Students stopping by the dining hall patio during both lunches on Tuesday Nov. 18 were met with an opportunity to learn about a condition that affects millions worldwide. To mark National Diabetes Month, junior Mercedes Sanz organized a Type 1 diabetes awareness booth to help students better understand the autoimmune disease while highlighting a cause deeply personal to her family.
At the booth, students viewed a slideshow presentation and answered trivia questions about Type 1 diabetes and what daily management looks like. Those who answered correctly won a Guerreros Azules (Type 1 diabetes nonprofit)-branded wristband or keychain, making their learning experience interactive.
“My goal today was to bring awareness, inform people about Type 1 diabetes and hopefully get more support for my family’s nonprofit,” Sanz said. “I also wanted to encourage people to follow the organization and maybe even donate.”
The awareness booth aligns with the annual nationwide push for education about the disease and advocacy for a cure every November. Sanz chose this month for her booth to maximize student participation and ensure the message reached a broad audience.
“Gulliver supports student-led awareness initiatives because they show student agency and leadership,” Dean of Student Life Mr. Sandaal said. “Early exposure to real issues prepares them to recognize problems and act on them later in life.”
Sanz’s motivation for carrying out this booth is deeply personal. Both of her sisters have Type 1 diabetes, which requires 24-hour care and management through blood sugar checks, carb counting and managing the highs and lows associated with the condition. Sanz is inspired by her sisters’ ability to balance school, sports and their health while living with the burden of Type 1 diabetes.
The booth connected students to Guerreros Azules, a nonprofit founded by a group of mothers with children living with Type 1 diabetes. Sanz’s mother, Ileana Gill, was among the founders and now serves as the group’s International Alliances Coordinator.
“Supporting others has always been important to my family and me, so that’s why we helped start the nonprofit back in 2016,” Sanz said.
The organization provides children in Venezuela with diabetic supplies like insulin, test strips, lancets, alcohol pads and glucose monitors—items some cannot afford.
According to the organization’s mission, Guerreros Azules ensures no child suffers because they lack supplies. The nonprofit aims to support families who often must choose between food and life-sustaining diabetes care. Guerreros Azules is committed to ensuring that Venezuelan children receive treatment and medical tools essential for managing life with Type 1 diabetes.
Through the booth, students learned that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition—not caused by eating sugar—and that it can affect anyone. They learned about the day-to-day demands of living with the condition, including insulin pumps or injections and constant planning around meals.
“I learned a lot of in-depth [information] about Type 1 diabetes because I honestly wasn’t very aware before,” junior Isabella Latham said. “I think this was a really helpful booth because people don’t talk about diabetes enough, and bringing awareness is important.”
By sharing her sisters’ stories and the mission of Guerreros Azules, Sanz helped classmates walk away with both compassion and awareness for a chronic illness that is often misunderstood and rarely discussed. Those interested in supporting the cause can learn more by following the organization on Instagram at @guerreros_azules.
