UNL student is battling diabetes and making a difference

At just 19-years-old University of Nebraska student Jacinta Benton got the news that would forever changer her life.

She had type one diabetes.

“I won’t be able to eat what I want anymore; I’m going to have to inject myself with insulin for the rest of my life those pokes all of those scary those fears going on in my brain” Jacinta said.

The then college sophomore had to learn an entirely new way of life.

Having type one diabetes meant Benton’s body was not creating the insulin it needed, so she had to start monitoring her blood sugar.

Several times a day Benton has to check her blood sugar levels and inject herself with insulin if her sugar is too high and eat sugar if her blood sugar is too low.

Benton had to start watching what she ate and monitor her exercise to make sure her blood sugar was not too high or too low.

Now two and a half years later the 22–year–old is studying to become a dietician to help other people with the disease.

“I want to be that person who someone goes to when they first get diagnosed and I want to be the optimistic perspective that can say ‘I was in your situation, you can get through it like I did.'”

The college senior is so passionate about teaching other diabetes patients about nutrition and exercise she changed her major.

With a little over a year and half of school left, Benton is using her voice to give hope to others battling the disease, in hopes one day she will make their lives with diabetes easier.

“There can be hope even in difficulties and frustrations and sometimes it makes you stronger and more of who you need to be in life.”