Kaye Peterson (She/Her)

I’m from a family of seven Type 1 Diabetics, so I’ve been exposed to diabetes since 1966, when my brother was diagnosed at a year old. I saw my mother wring urine from his wet diaper to get the needed 5 drops for urine testing. When I was diagnosed in 1983, technology appeared in the form of a glucometer the size of a brick. Although I have complications, I’m inspired by my mother’s work to keep my brother alive - he’s now 58 years old!

I advocate for both my family and my community. Being from a small rural area in Central Kentucky, diabetes runs rampant here. I decided to speak up and advocate for farm families like mine who struggle with operating a farm and dealing with the additional cost of having a child with diabetes, more specifically, the outrageous price of insulin if uninsured or underinsured. If I can use my voice to help my neighbors get the help they need, then I’ve done my job.

In addition to serving as an ambassador, I’m also a member of DPAC, Diabetes Patients Advocacy Coalition, and a board member of Marion County (KY) Farm Bureau.