What It's Really Like Living With An Invisible Autoimmune Disease


What It’s Really Like Living With an Invisible Autoimmune Disease


What is it like to live with an autoimmune disease that no one can see?

For many people, this is their daily reality — and I am one of them.


I have lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 45 years. It has been a silent battle most of my life. People see us smiling on the outside, but they don’t see the exhaustion on the inside. Some days we have to gather every bit of strength just to make it through work, get home, and try to rest… but true rest rarely comes.


There is the constant routine of checking blood sugar, keeping numbers in range, adjusting insulin, and trying to live a “normal” life while your body is fighting you. People think it’s easy — but it’s not. You can eat right one day and suddenly nothing works. You can exercise and your sugar drops too low or spikes too high. Every correction takes a toll on your body and your mind.


What makes it harder is all the misinformation that people believe about Type 1 Diabetes. When we hear it, we have to take a breath, gather our thoughts, and respectfully give the truth. Our daughter was also a Type 1 Diabetic before she went home to be with the Lord. We recognized the signs in her early, and by the grace of God it was caught in time. She struggled just like we all do in this community.


And one thing that hurt her deeply — and hurts many Type 1s — is the careless words of others:


“If you just watch what you eat…”


“We can’t date because our kids might get it.”


“You caused this somehow.”



People can be cruel when they don’t understand a sickness or disability.


But even through this, Jesus has given us life — and life more abundantly.

People ask, “How can you serve a God who allows this? You pray, and there’s still no cure.”


My answer is simple:

I don’t serve Jesus because of what He gives me.

I serve Him because of who He is.


He has given me new life. Yes, one where I still walk with Type 1 Diabetes — but how do we know He isn’t preparing someone right now to discover the cure? How do we know this journey won’t lead to something miraculous? Only God sees the full picture.


We walk by faith, not by sight — and not by understanding. Even doctors don’t fully understand Type 1 Diabetes. So we take it one day at a time, share truth, and help others the best we can.


One thing we desperately need is affordable insulin and affordable supplies.

For many, if you pay out of pocket, that’s all you can afford. No one should have to choose between insulin and groceries. This is not an easy or inexpensive disease to live with. Why not make it more accessible for the people whose lives depend on it?


So join me —

in spreading truth,

bringing awareness,

and pushing for affordable care for every Type 1 Diabetic.


We didn’t choose this disease, but we live with it.

And as we keep learning and growing, may we also fight for others walking the same road.





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