Age: 17
Age at T1D diagnosis: 15

Sanne is the Dutch Delegate at JDRF 2017 Children’s Congress. In the first three months after her diagnosis, she struggled with adapting to T1D. She says, “I encountered many difficulties trying out this new way of life. For example, finding a way to keep up with my schoolwork while trying to cope with extreme exhaustion.” After a few months, Sanne turned her frustrations into advocacy. She has appeared on the radio, in the newspaper, and on television. She says, “If my calculations are correct, I have reached around 450,000 people.” She’s looking forward to advocating for people with T1D at Children’s Congress and bringing that experience back to the Netherlands. She explains, “I will have a new story to tell so after my trip I can continue raising awareness. I also hope to be inspired by other Delegates.”