Welcome to JDRF Bay Area’s blog, One on 1, a series of interviews with people who live with T1D. Members of the community will talk about how T1D affects them, how they manage it and how they have conquered it. Today we talk with Michelle Luedtke, a full-time working mom of a baby boy. She works as a Visual Information Specialist at Applied Survey Research. Michelle is one of the 50% of people with T1D diagnosed as an adult:

JDRF Bay Area: You were diagnosed with T1D in 2012 at the age of 28 and now you have an adorable nine-month old son. Between your career and caring for your baby, how do you find time to manage T1D?

Michelle:  You make time. I think the CGM (continuous glucose monitor) helps me a lot. I think I also had to come to terms with not being as hard on myself about my care and my glucose readings. I had to give myself a break and not beat myself up about a high that was unexpected or lasted longer than planned. During the early days of motherhood, particularly when I was dealing with a lot of lows, I had to realize that I’m no good to my son if I pass out.  So if that means he may have to cry a little while I treat that low, then that’s for both his safety and my own.

JDRF Bay Area:  You are a big supporter of the JDRF Walk. Why is this event so important to you?

Michelle: I wanted to be engaged in the T1D community for my own well-being and in addition to other groups, I found the JDRF.  The Walk felt like a natural extension of my efforts to feel like a part of this community and to do my part towards finding a cure. Additionally, it was a good platform to engage my friends and family as well as to educate them about T1D.

Our team is T1DWTF. The true meaning of the name can be inferred. We’ve also adopted the alternate meaning of WTF for Winning the Future when kids are present (wink). I started a blog of the same name when I was initially diagnosed as a way to sort out what I was going through. I’m terrible about updating it now but I keep it up should I get inspired to rant about blood sugars, carb counting, and now, parenting with T1D. It sounds funny to say but the “best” part of my diagnosis was meeting an incredible set of people who accomplish great things while managing a very challenging, demanding and all-consuming condition.  It has been incredibly inspiring and certainly has been a motivation for me, particularly when I find myself struggling.

JDRF Bay Area: Why do you feel it’s important to fundraise for the Walk?

Michelle: As a person with T1D, fundraising is one way that I can support the efforts for better care options and a cure myself. It offers me a hands on way to support a cause that means a tremendous amount to me. Now that I am a mom, I also think it’s really important to show my son that when something is important to you, you do what you can to support it and help it be a success.

JDRF Bay Area: What do you want people to know about T1D and what would a cure mean to you?

Michelle: T1D is challenging at best. It is always on my mind and factors into every decision I make. It affects how I eat, how I sleep, how I exercise, everything.  Having a later-in-life diagnosis has certainly given me greater perspective and appreciation for a carefree lifestyle, which my pre-T1D self certainly took for granted.  To have a cure would mean getting my freedom back. It would mean no more finger sticks, insets, shots and always having sugar on hand. A cure would be liberating.