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ONALASKA — Managing her diabetes isn’t something Katie Woolley can forget about because she’s preoccupied with schoolwork or sports at Luther High School.
“Each and every day it is a challenge to keep my blood sugars in range by staying active, checking my blood sugar, and eating right,” said Katie, 18, of Winona, Minn.
“It takes constant monitoring and determination to stay on top of it. It definitely is hard. It’s a challenge.”
Katie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 5 years old, after she became thirsty frequently, lost weight and lacked energy.
For awhile she had to prick her finger eight to 10 times a day to test her blood sugar and give herself shots of insulin. She had to count carbohydrates and eat at specific times to keep her sugars regulated.
An insulin pump reduced her shots to one every three days and allows her to eat whenever she wants to.
“Diabetes has impacted my life greatly, both negatively and positively,” Katie said. “Overall, however, I look at my condition in a positive light. Diabetes has allowed me to grow as a person, and I feel that I am who I am today because of my condition.
“It has taught me the importance of responsibility and determination, and to never give up,” she said. “My condition is a huge part of my life and some days are more challenging than others, but I try not to let it dictate my life.”
It is because of Katie’s ability to face her diabetes with an upbeat attitude that she is the La Crosse Tribune Extra Effort Award winner for Luther High School.
“My condition is a huge part of my life and some days are more challenging than others, but I try not to let it dictate my life,” Katie said. “Today I am a positive, cheerful, hopeful person that enjoys the little things in life. Even though my condition is a constant challenge, I look at every day as a new opportunity to love my life to the fullest, even with obstacles in the way.”
Teacher and volleyball coach Kari Rosenberg said Katie is an upbeat student who faces the challenges of her disease without complaining.
“She is the type of kid who handles life extremely well,” Rosenberg said. “She never feels sorry for herself, she just deals with it.”
Unintentionally, Rosenberg said, Katie has educated Luther High School students about diabetes and made them comfortable with what she experiences every day.
Katie plays volleyball and basketball at Luther and is a member of the school’s National Honor Society and Wings, a drug and alcohol prevention group.
She has been accepted to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and also is interested in attending the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
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