You never know how much your life can change in an instant, but with five little words “you have Type One Diabetes”, she joined the close-knit community of about 40,000 people that are diagnosed with Type One Diabetes annually per the ADA.
JDRF defines Type One Diabetes as, “an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food.” It most often strikes in childhood or during young adulthood.
Katelyn shared, “Of course, these are often busy times in our lives. When diagnosed, it was during my last year as a cybersecurity graduate student and halfway through my reign as Miss Florida Global Continental 2022”. She knew something was wrong as she lost 30 pounds, had blurred vision, and was sleepy. At one point, she was having trouble even walking and needed help to get around.
After diagnosis Katelyn had to learn how to manage her new condition, a continuous glucose monitor, a continuous insulin pump, rigorous studies, and prepare for a national pageant. She credits her faith, family, medical team, and pageant sisters that gave her the strength she needed to overcome and grow. She shared “I spent time researching how I could compete, given that my continuous glucose monitor, and continuous insulin pump would be visible during the swim competition. I then learned that Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson and Miss Idaho 2014 Sierra Sandison competed with an insulin pump. This gave me the drive I needed to not let my new condition hold me back from the things that I love.”
She will incorporate her Tandem Insulin Pump and Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor into every single look on stage. “If I’m competing, I’m competing for all of us,” Katelyn says, and “I’m showing up as my true authentic self, it’s my hope that this doesn’t stop with me. Whatever your chronic illness or ability levels, let’s continue to change the face of pageantry together.”
