Conquering My Type 1 Diabetes: Kimberly’s Story

When your job is to protect others, you don’t take chances with your own safety. Kimberly, a seasoned HR professional in the oil and gas industry, has spent over two decades making sure her team feels seen, supported, and safe. But when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 26, that mission became deeply personal. That’s when her journey with MedicAlert began—and it’s a relationship that’s protected her ever since.

A life-changing diagnosis

At the age of 26, Kimberly was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Prior to receiving her diagnosis, the idea of wearing a medical ID was on Kimberly’s mind. As someone who traveled and lived alone, Kimberly wondered, “If something happened to me, who would help me?”

At a doctor’s appointment, her endocrinologist suggested she get a MedicAlert bracelet. She knew at that moment that it was something she had to do.

For someone living with diabetes, a MedicAlert medical ID can be a lifesaver. This is especially true for individuals living with type 1 diabetes. This less common form of diabetes requires insulin. If you are in an accident or have another medical emergency, a MedicAlert ID bracelet can ensure that first responders and emergency medical teams are aware of medication needs and condition.

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About Diabetes

Learn more about this condition on the medical conditions page.

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Conquering my type 1 diabetes

Today, Kimberly is leading an active, healthy life—and with the help of MedicAlert, she’s still helping others do the same.

Many people don’t realize that MedicAlert’s benefits extend far beyond the ID. If the unthinkable happens, Kimberly knows that with a MedicAlert Protection Plan, someone at MedicAlert can provide first responders with her complete medical history. This includes medications, conditions, doctors contact information, in case of emergency (ICE) contacts, and more.

Most importantly, “MedicAlert will contact my husband and tell him what’s happening,” Kimberly says. Having your loved one by your side in an accident or medical emergency is not a ‘perk’ but a necessity. No one should be alone in their moment of need. And with MedicAlert, they don’t have to be.

Kimberly’s belief in MedicAlert Foundation also drives her to be a loyal donor. For Kimberly, supporting a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit makes sense. “I am in the financial position to give,” she says, “and I’m grateful for MedicAlert.”

Facts About Diabetes

The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 29.2%, or 15.9 million seniors (diagnosed and undiagnosed)

$327 billion: Total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2017

1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.

Facts and figures

According to some of the most recent figures published by the CDC, around 1.3 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. As a result, type 1 diabetes is considered much less common than type 2 diabetes, which affects around 37.3 million U.S. adults. In addition, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that 96 million Americans age 18 and older had prediabetes as of 2019. Further, 3.1 million adults aged 20 or older—10.8% of all U.S. adults diagnosed with diabetes—started insulin within a year of their diagnosis.

While type 1 diabetes often begins in childhood, during the teen years, or as a young adult, the condition can start at any age, with men being diagnosed more often than women. And in adults, the onset of symptoms can be very sudden, and in some cases, severe. This is one of the many reasons why people living with type 1 diabetes should wear a medical ID.

Our bracelets, wallet cards, necklaces, and other medical IDs can protect you 24/7 by relaying your vital medical information to healthcare professionals, ensuring accurate treatment during an emergency. Visit MedicAlert IDs to select a medical ID that’s right for you.

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