“I’m Sabella! I’ve lived with T1D for 20 years! I was diagnosed when I was 11 years old, in 2002. My heart’s work is helping families living with T1D. Eventually, I had become very skilled with my own blood sugar management that I felt confident enough to do it for T1D kids, so I looked into providing childcare for a T1D family in the fall of 2019. I connected with the Kuelker family through SafeSittings and little did I know at the time, their 6 year-old T1D son, Remy, would become my diabestie! I nannied for 2 other T1D families from 2020 - 2021. My time spent with these T1D children allowed me to realize how much I was able to positively influence the integration of T1D into their emotional, social, and cognitive development through daily blood sugar management, play, and kinship. In time, as my love grew for each of these children, I began to more fully understand the experience of a caregiver to a T1D child. Now, I feel like I can bridge the two.

There’s a lot that goes into living with T1D. Much more support is needed for our community than an initial 3-day hospital stint & quarterly 17-minute visit with your endo. I couldn’t imagine not committing to this work. I hope that through my commitment and the rest of the TOT team, we are able to create a reality where T1D families have the support, community, and resources they need to live healthy, happy, & fulfilling lives with T1D.”