Meet- Anita Nicole Brown 

Anita was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on November 12, 1998.  Anita shares, "technically the signs began when I was in 8th grade. But I wasn't diagnosed until my senior year of high school. The first one was weight loss! I went from weighing 125 pounds in 8th grade to under 100 pounds in my senior year of high school! Next was the increased hunger and thirst! Followed by the frequent urination. By the time I was diagnosed, I was also experiencing numbness and tingling in my legs and feet followed by always being tired and blurred vision! When I was diagnosed, my A1Cs were almost at 30 (28 to be exact) and my glucose levels were over 1,000! After diagnosed, I was also diagnosed with Diabetic Neuropathy (nerve damage) in my legs and feet! That eventually cost me the ability to walk for about a year! Years later (while working on getting my A1Cs down) I was also diagnosed with a thyroid disorder. But I worked hard to get my A1Cs under control and my thyroid disorder was gone!"

Best Practices

Anita shares the most helpful advice she can give is to “accept your diagnosis!” That is the hardest hurdle but once you accept that, everything else gets easier! 

Next I would say to not be afraid of food! But remember to use MODERATION when eating! Also, do not be worried about using insulin! If our bodies were fine, we would be producing all the insulin necessary so don't worry about using it to eat!

Another tip, learn how YOUR body deals with everything from food, to stress, to illness, and more! Hopefully you'll find a doctor who will work with you on this because knowing this will allow you more control over yourself AND Diabetes!

Finally, don't be so engrossed in the glucose levels that you let life pass you by and you forget to enjoy it!

Success Story

Anita’s T1D is very controlled and has been over the past 5-6 years. Her my chart now says “ controlled” and that has made her very happy!

Anita shares "There is so much I want to share about my fight for T1D Positivity and Awareness! I don't just believe that insulin affordability is the most important part of T1D management. Yes it is a HUGE part but education is the biggest! So I have been pushing about education and awareness and supplies for those we depend on to help us live with this disease! I am so tired of the misdiagnosis cases and doctors not understanding how useful insulin pumps and CGMs are! And I feel that if they were more educated, this will cut down so much!"

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Anita is all about changing the perspective of what it means to be a Type One Diabetic! She has shared a few articles that she has been featured: 

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• https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/actress-model-anita-nicole-brown#1

• https://thediabeticjourney.com/a-positive-outlook-leads-to-a-positive-outcome/

• http://www.t1dlike.me/t1d-stories/2016/12/27/anitas-story-1

• https://diabeticsdoingthings.com/podcast/episode-055-diabetics-doing-acting-and-advocacy-with-anita-nicole-brown

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For ways to reach out to Anita, please see below:

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• http://anitanicolebrown.com

• http://www.imdb.me/anitanicolebrown

• http://www.facebook.com/AnitaNicoleBrown

• http://twitter.com/AnitaNBrown

• https://www.instagram.com/anita_nicole_brown/​

T1DJ August Featured Spotlight