Nick Jonas

Jonas, de Baubigny, Lucas and Talbot launch Beyond Type 1, a non-profit organization dedicated to “bringing a new level of respect, understanding and support” to the global Type 1 diabetes community. Each of the founders has a personal connection to the disease: Jonas was diagnosed age 13, de Baubigny’s son was diagnosed at the age of five in 2012, Lucas’ daughter was diagnosed in 1998, age seven, and Talbot was diagnosed age 12. Lucas is the organization’s CEO. A website (http://www.beyondtype1.org/) has been set up to raise awareness. Jonas:

Nearly ten years ago my life changed dramatically when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Since then, I learned how to manage and live well with this disease and made it my mission to speak openly about it with the hope of helping others deal with the struggles of managing diabetes in their own life. When I share my personal story, the questions I most often hear are, ‘What did you eat that gave you diabetes?’ or ‘Does that mean you were lazy as a kid?’ Although it’s been difficult to deal with the misinformation out there, I always found a way to not let the lack of knowledge surrounding diabetes affect me.  I can’t do that any longer, and that is why I’m excited to join Juliet, Sarah and Sam in BEYOND TYPE 1…With BEYOND TYPE 1, we will create a community for diabetics where they can share real-life stories about how they are living beyond Type 1 diabetes, and how they have shown that living with the disease has not slowed them down.