Age: 13
Age at T1D diagnosis: 7

Gia is an up-and-coming female basketball player who plans to become legendary, just like her dad.

If it were not for sports, Gia’s diagnosis would have gone unnoticed and become fatal. Gia was diagnosed with T1D at age 7, and, at one point, became unconscious while in the emergency room. She believes her life was spared to use her platform to spread the word on the seriousness of T1D education. To do this, she documents her journey through social media, recently showing how activity can fluctuate and decrease sugar levels, affecting performance.

Gia and her family have built a large T1D community of friends who help each other battle this unseen disease. People do not realize how hard it is to live with T1D and perform at high levels in sports—or do ordinary, everyday things! Spectators wonder why Gia wears bright medical tape around her arms during sports. When asked, without hesitation, Gia turns it into a teachable moment, informing them about T1D and the lifesaving devices she wears under the bright medical tape that keep her alive.