Type 1 diabetes (T1D) extends beyond the individual, affecting friends, coworkers, and loved ones in meaningful ways. At T1D Exchange, we witness these effects firsthand.

That’s why our mission and team are dedicated to driving real-world solutions and fostering collaborative change so that everyone affected by T1D can lead their best lives.

Here, we’ll spotlight stories of our employees — from those living with T1D, to caregivers, loved ones, friends, and allies — and explore what fuels their passion and dedication to improving the quality of life for those living with T1D.

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At T1D Exchange, we asked team members living with T1D: How has your experience shaped your career journey? Here’s what they told us.

Jaime Lucove was diagnosed with T1D at age 3. As an epidemiologist with over 40 years of life experience with T1D, she’s gained unique insights into managing T1D through different life stages — from puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and now perimenopause. “This has made me especially aware of how much hormones impact diabetes management,” she said. Yet, she’s often navigated these challenges alone.

“Figuring this out shouldn’t be so hard,” said Lucove, whose personal experience inspired her to pursue research in this area, aiming to spare others the same sense of isolation. “At T1D Exchange, I’m motivated to deepen our understanding of women’s health and create better support for people managing diabetes across all phases of life.”

 

For Claire Rainey, receiving a diagnosis at age 18, just as she was starting college, “completely shifted the direction of my life and career goals,” she explained. “Initially, I planned to double major in economics and psychology, but my diagnosis sparked a deep interest in healthcare and public health.”

As a result, Rainey switched her major to public health and statistics to better understand the systems and data that impact care. From there, she centered T1D in her academic and personal journey.

“When it came time to start my career after graduation, I knew I wanted to work in a space directly connected to T1D,” she said. “That’s what brought me to T1D Exchange, and I couldn’t be more grateful for professionally fulfilling and personally meaningful work.”

 

Sarah Howard was diagnosed during her sophomore year of college. At the time, she was a vocal performance/ music education major, but in the months leading up to her diagnosis, she struggled to perform as expected and ultimately changed her major to communications.

“When I came home for summer break, I was promptly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. As soon as I left the hospital, I knew what I’d do with my communications degree: I would work in the diabetes world for organizations that strive to improve the lives of people like me.”

“Three days after I graduated from college, I boarded a one-way flight to New York with a suitcase and a carry-on and began my career in diabetes,” said Howard, who was hired for an entry-level marketing role at the national headquarters of JDRF, now Breakthrough T1D, in NYC.

“After five years at JDRF, I was hired at T1D Exchange,” said Howard, which is where she’s been ever since. “My T1D diagnosis changed the entire trajectory of my career. I don’t know for sure, but I think if I had never been diagnosed with T1D, I would probably be a music teacher. I’m sure I would be happy, but I wouldn’t have anything I love about my life today.”

 

Similarly, during her senior year of college, Sam Walsh was diagnosed with T1D. “At the time, I was planning a career in early childhood education — but my diagnosis quickly shifted my path,” she said. “I knew I wanted to make a difference for kids living with T1D.”

This led Walsh to a marketing and development role at the Joslin Diabetes Center and later with T1D Exchange. “Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside people living with diabetes, helping shape the future of care, and contributing to the movement toward a cure.”

“The community I’ve found while working in the T1D space isn’t something I take for granted. I wouldn’t trade this career for the world.”

 

Nicole Rioles’ T1D diagnosis changed her course and perspective, too. “It helped me to understand that one’s health and other life burdens aren’t always visible — and that we can help others who carry these same challenges.”

 

For others, like Alyssa Cabrera, their career provides an opportunity to turn T1D frustrations into opportunities. “I started dabbling in quality improvement when I was diagnosed in 2014,” she said.

“It gave me a new opportunity to apply my clinical experiences and patient perspective, and I saw a lot of room for improvement. That lens has helped me greatly in my work with the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative.”

 

Furthermore, we asked our team members to share how they manage T1D while staying focused at work.

Living with type 1 presents daily challenges from glucose rollercoasters to relentless CGM beeping. Here’s what some T1D Exchange employees shared on staying focused at work while managing T1D:

✔ ️”I try to stay focused on hydration, as this can affect CGM accuracy, insulin resistance, and hunger. You’ll almost always see me with a water bottle during calls. I also do a lot of meal planning for breakfast and lunch. To stay productive at work, I prepare protein-rich meals with known carb counts to avoid guesswork. These habits help me stay ahead of the blood sugar swings that can otherwise be distracting.”
~ J. Lucove

✔ ️”One way diabetes shows up in my workday is through blood sugar swings that can affect my energy, focus, and even mood. Thankfully, my automated insulin delivery device helps manage things more seamlessly in the background. It gives me more freedom to focus on my work. I’m surrounded by an incredibly uplifting team, many of whom also live with T1D. Being able to share experiences with people who truly ‘get it’ makes managing the day-to-day challenges feel less isolating. A quick conversation can really reset my mindset and help me stay grounded and focused.”
~ C. Rainey

✔️ “Some days, diabetes is negligible, just a dim shadow that doesn’t require much attention. Other days, it grips with a chokehold. I do my best to cultivate ‘easy’ diabetes days and ask for help when it’s not. In these instances, I am incredibly grateful to my colleagues, especially those with T1D, who offer their help, knowledge, empathy, wisdom, and sometimes even their own medical supply stash. It’s this openness and kindness that make me feel like I am not alone on a raft far from shore.”
~ N. Rioles

✔️ “Being a primarily remote employee, I notice that I need to make an effort to fit in a walk at some point in my day, or I slowly see insulin resistance creeping in. I make sure I don’t overschedule myself and have time to do that.”
~ A. Cabrera

✔️ “Diabetes shows up for me every day in the workplace through the community of people I am privileged to work with, including those living with T1D, caregivers of children with T1D, and people who have had no connection but now feel like they do with their T1D coworkers. It’s easy to stay focused on the mission at work with so many people who ‘get it.’ There is no shortage of support at T1D Exchange.”
~ S. Walsh

✔️ “There’s a part of my brain that is either actively thinking about or always feeling the effects of my blood sugar. The constant anxiety of going low, always considering what my next food/exercise/insulin moves will be, and feeling foggy because my blood sugar is high.”

“That constant buzz in the back of my head can usually be quieted while I’m working, but the thoughts pop up all the time, and it’s distracting and mentally draining. I wish I were better at balancing my health and work, but it’s hard to work full-time while also taking care of T1D, which could be a full-time job itself.”
~ S. Howard

 

For those who care for a loved one with T1D, the experience can profoundly impact their life. Here’s how some T1D Exchange employees describe the intersection of caregiving with their professional role.

Being a caregiver for my son with T1D adds a level of worry that I don’t experience for myself — I often find myself worrying more about his diabetes than my own. I didn’t fully appreciate the nuances until I’ve held both roles. This experience has given me a deeper perspective on the day-to-day challenges of caregivers.
~ Jaime Lucove

 

After my daughter’s T1D diagnosis, we realized what a supportive and connected community we had become a part of. I wanted to shift my career focus to align with that. Six months later, I found an opportunity in the T1D space.

This work matters to me — to help drive meaningful impact for the broader community and to stay at the forefront of knowledge and innovation for my daughter’s health and well-being.

Now, with our son having autoantibodies, I’m especially grateful to be so connected to this community and privileged that I have been able to make T1D a part of my professional journey.
~ Suzanne McKee

 

My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 at five years old in 2007. In this pre-CGM era, it made for many sleep-disrupted nights and heightened levels of worry — even living with T1D myself. The spillover of this year-to-year was emotionally and physically exhausting.

While 40 years of life with T1D have shaped my career as a healthcare provider, advocate, and medical writer, my daughter’s diagnosis spurred and broadened the scope of my volunteerism for diabetes-related organizations as a mentor, camp nurse, board member, and cyclist for the Ride to Cure program. Community is everything.
~ Jewels Doskicz

Not everyone on our team has a personal connection to T1D, but all share a commitment to our mission. Here’s what inspires our employees to improve the lives of those with diabetes.

“My passion for helping others began in childhood. I grew up in foster care before being adopted, and my forever family continued fostering children. During that time, I shared my room with kids who had experienced trauma, just as I had.”

“These early experiences instilled in me a deep desire to support people who have faced hardship and to better understand the impact of trauma. I was drawn towards psychological research and eventually, health psychology, where I combine my research interest with my passion for improving people’s well-being.”

“Although I don’t have T1D, nor does anyone in my immediate family, I am deeply inspired by our work at T1D Exchange. I recognize that living with this lifelong condition can be traumatic for many individuals due to daily management demands, unpredictable health crises, and emotional strain.”

“I have witnessed firsthand how our research drives improvements in care and helps shape new therapies. It’s incredibly meaningful to contribute to real changes that improve lives. Being part of this work fulfills the dream I had as a little girl, to help others heal and thrive. That dream still guides me every day.”
~ K. Chapman

 

“When I joined T1D Exchange six years ago, I had no personal connection to or knowledge of type 1 diabetes (T1D). During my time with our organization, I have not only learned about T1D but also gained a better understanding of its profound impact on those living with it.”

“I’ve seen the challenges and frustrations that my colleagues (many of whom I consider friends) face in navigating the various aspects and considerations in balancing T1D management and other areas of their lives. I feel grateful to work with a team that is leveraging their lived experience and exceptional knowledge of T1D to support their community in a thoughtful and accessible way.”
~ C. Holubiak

 

“I’m inspired by my hardworking coworkers (both those living with T1D and those without), Registry participants, and the online community who share their stories and experiences. Seeing the impact of our research and the positive feedback we receive motivates me to continue this work.”

“The mission of T1D Exchange matters to me because I can apply my skills and knowledge to drive meaningful change. It’s important for me to stay up to date on the latest developments in T1D, including new technologies and medications, so I can continue to provide valuable data and results that help move us closer to our goals.”
~ E. Cornelius