Samantha Bozin is walking on September 16, 2007 in Denver, CO

Samantha Bozin is walking with Team Sammy K on September 16, 2007 in Denver, CO.

Hello All! This year, I'll be taking part in JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes, along with one-half million other walkers across the country, as we try to reach our goal of raising $90 million.

As many of you know, I have been living with type 1, or juvenile diabetes, for the past five years. I was sick with symptoms of the disease for my fourth birthday and was diagnosed three weeks later. Since the day I was diagnosed I have had over 8,000 insulin shots and over 17,000 finger pokes! I do 8 -12 finger pokes per day to make sure that my blood sugar does not go too high or too low. My shots keep me healthy by giving my body the insulin that it no longer can make in my pancreas.

Diabetes can be a real pain in the behind (literally). But I am a trooper and realize how important it is to take care of myself so that I can avoid getting sicker when I am older.

Some people do not realize that there are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 2 is the type that you probably hear about the most. Most people know at least one person who has type 2. But the number of people with type 1 diabetes is really small. Because of this a lot of people assume that I have type 2 diabetes. They think that I can take some pills and eat healthier and then my diabetes will go away. But that isn't true.

Type 1 diabetes, the type I have, is an auto-immune disease. This means my immune system attacked my own body. The part that it attacked was the beta cells in my pancreas. These cells make insulin. So I have to take insulin in order to turn the food that I eat into energy. Without insulin I would get very sick and could die. Once these beta cells are destroyed they don't ever come back. So there is no way I can ever outgrow my diabetes or make it go away with a special diet or pills.

This is why I need your help to raise money for the JDRF. Even though I am constantly getting insulin from my pump, that doesn't mean it is a cure for diabetes. Insulin is not a cure, it is just a treatment! There is some good news, though. For the first time, scientists are predicting that we CAN expect to see a cure in my lifetime! The JDRF is a group that helps find a cure for type1 diabetes!

Now, more than ever, you can make a very important difference. Please give to JDRF as generously as possible! I would love to see this cure become a reality for me and for all of the other kids like me!

THANKS!!!

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