Meet Princess Padmaja Kumari Parmar. A descendant of the royal family in Udaipur, India, she's a Global Ambassador for our VB Gives Back partner, Breakthrough T1D, and has been living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for the past four decades. Ask her about her T1D story and she'll tell you it was a happy one—and it's all thanks to her mother.

"She trusted me to take care of myself," says Parmar, who lives in Boston part-time. "When someone trusts you, you feel the heightened sense of responsibility without the burden. So to the parents and caregivers out there, I want to say, your confidence matters to us."

Today, the mother of two is dedicated to spreading the word about the condition in her native India, through her work with Breakthrough T1D and her own nonprofit Friends of Mewar, which, named after a region in Rajasthan, provides preventive healthcare, preserves cultural heritage and promotes women's empowerment and education in the rural communities there. Last month, for instance, she helped organize its first-ever summit on the early diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including T1D.

The cause has never been more urgent: India is currently experiencing a shift from infectious diseases to NCDs and has the largest number of undiagnosed T1D cases in the world. Nearly one million people would still be alive today if they had received the treatment they needed. Challenges in the country range from lack of awareness, education and resources to stigma and stereotypes.

"The driving force behind my advocacy is not my personal journey," says Parmar. "It is the staggering amount of misinformation surrounding T1D... I want to instill hope and confidence in those facing the condition." Here, we learn more.

When and how were you diagnosed?

I was five. My parents saw symptoms that didn't add up—increased appetite, decreased weight—and got me tested. My sugars were high, and I got put on insulin right away. I was very lucky because, even now in Udaipur, people aren't talking about T1D, so can you imagine what it was like 40 years ago? It was unheard of back then.

Were the early years difficult for you?

My story with T1D is a happy one because of my mother. She was a great source of inspiration and strength. She never said I couldn't do something because of my T1D. I hear that a lot from other parents—that their child can't go to camp or can't play a sport. At no point was I made to feel that I was unwell. My mother had no magic wand, but she was confident, which gave me a positive outlook and the discipline to stay on top of and manage my T1D.

Tell us about the recent T1D summit. What inspired it?

It really started with Breakthrough T1D reaching out to me through my foundation, Friends of Mewar. We began very humbly by putting together advocacy groups to raise awareness, but realized we needed to do more. We needed to get other decision makers involved, people who could move the needle in a tangible way. Breakthrough T1D has been a great partner.

For the summit, which exceeded our expectations, we brought together UNICEF, the Clinton Foundation, the health minister of Rajasthan and more to target NCDs—including T1D—through better treatment, prevention and public awareness. It was important to spread awareness not just to people with NCDs, but also caretakers and clinicians so they know what practices work. You don't want someone to go into a coma from complications of T1D just because it didn't get diagnosed in time.

Tell us about T1D in India...

India has the highest rate of undiagnosed T1D. A lot of people are unaware. Access to insulin is not easy. There's a lot of denial, too. And misinformation. There are all these myths about complications and side effects from insulin. People don't realize you can have a full life with T1D.

Misconceptions you'd like to correct?

First, that it's a condition that cannot be managed—it can be. As soon as you tell someone that you have T1D, they're taken aback. And there's a stigma, a negative noise for some reason. People think we are not fully functional and that you're going to have complications. They think you can't get married. Well, I’m married and I have two beautiful, healthy non-T1D daughters. Anything that's not managed will have complications. If a cold is not managed, it can lead to a complication.

Advice for the newly diagnosed?

Managing diabetes doesn't have to be overwhelming. It means two things: staying on top of your blood glucose and taking your insulin. You'll get pretty good at it. We can thrive; we are thriving. Olympians, engineers and artists—they all have T1D and it doesn't stop them. The trajectory of my life doesn't look any different from that of someone who doesn't have T1D.

And words of wisdom to those struggling?

It's OK to have a challenge. Work on finding a solution, and know that the solution often isn't immediate. Find a way that works for you.

Also, lean on someone—and don't limit yourself to only talking to T1D peers. Just because someone doesn't have T1D doesn't mean they can't be your biggest supporter. I remember really struggling with my morning sugars when I was in my late teens. One of my friends—who didn't have T1D—suggested I do a 20-minute walk before I go to bed to stabilize my sugars, which I continue to do to this day. It was a great perspective.

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.

Clockwise from top left: Parmar, far right, with UNICEF India's Cynthia McCaffrey, third from left, and attendees at the NCDs summit; as a child; seated under a portrait of Maharana Pratap, king of Mewar; hosting a T1D session in 2023; and with her glucose monitor. Photographs courtesy of Parmar and UNICEF India/Prashanth Vishwanathan.