Age: 5
Age at T1D diagnosis: 1

T1D knows no age limits. Garrett Allen was diagnosed at age one, having spent a fraught night in the neonatal intensive care unit after his parents were alerted by his symptoms. “The emergency room doctor told us that had we waited any longer,” says his mother, Sally, “Garrett likely would not have made it.”

In 2011, Garrett was also diagnosed with celiac disease. But he doesn’t let either diagnosis get in the way of playing football and baseball, being outside, or enjoying full-time pre-kindergarten. In fact, he checks his own blood sugar! Garrett is also an accomplished fundraiser. Over the last three years, he has participated in JDRF Walks and helped raise $15,000 for T1D research. As one of the younger delegates, he hopes to help Congress understand what life is like as a preschooler living each day with T1D.