Dawnelle was 25 years old and teaching in England when she began experiencing symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes. After a cruise to Greece, she attributed her unquenchable thirst to the heat. Her eyesight changed dramatically due to high blood sugar, requiring new glasses. When she lost 10 pounds in less than a week, she knew something was seriously wrong. Diagnosed on her Grandma's birthday, her mother flew over to be with her.
Dawnelle loves photography, travel, reading, hiking, and swimming. As an award-winning photographer, she finds that travel, while enjoyable, makes managing her blood sugars challenging due to the disruption of routine and the need to carry supplies.
Having just turned 50, Dawnelle is entering this new chapter by pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Proud of her devices, she loves showing them off and wants to raise awareness and funds. Although diagnosed at 25, she believes there should be diabetes camps for adults too.
To celebrate her 50th birthday, Dawnelle traveled to Iceland for a photography tour. The constant daylight in July presented unique challenges for her blood sugar management as she was often up until 4 a.m. chasing the best light. Despite running higher than she liked, she enjoyed the experience, even though it included her most expensive low—a $10 Pepsi!
Dawnelle is modeling in the Pump Couture Fashion Show to raise awareness and funds for D-Camps. She hopes her story will inspire others and help send more kids to D-Camps.
Please show your support by helping Dawnelle reach her fundraising goal to send more kids to D-Camps!
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