American Diabetes Association Chooses New Youth Advocate

I’ve often said that getting diabetes as a young child has to be the most difficult thing. I got diabetes when I was in my early 20s, and it’s been a challenge enough!

So I have a soft spot for all those children that deal with diabetes. How can you not?

That’s why I like the fact that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) always chooses a child each year to be the “national youth advocate.” It’s one thing to hear people talk about the challenges of diabetes, it’s only to see a young child talk about all they go through.

This year the ADA has chosen “Chris Stokes, 17, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to be the Association’s 2009 National Youth Advocate.”

Chris got diabetes when he was just a baby. A baby!

The youth advocate position is not just for show. As part of his duties as national youth advocate, Chris will:

“spend a year meeting with policy makers, promoting the Association’s advocacy agenda, and reaching out to young people and adults to encourage them to become involved in the fight against diabetes.”

Can you imagine how awesome it would be to have Chris live without diabetes? After all this time having it? His whole life? I think that would be very “sweet” indeed!