My two-year-old was diagnosed with what is commonly referred to as Type 1 Diabetes, facing an ordeal with a moderate Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). She now depends on an insulin pump to help her manage this autoimmune disease. This name, "Type 1 Diabetes", has led many individuals to misjudge her condition, concluding that it's a disease caused by consumption of too many sugary foods. This misconception is widespread and detrimental to understanding the true nature of this autoimmune disease.

A study by the JDRF found that around 1.6 million Americans have Type 1 Diabetes, an autoimmune disease where the pancreas fails to produce insulin, regardless of lifestyle or diet (Source: JDRF). Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which can sometimes be managed with diet and exercise, Type 1 requires daily administration of insulin to survive.

Renaming this disease would aid in distinguishing it from Type 2 diabetes, clearing up the incorrect assumption that it results from an overdosage of sugar, and emphasizing the fact that it is, in reality, an autoimmune condition that people, like my daughter, are born with. We must correct this misunderstanding to give this serious condition the respect and attention it deserves.

Please sign this petition and promote better education and awareness about this autoimmune disease currently known as Type 1 Diabetes. Let's take a step towards understanding, eliminating misconceptions, and supporting informed conversations for all touched by this disease.