Bloomingdale High School Senior Raises Awareness About Juvenile Diabetes

Allie Isabel is raising money and awareness for juvenile diabetes one step at a time.

Diagnosed with the disease at the age of 2, the 18-year-old doesn't remember a life before juvenile diabetes. And now this Bloomingdale High School senior, along with more than 30 friends and family members, is participating in her eighth Hillsborough County Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes to be held April 9 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"I've been a diabetic for 15 years and I know how difficult this disease is," stated Isabel. "If we find the cure, future children will not have to deal with this illness and its drastic complications." 

Over the years Isabel, who will attend St. Augustine's Flagler College next year to major in early childhood education, has endured more than 7,400 injections in her legs, arms and stomach due to diabetes, and now considers her insulin pump a treasured item.

"I was able to get my insulin pump at age 11, nine years after being diagnosed with diabetes and taking two shots every day. The insulin pump has changed my life."

As a child with diabetes, there were many things Isabel was not able to do. Ice cream, candy, even simple things like sleepovers with friends were difficult.

"My insulin pump gave me the freedom to become a regular teenager," stated Isabel. "Now I can go out with friends, eat what I want, and know that shots don't have to be on my mind every minute of the day. It's not always easy, but with the pump, I can be a teenager who occasionally knows what it's like to be diabetes free."

Now Isabel encourages others to get out and walk to the cure. Individuals can sign up to walk as part of a team or alone.

"It's not hard," states Isabel, "and it's for a wonderful cause."   

If interested in signing up for the April 9 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's "Walk To The Cure," visit http://www2.jdrf.org. Sign-up information is on the site.