Age: 8
Age at T1D diagnosis: 14 months

Lukas likes to ride his bike, read and play video games with his friends. He’s proud that he went to three summer camps last year—and changed his own pod for the first time. He says, “Type 1 research is important to me because I want scientists to make diabetes easier.” Since his diagnosis, Lukas and his mother have met with their Representatives many times to discuss what it’s like to live with T1D. The family has also taken part in JDRF TypeOneNation Summits, advocacy events and Beat the Bridge fundraisers for JDRF, where Lukas has shared his T1D story in front of large groups of people. He says, “Why should Congress support diabetes research? To save lives everywhere and stop diabetes!”