insulindependent
about me
Ellie Quam
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 9 years old. Now I am 19 years old and have lived with T1D for over 10 years. My experience growing up with a chronic illness taught me more about responsibility, accountability, and staying positive in the face of adversity than any other aspect of my life. As all diabetics know, there are ups and downs that factor into managing this disease. It can be a lonely and isolating experience, especially when navigating everything that comes with growing up. However, I also know the power of having a strong community for support and to help stay positive when times are hard.
I started college in the fall of 2019. The summer before, I spent a lot of time preparing for college regarding how I would manage my diabetes alone. I am from Minnesota and moved to California for college. This was the first time I was truly alone when it came to taking care of myself and my diabetes. It was a big change. I learned a lot about myself and what works best for me through trial and error, but I wish there had been more resources for young adults making the transition to college from people who had already gone through it. I hope people find this website useful in their journey to becoming confident and independent in their college experience.
*If you would like to connect with me, you can find me on instagram: @elliequam and on DMP: @elliequam *