a predictor of blood glucose that is about to rise to high levels.

Based on their study results, the team hopes that the outcome of the study will help people with type 1 diabetes take earlier corrective action for high blood-sugar levels, which may help improve time-in-range and ultimately reduce the risk for long-term complications of T1D.

If you have T1D and are 18 years of age, or have a child with T1D who is between the ages of 11 and 17, and are interested in participating in this study, please contact Jake Tetenman jake.tetenman@gmail.com or Dr. Jay Fleischman retsurg@gmail.com.