Lincoln brothers head to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness for Type 1 diabetes

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A pair of Lincoln brothers are heading to Washington, D.C. to advocate for millions of Americans living with Type 1 diabetes.

Aiden and Alex Ourada were chosen from more than 2,000 applicants in the country to be a part of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Children’s Congress. 

“We’re going to be advocating for the Special Diabetes Program, which will fund diabetes research through the government to help find a cure, to help prevent it, and to make life with diabetes more manageable,” Aiden, 15, said. 

Alex, 17, said they will also advocate for reasonably priced insulin.

In May 2017, Alex was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  Just eight months later, Aiden received the same diagnosis.

On Sunday, Alex and Aiden traveled to Washington, where they will join a delegation of children who also live with diabetes.

The Children’s Congress will share testimonies in hopes to advocate for funding through the Special Diabetes Program.

According to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to kill cells that produce insulin.

Type 1 is typically caused by genetic predisposition. 

Right now, there is no prevention or cure for the disease.  After diagnosis, people must take insulin every day to live. 

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is an organization that funds Type 1 diabetes research. 

Chris Dunn, the executive director of the nonprofit’s Nebraska-Iowa Chapter, said the Insulin Act will likely be discussed during the trip. 

The legislation proposes mandated pricing on insulin to make the life-supporting drug affordable and available for everyone. 

“Insulin is life support for people with Type 1 diabetes, literally if you do not have it there is a risk of death,” she said. 

Dunn said her two children are also living with Type 1 diabetes and three months of supply can cost about $12,000. 

The Ourada brothers said life with Type 1 diabetes can be challenging but should never get in the way of children reaching their dreams.

“just don’t let it hold you back, don’t be afraid to tell your story, don’t be embarrassed about it, be proud of it, and try to do the most you can with it,” Aiden said.