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Summary of Transcript:
At the age of five, Emma was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after experiencing extreme thirst and vomiting. She had no family history of the disease but had the rotavirus at a young age which may have played a role in its development. Emma’s parents taught her not to be ashamed of her disease, and she began educating others about it in middle school. She eventually participated in the Children’s Congress and advocated for funding for diabetes research and education. Today, Emma uses her platform to spread awareness about the disease and promote a healthy lifestyle.
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Summary of Description:
Emmabella Rudd, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 5, shares her struggle of living with the disease and advocates for everyone to be able to afford their life-saving medicine. She has worked on causes related to Type 1 diabetes and received a Diana Award for her humanitarian work as a young person. She delivered a talk at a TEDx event independently organized by a local community.
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Living with Diabetes: The Struggle and Fight for Affordable Medicine
Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age is a life-changing event that is tough enough to deal with. However, what makes it even more challenging is the fact that life-saving medicine is not affordable for everyone. Emmabella Rudd, a young advocate for diabetes awareness and affordable healthcare, talks about her experience with Type 1 diabetes and the struggle of being able to afford medication in her recent TEDx talk.
The Struggle of Living with Diabetes
Emmabella Rudd was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just five years old. She talks about how this diagnosis changed her life in more ways than one. The constant fear of severe hypoglycemia or high blood sugar levels, managing insulin injections, and a restricted diet were all new challenges that she had to face. She said that diabetes dominates every aspect of her life and can even dictate her future goals and dreams.
Rudd also talked about how living with diabetes has affected her relationships. For example, she was always worried about what her friends thought of her when she had to check her blood sugar levels or administer insulin in public. Additionally, many people did not understand the seriousness of her condition and dismissed her health concerns, which could have put her in danger.
Fight for Affordable Medicine
One of the biggest challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes is the cost of the necessary medicine. Insulin, a hormone regulating blood sugar levels, is a life-saving medication for those with Type 1 diabetes. However, skyrocketing insulin prices often prevent people from purchasing it. Rudd says, “The whole point of having insulin is to help people live with diabetes; it’s not supposed to cause them more problems in trying to obtain it.”
Rudd emphasizes that it is not only those with Type 1 diabetes who are struggling to afford medication. Millions worldwide must choose between paying for medications or other necessities such as food and shelter. She also points out that medication should not be a luxury item but a basic need everyone should have access to.
Recognition for Advocacy Work
For her efforts as a diabetes advocate, Rudd was chosen as one of 400 young people from around the world to receive the Diana Award. The Diana Award is established in memory of the late Princess of Wales to recognize young people’s social action, humanitarian work, and outstanding societal contributions. This award shows that her work has not gone unnoticed.
Conclusion
Living with diabetes is already a challenge, but worrying about the affordability of life-saving medication adds another layer of struggle. Emmabella Rudd’s TEDx talk highlights the fight for affordable medicine that is limited to not only those with Type 1 diabetes but also millions of people worldwide. Her advocacy work has helped to raise awareness and bring attention to this critical issue. Nevertheless, more must be done to ensure everyone has access to their necessary medication without breaking the bank.
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Source Description
Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age, Emmabella Rudd emphasizes the struggle of living with diabetes and how everyone should be able to afford their life-saving medicine. Since her diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at age 5, Ms. Rudd has worked on behalf of causes related to Type 1 diabetes. For her efforts, she was one of 400 individuals from around the world to receive a Diana Award, established in memory of the late Princess of Wales to recognize young people’s social action or humanitarian work. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.
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