Age: 17
Age at T1D diagnosis: 1

As the son of two doctors, Ahmed knows that research has ripple effects—even on those who don’t have T1D. “Finding a cure is crucial, because certain mechanisms that would be developed could also advance research for other autoimmune diseases.” What are his hopes? That “a cure for type 1 diabetes will one day change the lives of many.”

Ahmed marches to his own beat—as the leader of his drum line, an honors student, and a T1D advocate. He also enjoys fencing and tae kwon do, and has a second-degree black belt. He is a member of the Diabetes Youth Council and has helped promote his dad’s 5K run to raise money for research. In the future, he hopes to become a T1D researcher or doctor.