Today was Amerie’s first day at a new school. She felt both excited and nervous as she walked in, waving back at her mother. 

Her heart was beating fast as she entered her new classroom. She looked around at the posters on the walls, wondering if anyone would notice she was different or if she would be able to make friends.

“Everyone, this is Amerie,” the teacher said. “Amerie just moved here with her family, and I hope everyone helps make her feel welcome. In this classroom, we all support each other.”

As Amerie went to sit down, some kids waved while others gave her a smile. She made sure her backpack was close to her. Inside, it wasn’t just pencils and notebooks, but also her snacks, blood sugar meter, and insulin pen.

Amerie has type one diabetes and these are things she needs everyday. She looked around and hoped that no one would notice. 

During reading, Amerie quietly checked her blood sugar under her desk, but small beeping noise caught the attention of a classmate nearby.

“What was that noise?” they asked, turning around to see where it had come from.

Amerie did not know how to respond and froze for a second until her teacher, Miss Ortiz, stepped in.

“Sometimes our bodies need a little extra help to stay healthy,” Miss Ortiz explained kindly to the class.

Amerie hesitated before speaking, but something Miss. Ortiz said earlier gave her the courage to talk. 

She quietly stood up, showing her arm and monitor, and said “ I have type one diabetes. This means that my body can’t control blood sugar the way it is supposed to do. To help my body I check my blood sugar and take insulin or eat snacks to keep it normal."

The classroom grew quiet, but the students were listening closely.

“I can still eat candy, pizza, and cake,” Amerie continued, finding her courage. “But I need to be careful and balance my blood sugar with insulin.”