“T1Ds Are Tube-ular Mountain Meetup” is March 3rd.
—Provided photo
On Sunday, March 3, members of the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community and their loved ones will gather in Keene’s Granite Valley for a day of fun in the snow.
The T1Ds Are Tube-ular Mountain Meetup is the brainchild of concerned parents who want a world without T1D, while diabetes is a barrier for many due to dietary and lifestyle restrictions.
Diabetes targets the body’s ability to produce insulin. The pancreas struggles to produce enough (if any) insulin, the hormone responsible for diffusing sugar into blood cells. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the blood, which can lead to various complications such as hypoglycemia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, T1D is observed in only 5% to 10% of people with diabetes. Rare autoimmune variants of the disease can develop at any age and can be caused by everyday illnesses. Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes both rely on insulin treatment through regular injections or patches. Chronic diseases, along with a reduced baseline immune defense, can also lead to severe allergies such as celiac disease.
Amanda Perry, from County Antrim, has been spearheading efforts to provide support to people with diabetes and their families. She is a founding member of her group, T1Ds of Monadnock, which meets monthly at Keene’s Cheshire Medical Center. Perry said she started the group with parents of children with type 1 diabetes after similar programs were discontinued at other local hospitals. The group runs its own fundraiser and aims for general social acceptance and public education about T1D, providing information and resources to those interested.
“T1Ds Are Tube-ular Mountain Meetup” was Perry’s idea.
“My son was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. He’s 4 years old,” Perry said. I had no idea that literally anyone could be diagnosed at any time and at any age. ”
Sunday’s event is aimed at building connections within the T1D community, especially for children like Perry’s son. Perry organized the event not to raise money, but to allow children and teens with diabetes to connect with others who can relate to the T1D lifestyle.
“I’m doing this just as a volunteer because I feel there’s a need. So I’m going to do another event if possible, but maybe in April or something, I haven’t narrowed it down too much,” Perry said. “We’re going to see how this goes. So there seems to be a lot of interest in the Facebook event. So, hopefully we can make some connections. I think it’s I’m looking forward to it.”
Perry also emphasized the importance of connections within the T1D community.
“My goal for this event is to provide T1D families with a fun time and an opportunity to connect with others, and to encourage them to attend more events, because they want to help not only themselves but other T1D families. Because you can make a difference in your life,” she said. “I also want to spread awareness about her type 1 diabetes in my community.”
The “T1Ds Are Tube-ular Mountain Meetup” will be held at Granite Gorge, 341 Route 9, Keene, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be giveaways and raffles. Admission is $29 per person for tubing and $41 per person for skiing.
