On this episode we take a trip halfway around the world with Thando. Thando is from Johannesburg, South Africa.

She is 27 years old and was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes on November 11, 2022. She is in her toddler stages of living with T1D.

During her diagnosis she was in a coma for 2-3 days. Her grandmom knew something was wrong and was persistent that she gets checked out.

After her diagnosis her parents did want her to move back home but she decided not to because they have a different opinion on how to deal with diabetes. Plus, Thando didn't want to rely on people and chose to take the time to learn about diabetes herself. Her parents still don't understand her diabetes, how she got it or why she has to take insulin.

Being diagnosed 2 years ago has created issues in some of her relationships with loved ones. They still can't believe that

Thando at age 27 her life changed forever. It's also an awakening for her because after 27 years, everyday she's learning something new that she can't do nothing about. Thando does mourn her first 25 years of life and not having to worry about or think about diabetes. This does cause her to isolate.

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On this episode we will hear from Evita. Evita was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes in 1995 at 14 years old and has been living with T1D for 29 years. She is a mother of 3 and is a RN for almost 20 years, and works with people

with chronic disease management and case management and is currently on a track towards her doctorate.

At the age of 12 her father passed, and her family moved from Florida to Virginia. This was such a pivotal moment in young Evita's life. Experiencing

the events of trauma did lead up to her diagnosis.

Being a teenager with Type One Diabetes was the worse for Evita. She didn't want to give herself insulin and was a bit rebellious. Her mom would give her injections. At the time she was on NPH and Regular insulin.

Even in the hospital when they were training her on injecting an orange, she insisted her mom do it. Her mom broke all the needles she was given, hence Breaking Needles!

She remembers coming home from the hospital and getting a lot of attention and her cousin saying to her he wishes he had diabetes because she was getting all the attention. All she could say was,

you don't want this; you don't want this at all.

Evita has been able to pilot some programs in her career as an RN including one that helped reduce a1c's by strictly engaging in community and peer support.

Going into her junior year of high school Evita found out she was pregnant with her oldest daughter, now 26. She talks about those rebellious years, dealing with diabetes and how hard it was in labor.

What keeps Evita motivated even on days of burnout or when she doesn't want to do diabetes, are a reminder to herself, if you want to keep living and feeling ok that you have to do it!

On the day Evita is cured from Type One Diabetes she said the first thing she will do is run a mile and then go to Disney!! On that day we're going to Disney!!

Thank you, Evita,

Follow Evita on Instagram @_eeeevieee_

On this episode you will hear from Qiana Drew . Qiana was Diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, 4 days shy of her 21st birthday. Her daughter Lily was more recently diagnosed right before turning 10, 3 years ago.

Qiana is an artist in many aspects and realms such as singing, acting, dancing and public speaking. As a kid she wanted to be a singer, dancer model but at 5 years old when the pediatrician told her to look at her mom's height, at moment never end. Years later she would be modeling for multiple brands including Adidas and Coca Cola. She would also play a role in the Chris Rock movie Pootie Tang. Qiana was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at the peak of her career as an artist.

Qiana talks about her new passions include inspiring people that are living with diabetes. As she says, "No matter how much diabetes can beat you down at times and be a burden, keep your spirits high!" Even though diabetes stepped in, it did not defeat her. All of those 5-year-old little QiQi dreams are still valid today.

After her diagnosis her parents did everything to lift her spirits, including attempting to buy her a car. But right when it was time to sign off on the car Qiana experienced her first low blood sugar, and she did not get a car that day.

When she was 26 and living in Brooklyn, she had just got off her parent's insurance and was rationing her insulin. The girl group she was in was staying with Missy Elliott, yes, the MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT! Qiana would have small talk with Missy in the middle of the night while they both were raiding the kitchen.

Around this same time and being in the music industry, Qiana was exhausted and did have disordered eating. She actually went in DKA from insulin omission and spent 2 days in the ICU.

Not until years later when she had her daughter who has T1D now was the catalyst for her to peruse getting healthy.

Qiana was also in a R&B group in the early 2000's titled Tha Rayne and released a song titled Didn't You Know with Joe Budden and Lupe Fiasco.

About 2 months before her own diagnosis she met her first diabetic while working at the same car dealership she had her first low. She worked with a woman named Barbie. Barbie, to date is one of Qiana's heroes.

QiQi wants people to know to expect massive trial and error with diabetes and that you are off the hook because you are being tested all the time. Do not be too hard on yourself. Please share with your healthcare team your challenges and changes because they too need to know so that you can be your best.

Qiana speaks about her own daughter's diagnosis during this recording and how much she did not want to know nor accept it because her daughter was so young, and mom was just so hurt for this.

There were so many celeb/entertainer drops during this recording including hearing from Halle Berry's stylist about her treatment, JD Williams from The Wire

being her first high school boyfriend and seeing Rick Fox often in NYC with then wife Vanessa Williams, another Type One Diabetic.

On this episode you will hear from Maria. Let me jump right into the show's title, Lucky 777's with Maria...

Maria was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 7 years young. Her sister that is 3 years younger than Maria was diagnosed when Maria was 10, yes at 7 years young. That's not it! Maria's half-sister that lives in Puerto Rico, whom is 1 1/2 years younger than her sister was diagnosed, 1 1/2 years after, at you got it...7 years young, hence Lucky 777's.

Maria is a mother of 2 boys, and they are her reason! Again, she has been living with Type One Diabetes since she was 7 years young in 1996. She works as a family support provider and is and advocate for many and she knows that a lot of this has to do with her own upbringing with T1D at such a young age.

For a long time, she let diabetes define her but now she uses all she's gained to help others and give back to community.

Maria mentions how she has always put everyone else first. She learned that she should have boundaries when it comes to her own health.

Until her sister was diagnosed, she was the only person in her school that she knew with T1D. From day 1 at 7 she took on the responsibility of her own care and she did this for her sister too once she was diagnosed. Maria recalls how in school the teachers did not have any concern with her diabetes & that she had to begin. For a while she didn't give insulin in school for the most part, even during lunch. Not until her a1c was upwards of 13 did she start getting prescribed insulin to use at school.

Maria recalls all of those days, years advocating for herself at such a young age. Today Maria wants everyone to ask her all the questions that they have because she wants to be seen and heard because this is a great part of who she is.

Maria wants her boys, her little men to know that they truly saved her life, and she truly owes it all to them that she is at the positive space she is today with her health both physically and emotionally.

On this episode we get to travel with Tsega. Tsega has been living with T1D for 25 years and doesn't know a life without it.

Tsega is from both the Boston area and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her mother is from near Philadelphia and her father from Ethiopia. She spent her early childhood in both places but would travel to visit and stay with her mom's family in the US.

Ahead of her 9th birthday she came to US for about 2 weeks and a week before she was supposed to go back home to Ethiopia, she was diagnosed with T1D. This was on her 9th birthday, in the US.

When she went back home to Ethiopia the care there was so much different. She had to learn to use the tools she left the US with, in Addis. This has helped her live her life.

For the first 3 years of her having diabetes her and her mom would travel from Ethiopia to Boston and stay for

two weeks to get her medical supplies and to see her specialists so that she could continue getting the best care.

Both of her parents are educators and tried their best to help her navigate the landscape of this diagnosis. After 6-7 months after diagnosis, she went to diabetes camp for the next 4 summers, and then she became a counselor there.

This helped her with her understanding and management of her diabetes. She learned early on that finding and connecting with community has helped her the most. By the time she was 14 or 15 she was fully self-managing.

Today Tsega has been living solely in the US for 20 years now but still goes home to visit. When she does visit today,

people often ask questions about her gadgets.

Tsega speaks frequently about the sacrifices that her mom made to make sure that she had the best care. Her and her mom also were extremely engaged in Ethiopia in trying to get community engagement going around diabetes.

Tsega truly grew up traveling with diabetes.

One thing that she noticed with diabetes is that in the States she was able to be more open and talk about her diabetes

but then when she went home to Ethiopia it was treated differently from others. She seemed pitied and because of that it was treated as taboo. Even after 25 years she still gets asked should or can she eat certain things.

As Tsega says, we are aware of our own condition subconsciously, but it is mental gymnastics because diabetes is really hard, and we should give ourselves grace and credit for keeping ourselves alive.

Follow Tsega on Instagram

@tmesh

@ride4t1d

On this episode we will hear from Chelcie Rice. Chelcie was born and raised in Toccoa, Georgia, the same place where James Brown's career began and also where the HBO series Band of Brothers took place.

Chelcie was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1988-89 at 25. He began having the typical symptoms of frequent urination and weight loss. His roommate at the time noticed it all and asked him to set up an appointment with a urologist. The urologist diagnosed him with T1D at the same hospital that he worked at. Being diagnosed at 25, during the 1980's there was limited information that was given and available at that time, especially not for support.

Around 2005 Chelcie first experienced retinopathy in his left eye but not having the financial resources he trucked along for a while. Eventually, his retina completely detached in his right eye. Going through this did place him in a dark space for a while but he continued to press on.

Today, Chelcie is a true advocate for people living with chronic health conditions. He has had the opportunity to be on health forums all from telling his own story. He's been to conferences all over the U.S and even to Europe. Chelcie understands that his circle is greater than what he sees. It's

all around to lift him up and always just a phone call away when he is in need of a conversation.

What keeps him motivated is being able to reach people, have conversations and standing on purpose because community has equally helped him out along his journey.

Chelcie's family has always been supportive of him since his diagnosis. He witnessed the strengths of his parents and grandparents through many different situations in life.

Chelcie openly talks about how many people in the US, and specifically POC feel as though health care professionals are basically members of authority and many do treat them as though they're a figure of authority and it is hard to share with them intimate details or concerns.

Advocacy may start with advocating for himself, but it is definitely not where it ends. Chelcie's grit and determination

to aid others has no barrier. He not only stands against systems that deprived him, but he stands up for you, so that

you get the knowledge and respect that you too deserve.

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On this episode we get to hear from ⁠Shanell⁠. First thing first, this Love Story must be shared. In June 2023, Shanell was given another chance at life because of her husband gifting his kidney to a complete stranger. Love is EVERYTHING!!
Shanell was diagnosed with T1D on November 1st, 2001, the day after Halloween at only 12 years old and believes it made her who she is today, strong.
Shanell recalls Halloween 2001 & her body going through challenges & changes as she was walking, including her leg going numb.
The summer before diagnosis she remembers being extremely thirsty and urinating all day and night. When she came home after summer vacation her mom did notice how thin she was. After speaking with coworkers her mom was shared that this was all signs of diabetes. Shanell being the self-advocate she was, she told her mom that she needed to go to the doctors immediately. It was her mom's birthday. Upon examination her blood sugar was almost 800 mg/dl
and that's where her journey with T1D would begin.
Currently, ⁠Shanell⁠ is in school for entertainment & business & wants to be a voice for people living with & dealing with Type One Diabetes. She would love for everyone to know that they are not alone.
Shanell has been married for 5 years & has a 4-year-old.
At the young age of 32 after giving birth, Shanell started dialysis immediately. In two years, she was able to receive a kidney transplant. Shanell's husband actually gifted his kidney to someone so that she too could receive a kidney. To this day she does not know who her kidney came from but recognizes it as a true gift & would like to thank that person. Her husband doesn't even know who he gave his kidney to. June of 2024 made 1 yr since she received her kidney transplant.
Shanell wants to personally share with everyone, to please take your health serious. As she says, "I don't look like what I been through, but I've been through to a lot!"
Follow Shanell on social media
⁠TikTok⁠ @always_shanell1
Instagram @always_shanell
⁠Shanell Becton - My Showcase⁠⁠