Hi! My name is Henry, and I’m the founder of Live-A-Betes. Thanks for checking us out!
I’m a pretty normal kid. I love playing outside. I play ice hockey, lacrosse, and run cross country. I love watching the Phillies and the Eagles, even though I live in Minnesota. I like to play Minecraft Java edition with my friends online. My favorite foods are goldfish, avocados, and watermelon. 
I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes in January of 2026, when I was just 11 years old. It was a really scary time for me. Over the holidays, I had lost 20 pounds. Nothing tasted good. I had no energy and I was sleeping all of the time. I was almost always thirsty. I wasn’t able to do the things that I wanted to do, like playing sports or playing with my friends.
My diagnosis was scary too! While I was happy that I finally knew what was wrong, it was a lot to process in a very short amount of time. It was tough to hear about all the finger pokes and shots that I would need to just get through every day.
Plus, the first part of “diabetes” sounds like “die,” which is pretty scary!
I wanted to start Live-a-betes to offer something positive and hopeful to other kids going through what I went through. Diabetes can be tough to manage, but so what? We’re strong, we’re resilient, and we’re all here to love and support each other.
Since I was diagnosed, I gained back the weight I lost quickly. I’m back to my old self playing ice hockey, lacrosse, and running cross country. I’ve got my CGM and a pump, which makes life much easier. And when people ask me about these things stuck on my arms and legs, I proudly tell them that I have Type 1 Diabetes.
