Hailey Lowe
Type 1 Diabetes Success Story
Hailey Lowe has been living with Type 1 diabetes since the age of six. Her Kindergarten teacher thought she was “taking advantage” when she went to the bathroom ten times in one day. Her body ached, and she was constantly exhausted. On October 10, 2006, Hailey’s pediatrician sent her to the ER at UMass Memorial, where she was diagnosed with T1D.
As a high school student, her future goals served as a self-motivation to take care of her health. She looked forward to getting married, having a family, and a career.
She enjoys carbs, but Hailey knows that people with diabetes should eat more fruit and veggies. “When watermelon, strawberries, and oranges are in season, I stock up and enjoy them!”
She finds exercise much easier when it’s fun. Hailey enjoys running, and in high school she played rugby. “I’m more productive at both when I have better control of my numbers,” she said. Her Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM) gives her confidence that during a game, she would receive plenty of warning about a potential oncoming low. She packed her rugby bag with plenty of snacks, just in case.
Hailey recommends developing a relationship with the school nurse. “My nurse from elementary school was my confirmation sponsor. Having her in my life has been a blessing. She taught me how to take care of myself and made managing diabetes much easier.”
She has become excellent at “guesstimating” with carbs. “I enjoy guessing what my numbers will be before I check,” she said. “I have contests with other diabetics to see who has better numbers, the best A1C or the lowest insulin dose.”
Hailey has been forced to manage several medical issues in addition to T1D and never seems to complain. She maintains a positive attitude about her health care. She raised money for JDRF through their fundraising walks when they were in Central Mass. Her team name was “HaiLowe” and the team motto says it all: