Last year, students on Grounds founded the University’s chapter of The Diabetes Link, a national organization aimed at uplifting people impacted by diabetes, specifically Type I. The Contracted Independent Organization hosts a variety of events that build community and educate members about the disability, ranging from guest speaker presentations to volunteering at a local camp. As its presence on Grounds grows, Diabetes Link hopes to connect more people to diabetes-related resources and create a network of members passionate about awareness.
As President and Vice President of the CIO, third-year College student Hilda Joseph and second-year Education student Elise Bowen aim to create a safe space for sharing experiences with diabetes and make club members more informed about the condition.
“My broader vision for U.Va. and for the world is for everybody to understand the condition and to be comfortable talking about how we can give people better resources and access to the care they need,” Bowen said.
Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by insulin deficiency, and it has historically been shrouded in stigma and misconceptions. According to Joseph, Diabetes Link works to remedy ignorance about Diabetes and forge bonds among students with educational and community-building activities at their meetings.
“Raising awareness can help correct misconceptions, reduce judgment and promote empathy overall,” Joseph said. “I also think it encourages people to be aware of symptoms and risk factors. For people who already have [diabetes] on Grounds, it's good to have that space where they don't feel isolated.”
As someone who has the disability, Bowen said she hopes that Diabetes Link will dismantle negative assumptions among University students about Type I diabetes. With Type I, the body produces little insulin because the immune system destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for insulin production. Type I is often conflated with Type II diabetes, where the body becomes “insulin resistant,” resulting in rises in blood sugar. Type II diabetes has a much later onset age and is often, though not always, caused by physical inactivity or excess body fat.
Because of the shame surrounding speaking out, conversations about diabetes risk being silenced, according to Bowen.
“Diabetes isn’t very talked about because of the stigma that comes with the word,” Bowen said. “When I was growing up, people were afraid to talk about their experiences with Type I diabetes because people confused it with Type II diabetes, and they would make fun and say ‘Oh, you must be overweight’ or ‘You must be unhealthy,’ even though it’s completely different.”
To spread diabetes awareness into the community, Bowen aims to specifically engage people without diabetes so they can learn what it is like to live with the condition. In doing so, she hopes Diabetes Link will contribute to a more informed and empathetic University community.
“Something that people without diabetes don't think about often is how many times throughout the day we have to count carbs when we make our food, and how that works,” Bowen said. “I think it would be fun to have a bring-a-friend cooking class, where people can learn what cooking with Type I diabetes looks like.”
Beyond those who have the disability themselves, members of the club include biomedical engineers and other pre-med students who seek a greater understanding of the condition before they enter the workforce. There are also club members who have relatives with diabetes and want to learn how to better support their loved ones.
Joseph said that in the near future, the club plans to host educational workshops with doctors, pathologists, nutritionists and other guest speakers who can offer valuable insight to the organization’s members. To her, making Diabetes Link a bigger advocacy presence on Grounds is a major aspiration for the CIO’s second year.
Furthering their impact, Diabetes Link is exploring the possibility of volunteering at Camp Holiday Trails, a nonprofit camp for children and teens with medical needs 20 minutes outside of Grounds. The organization offers a program specifically for children with diabetes, connecting it well to the CIO’s mission of understanding and acceptance at any age.
“[We want to organize] an opportunity for people to go help fix up the camp and have a greater connection to what diabetes care and management looks like right here in Charlottesville,” Bowen said.
For Bowen, camp is a personal passion. Growing up, she attended one for children with Type I diabetes through Brainy Camps, and the open environment of that program helped her destigmatize her experience with the condition. Now, she seeks to bring that feeling of acceptance to Camp Holiday Trails.
“There are a lot of kids who didn't grow up in a space like that,” Bowen said. “Now [that] they’re adults, creating an environment at U.Va. where people feel free to share those experiences is important to me. It can be anything from their diagnosis story to going to the store and having someone make a weird comment about their insulin pump.”
Bowen also served as a counselor at the camp once she got older. She said that her experience looking after kids with diabetes was incredibly formative for her, and it has inspired her to create spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging and visibility, regardless of their disability.
Visibility, or “feeling seen,” emerges as a dominant theme of what Diabetes Link seeks to cultivate in the University community. Through day-to-day activities, the club’s members enjoy an environment that accepts their experiences and encourages them to speak out.
“As I got older, I started really connecting with the disabled community and understanding that just because Type I diabetes is a chronic condition and is invisible, that doesn't mean it's not a disability,” Bowen said. “That was a label that I started to really take back for myself, and I learned how to advocate for my needs.”
Heading into its fourth semester of operation at the University, Diabetes Link keeps the ideals of empathetic community and disability education at the core of its efforts to grow as an organization. Joseph said that she is excited to see the impact the club will have for years to come.
“I hope this club is able to empower people,” Joseph said. “We want people to have a safe space to be seen and heard.”
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