Every morning, 1.5 million people wake up in America, check their blood glucose levels, and continue the battle against Type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune disease that presently has no cure.
To lead full and active lives in the face of this 24/7 disease, people living with Type 1 diabetes confront difficult choices on a constant basis, exerting uncommon willpower in pursuit of the stable blood glucose levels that the majority of Americans take for granted.
The self control exercised by Type 1 diabetics – their Type 1 Willpower – is truly remarkable. We admire it. We are inspired by it. We celebrate it.
Our Inspiration
Diagnosed at the age of four, William has chosen to embrace the world from this day forward, focusing on what he must do every day to lead the life he has imagined, rather than dwelling on why he contracted a disease that has not yet been cured.
To achieve the stable blood glucose levels needed to perform at his best, William must carefully balance his insulin doses with the carbohydrates he eats, his activity levels and countless other factors such as growth spurts, adrenaline rushes, heat and humidity, stress, and illnesses as minor as the common cold.
Left no option but to mature more quickly than should be expected of any child, William exerts Type 1 Willpower every moment of every day as he learns to manage this relentless disease on his own.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when a person's immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter the body's cells. Glucose is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, which can cause life-threatening complications. Different factors, including genetics and exposure to viruses and environmental factors, may contribute to the onset of type 1 diabetes, but the exact cause is unknown.
Our Mission
Type 1 Willpower sends kids living with Type 1 diabetes to camp, funds college scholarships, and supports important cure-focused research.
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100% of every dollar raised in 2018 and beyond directly supports the beneficiaries of Type 1 Willpower.
Our beneficiaries
Read about the organizations that Type 1 Willpower supports.
Contact us
Send us a message if you would like to learn more about Type 1 Willpower or volunteer on Thanksgiving morning.