After successfully giving birth to her first child in 2010, Brooke Gibson was shocked when her fertility specialist told her that she would most likely not be able to have a second biological child due to her type 1 diabetes (T1D). Confident that this information was wrong, she sought a second opinion from another fertility specialist, and together they developed a plan. 

It’s true that pregnancy with T1D carries increased risks for both women and their babies. But at the time Brooke was trying to find support and resources for women with T1D trying to have children, they were difficult to find. 

Hoping to help other women like her, Brooke founded Type 1 Diabetic Sugar Mommas shortly before the birth of her second child in 2012. The organization is dedicated to supporting women with T1D who are planning families, pregnant, or already parenting. 

“Whether on the way to motherhood or actively parenting, blood glucose management is always in the mix,” says Brooke, who has been managing her T1D since being diagnosed at age 6. “T1D Sugar Mommas embrace the balance, the messiness, and the highs and lows that moms with T1D experience.”

Now a mother of five children, aged 7 to 15, Brooke has seen T1D Sugar Mommas grow into a global network that empowers women across nearly 25 countries to connect, inspire, and support one another.

Over the years, TrialNet has been an important resource for Brooke and the T1D Sugar Mommas community. T1D Sugar Mommas livestreams have featured multiple TrialNet researchers. Most recently, Pathway to Prevention Study Chair Laura Jacobsen, MD, discussed the importance of risk screening, the early stages of T1D leading up to clinical diagnosis, and clinical trials. 

“I’m a true believer that knowledge is power, and I’ve been advocating for the importance of risk screening for type 1 diabetes for years,” says Brooke, who has had all five of her children routinely screened by TrialNet.

TrialNet Ambassadors play an important role in raising awareness about TrialNet research among their friends, family, and social media followers. Equipped with the Ambassador Toolkit, they help promote T1D risk screening, which can detect the disease in its earliest stages, as well as innovative clinical studies aimed at slowing disease progression. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Brooke to the TrialNet Ambassador Program,” said Program Manager, Cat Nguyen. “She was a TrialNet Ambassador before the Ambassador Program even existed!”

You can be a TrialNet Ambassador too!

Becoming a TrialNet Ambassador is easy. Learn more and register here. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email along with your Ambassador Toolkit.