The Backseat Driver

Sixteen-year-old Tess vividly remembers the day she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. “I’m scared…I think I’m terminally ill…my life is entirely different.” As a teenager, she longs for independence and wants to manage her illness on her own; she orders her own supplies and picks up prescriptions on her own. “All of that preparation is making me feel better about the transition from high school to college”. Five years after her diagnosis, Tess provides tips and insights for other kids living with Type 1 Diabetes and offers advice for concerned parents, “If you want your Type 1 Diabetic [child] to succeed, you should help them succeed on their own…and trust goes a long way.”