In this episode of T1D Stories, Adrian Gonzalez speaks with Emily Herringshaw, a dermatology resident at the University of Massachusetts who has lived with type 1 diabetes since age two. Emily shares how her relationship with T1D evolved from childhood through medical school and into her medical career, including a period when she avoided talking about diabetes altogether. She discusses the role community played in helping her embrace the disease as part of her identity, the lessons T1D taught her about resilience and problem-solving, and how her experiences as a patient have shaped her approach to caring for others.
A Meaningful Moment from the Episode
As a child and teenager, Emily viewed diabetes primarily as something she had to manage. But as she became involved in the diabetes community and entered the medical field, her perspective began to change. She realized that her experiences could help her connect with patients and support others facing similar challenges, transforming diabetes from a burden into a source of purpose.
“I realized how much I could help other people with it. So it was no longer a hard experience that I was living, but it was one that I could help others through.”
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