By Myah French OMAHA, Neb. – November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to a disease that affects more than 1.6 million Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People living with Type 1 diabetes must monitor their blood sugar levels and take insulin every day to survive.
For many, managing Type 1 diabetes is part of everyday life, often without anyone noticing. College student Hannah Matteo has lived with the condition for years and said most people around her don’t realize it.
“It’s something that I manage quietly. I don’t really like telling people that I have diabetes unless they ask,” Matteo said. “Diabetes is something that we can control, but we can’t predict.”
That quiet daily management is something Chris Dunn, Nebraska chapter director for Breakthrough Diabetes, understands personally. Dunn’s son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 2 years old. What began as a difficult and isolating time became her motivation to help others.
“It was the first day where we felt hope, where we felt community with all these other people who were living with the same disease — and where we felt empowered that we could make a difference for our son,” Dunn said.
Now, Dunn helps lead the Omaha chapter of Breakthrough Diabetes, which provides education, community events and emotional support for families and individuals living with Type 1. She said awareness is vital to helping others understand the realities of the disease and the importance of early screening.
“This isn’t a community any of us would have chosen to join, but once you’re here, you find that it’s an incredible tribe of strong people — and we’re all rowing the boat together,” Dunn said.
National Diabetes Awareness Month serves as a reminder that even though Type 1 diabetes may be invisible, the challenges are constant, and community support makes all the difference.
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