Charlie Crawford

Charlie Crawford

13 years old

T1D for 4 years  

 Hi! My name is Charlie Crawford; I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 4 years ago at the age of 9 on September 24, 2012. When I was first diagnosed it was a very scary time for me and my family. From the start I knew this was a thing I would have to deal with for the rest of my life.  But the doctors kept telling me that I could still do anything I ever wanted even though I had type 1 diabetes.

In the hospital I really just didn’t think that was true, I thought that I couldn’t hang out with friends like I used to, still perform in plays, do martial arts, or go to camp.  Although I still had my doubts, through the JDRF I began to realize that what the doctors had told me months before was a reality.

Recently I did some math and found out over these 4 years of having Type 1 I have had to take around 7,300 shots, about 5 a day and I have had to prick my fingers 11,680 times about 8 times a day. When you add it all up what a diabetic does every day is quite overwhelming. Type 1 is a daily challenge.