Wellesley Girl Honored By Joslin Diabetes Center

WELLESLEY, MA — A 7-year-old Wellesley girl is being honored by the Joslin Diabetes Center for turning her diabetes diagnosis into her superpower.

Millie Acampora was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just before her 5th birthday. The diagnosis was scary news for her and her family, but she refused to let it affect her positive attitude. That positive attitude is part of the reason Acampora was chosen as this year’s Spotlight on Hope Honoree for Joslin Diabetes Center’s 21st High Hopes Gala.

The annual event will be held virtually on November 14th - World Diabetes Day - as an effort to protect those Joslin serve.

The days following the diagnosis were a difficult and uncertain time, Millie’s father Brian said. But when the family met Dr. Sanjeev Mehta, Interim Chief Medical Officer and a Pediatric Physician at Joslin Diabetes Center, they immediately felt more comfortable.

Brian said it was an easy decision to transfer Millie’s care to Joslin after speaking with Dr. Mehta. “We told him that we could grasp the technical components of managing diabetes, but what we really wanted was the holistic way of caring for the condition, from psychological to emotional and everything in between,” Brian said, “Joslin has proven that it offers this approach, from Louise at the front desk to all the specialists in Child Life Services.”

Even at her young age, Millie is very responsible about managing her diabetes. “She has a really good beat on how her blood sugar is feeling and is vocal about it,” said Millie’s mother, Corinne. Her parents monitor her closely, but Millie knows what food and drinks will affect her blood sugar and often makes the choices herself. Millie’s big brother, 9-year-old August, has always been supportive and looks after her. He knows all the signs and is constantly learning alongside the rest of the family.

Millie is very open with her friends about her diabetes and loves to answer people’s questions. The family takes care to make it a normalized part of conversations, and Millie is proud to share how she manages her condition. “I’ve been so impressed that she never lets it get her down,” said Corinne, “Sometimes it’s frustrating, but she takes the bull by the horns and is constantly learning how to manage her diabetes better.”