"I spent a lifetime training for this and then everything went to hell in a handbasket."

That's gymnast Charlotte Drury talking, as she reminisces about the time her career—and Olympic dreams—veered devastatingly off course. It was 2021 and the trampolinist had her sights on competing in Tokyo. She was already one to watch, having been a favorite for the Rio Games before she bowed out due to an injury. This was going to be her year.

Her body, however, had other plans.

As she geared up for the competition, the former World Cup gold medalist found herself regressing and lapsing into fatigue. At first, she shook it off. When she finally saw a doctor—one month before the Olympic trials—she discovered she had type one diabetes (T1D).

"This felt insurmountable and terrifying," Drury confessed at the time on Instagram. "[But] I started to figure out how to manage it and decided to give everything I had to the sport in the little bit of time I had left... I found out that I’m tougher than I think I am." She ultimately made U.S. Olympic team, as an alternate.

Today Drury is pursuing a new career as a documentary photographer. (Perhaps you saw her recent essay and portfolio in The New York Times?) "After I retired from the sport, I traveled and did all the things I didn't think I could do with diabetes," she says. "I've always viewed photography as a hobby. But then I thought, Why not?"

Here, we talk to Drury about her T1D journey.

How did you discover that you had T1D?

I was training for the Tokyo Olympics when things got really difficult. I couldn't put my finger on it. I thought that maybe it was the pandemic or I was too old and past my prime. Then at the first National Team training camp, almost a year later, I got my butt kicked. Junior elites were jumping higher than me. I knew I had been giving a hundred percent and finally put two and two together: there must be something physically wrong. I went to a doctor and got my diagnosis.

What was your reaction?

Shock and disbelief. And relief—because I finally had an answer. It wasn't me, I wasn't lazy, I wasn't just not good enough anymore. There was an answer and a solution to help me feel better.

How did you power through it and continue with training?

I did the opposite of powering through. I let go and was given the space by my coach to process this and focus on my health. And in that space, I found myself coming back to the gym. I mean, after the diagnosis, I had taken the Olympics off the table. It was a big change, mentally. I focused on keeping myself healthy and grieving the person that I was before. It took me a good two years to fully accept that this is my life now.

What was that process like?

I'm still working on it. I have good and bad days. I have days when diabetes is just something I have, and I take my insulin and check my numbers. And then I have days when I want to scream in a pillow because I'm so sick of diabetes. I take it day by day.

What is the hardest part for you?

When I think I've dosed well and my blood sugar still spikes—that's always extremely frustrating. But I've learned to let go of that perfectionist mindset. My blood sugar is going to do what it's going to do. I'm trying my best.

What advice do you have for others going through this?

It may seem really scary and overwhelming now, but every day you're going to learn something new. You will get through it and it will get easier. T1D won't run your life. Also, when you are faced with this disease, find your community that understands and supports you. For me, that has been one of the most impactful things.

What's one thing you wish you knew back then?

That it's all going to work out. Life is going to be fine.

From now to the end of September, VB Gives Back commits to raising $250,000 for Breakthrough T1D through consumer donations, in-store give-back events, and $5 from every online order to elevate awareness and support for Type 1 diabetes research, advocacy and community engagement. Learn more here.

If you want to learn more about T1D and Breakthrough T1D’s mission you can visit their website at BreakthroughT1D.org.