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For children living with Type 1 diabetes, medical devices like insulin pumps and glucose monitors can sometimes feel like an unwanted spotlight—especially when they beep in the middle of class or during play. In her children’s book, She Beeps, and That’s OK! Living Bravely with Type 1 Diabetes, author Danakelly Hampton reframes those sounds as something powerful rather than embarrassing. Drawing from her own experience navigating a life-changing diagnosis as a young adult, Hampton tells a story that helps children see their devices not as something to hide, but as tools that help keep them safe.
In this interview, Hampton shares the personal experiences that inspired the book, why representation matters in medical storytelling, and what she hopes children with Type 1 diabetes—and the people around them—will take away from the story.
Can you share a bit about your personal journey with Type 1 diabetes and how it has shaped your life today?
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 20 years old while I was away at college at the University of Central Florida. My family was back in New Jersey, so I was navigating young adulthood and a brand-new diagnosis far from home. I didn’t fully understand how serious things were until I came home for Thanksgiving break and collapsed. I was in diabetic ketoacidosis. My blood sugar was 960. I spent a month in the ICU. When I was discharged, my blood sugars were still running over 400. It was overwhelming.
That diagnosis flipped my life upside down. I withdrew from school and moved back home to be closer to my support system. When I returned to college, I took it more seriously than ever. I earned my degrees with honors, and it changed the way I approach everything — I don’t take progress for granted. Living with Type 1 has shaped who I am. It taught me discipline, problem-solving, and how to stay calm when things are urgent. Those skills show up in my career and in my life every day.
What sparked the idea for She Beeps, and That’s OK? Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize this story needed to exist?
The idea for She Beeps, and That’s OK! came years later when I transitioned from multiple daily injections to the Omnipod 5 insulin pump, paired with the Dexcom G6. Suddenly, I beeped a lot more than I used to. Those alerts would go off at work, sometimes at the most inopportune times — including while I was on active death scenes as a forensic investigator. When someone asked, “What is that noise?” one of my coworkers casually said, “Oh, that’s Dana. She beeps sometimes.” And that moment stuck with me.
If I, as an adult professional, could feel self-conscious about beeping, I knew kids had to feel it too — maybe even more. I wanted to create a story that normalizes the sounds and the devices. The beeps aren’t embarrassing. They’re communication. They’re information. They’re tools that keep us safe.
When you looked at existing children’s books, what felt missing in terms of representation or understanding of Type 1 diabetes? Were there any misconceptions that you were hoping to correct?
I didn’t set out by studying a shelf full of children’s diabetes books. I don’t have children myself. I wanted to tell my story in a way a child could understand and actually relate to. Representation mattered to me too. The main character is a 7-year-old African American girl, and the story includes children of different races and backgrounds, because medical stories should reflect real communities. Every child deserves to see themselves in the picture.
What do you hope children living with T1D feel after they close this book?
When children close this book, I hope they feel less embarrassed about the devices they wear. I hope they understand that when they beep, their body is simply talking to them. There’s no shame in responding to it. Confidence replaces fear when you understand what’s happening and you know what to do next.
What conversations do you hope this book opens between children and their peers?
I also hope the book opens conversations between children and their peers. If a classmate hears a device alert, instead of staring or teasing, maybe they’ll say, “Do you need a snack?” or “Are you okay?” Awareness can prevent emergencies, and early recognition matters.
What feedback from young readers has meant the most to you?
The feedback that means the most to me is when young readers say, “She’s like me.” Dana isn’t perfect. She has pod mishaps. Things don’t always go smoothly. But she keeps going. She’s prepared. She handles it. That reflection — seeing themselves in a capable character — is powerful.
As researchers funded by organizations like DRC work toward better therapies and ultimately a cure, what message of hope would you want children with T1D to carry with them right now?
As for research and a cure, I’m genuinely hopeful. I was just at the Breakthrough T1D Summit yesterday in Bristol, Connecticut, and it was exciting to hear about the progress being made — especially knowing that some of these tools and advancements weren’t even available five or ten years ago. The pace of innovation is real. My message to kids is: stay encouraged, stay curious, and take care of your body in the meantime. Use your tools. Ask questions. You’re not doing this alone, even when it feels that way.
That belief is also why I created T1D Welcome Kits through my company, RIBBNZ. One of the hardest parts of Type 1 diabetes is how isolating it can feel at the start. A lot of children are the only ones in their family with T1D, which was my experience too, and it can make you feel like you’re on an island. The kits are my way of making sure newly diagnosed kids feel seen right away. They combine education, encouragement, and practical support in one place, because families don’t just need supplies; they need reassurance and community. RIBBNZ is built around advocacy and connection. It’s about making awareness visible, active, and empowering, and reminding kids and caregivers from day one: you belong here, and you’ve got people who get it.
Stories That Drive Scientific Progress
Stories like She Beeps, and That’s OK! help children feel seen, understood, and empowered as they navigate life with Type 1 diabetes. At the same time, progress in diabetes care continues to move forward thanks to dedicated researchers working to improve treatments and ultimately find a cure. Organizations like the Diabetes Research Connection (DRC) play a critical role in this effort by funding early-career scientists whose innovative ideas might otherwise go unsupported. By investing in the next generation of researchers, DRC helps accelerate discoveries that can improve the lives of people living with Type 1 diabetes today—and bring us closer to a future without it.
Be Part of the Progress:
Buy the book: She Beeps, and That’s OK! Living Bravely with Type 1 Diabetes by Danakelly Hampton
Donate to Diabetes Research Connection: Support innovative early-career scientists working toward better treatments and a cure.
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