Ah-Lisa Hull 和 Thomas McGuire, lecturer in biology, in the lab at 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校.
The diagnosis of 1型糖尿病 came when Ah-Lisa Hull was only 8 years old. It ushered in a new era for her 和 her family with worries about the future as well as an abrupt change in lifestyle.
Fast-forward a little more than a decade, 和 Hull is a senior at 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校. The diagnosis changed her life, but it galvanized her to have an impact on others living with 糖尿病. Hull wants to attend medical school 和 specialize in endocrinology -- the doctors who treat people with 糖尿病 -- 和 educate the public about the reality of living with the condition.
"There needs to be more awareness about 糖尿病," the biology major said. "I've had 和 still have encounters where people question what I can 和 can't eat. My eating regimen is different than another diabetic's, just like a 'normal' person's diet is different from someone else's."
Biology major Ah-Lisa Hull developed "The Doctor in Me," a video 和 brochure educating the public on the 糖尿病 lifestyle. She said each patient's daily regimen in different although guided by the same principles.
Hull stresses that teaching families 和 caregivers to underst和 the drastic changes the diagnosis delivers is critical to a patient's success.
"When I become a doctor, I will have the families of my patients adopt the exact same diabetic lifestyle for a month or so in order for them to underst和 you can't just isolate the diabetic,她说. "Everyone has to change their lifestyle so the overall assimilation isn't a solo trip for the patient."
"When I become a doctor, I will have the families of my patients adopt the exact same diabetic lifestyle for a month or so in order for them to underst和 you can't just isolate the diabetic."
-- Ah-Lisa Hull, senior at 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校
Hull developed the video "The Doctor in Me" to give a peak into her everyday life, 和, with her graphic designer dad's help, an educational brochure.
"I want to get the message out that to underst和 the diabetic lifestyle you have to experience it,她说.
Hull juggles a busy schedule outside of 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校. She works at a retirement community, in the leasing office of her apartment complex, 和 in the campus financial aid office. She also volunteers in the HELP (Hospital Elder Life Program) at 阿宾顿 Jefferson Health supporting hospitalized seniors trying to maintain their independence.
She also serves as an officer in the 阿宾顿 Student Veterans Organization, an especially meaningful role for her. Her mother retired last week after serving 24 years in the U.S. 军队.
Clearly, Ah-Lisa Hull is a woman in comm和 of her future. And she designed a T-shirt to make her point — emblazoned across the back: My condition isn't a sickness. 我在掌控之中.
