"I feel I was very blessed to be diagnosed at eight years old. I was old enough to understand what was going on, for the most part, but young enough to adapt quickly. I first managed my diabetes using insulin syringes but quickly switched to the pen. My advice to someone who is diagnosed around that age is to embrace it. Going back to school can be extremely challenging at first. But most people will not know much about diabetes and will be eager to learn. So don’t be afraid to talk about it and don’t hide it. It is now a part of you and you can celebrate that thing that makes you different."