Sierra Sandison was distressed when she was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago.
The 20-year-old soon embraced her condition and became an inspiration and role model for many diabetics when she entered the Miss Idaho swimsuit competition with her insulin pump, a device that administers insulin automatically without shots.
Sandison admitted that when she found out she had the disease, it flipped her world upside down. Before she entered beauty pageants, she completely ignored it and hoped it would just go away. This behavior led to erratic blood sugars and a sick, discouraged woman. On Monday though, she posted a photo of herself on the Miss Idaho pageant stage wearing her insulin pump on her bikini bottom and inspired other patients to show their own photos with their insulin pumps on social media using the hashtag #showmeyourpump.
"There it is. I would never have dreamt of posting a swimsuit picture on social media, but diabetics from all over the country have been asking to see me and my insulin pump on the #MissIdaho2014 stage." She wrote how terrified she was to show up on stage wearing a swimsuit, let alone while wearing an insulin pump. "Don't let your challenge hold you back or slow you down. Use it to, not only empower yourself and grow as an individual, but to serve and influence other people as well," she added.
Sandison's photo received over 4,000 likes and more than 2,500 shares on Facebook after four days. Twitter users also responded to the hashtag she created and shared their own insulin pump pictures.
Insulin pumps alleviate diabetes control in a lot of ways but using one is a choice. Patients with type 1 diabetes may use multiple injections daily to control the disease. Sandison said that when Miss America 1999 wore an insulin pump and the device did not make her less beautiful, she thought it even enhanced her beauty.
Sandison will compete in Miss America Pageant on Sept. 9-14 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It's been 21 years since a contestant from Magic Valley was chosen to be Miss Idaho in the pageant. The last Magic Valley contestant was Miss Magic Valley organization director Rose Anna Holliday who won the Miss Idaho title in 1993.
