FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR- Brandy Barnes, MSW

Hello! My name is Brandy Barnes. I am the Founder and Executive Director of DiabetesSisters. I am a native of Hickory, North Carolina and I have resided in the Chapel Hill, NC area for the last 15 years.  It was at the age of 15 (January 1990)--as a sophomore in high school-- that my life changed forever with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. The diagnosis signaled a huge turning point in my life. Although I always had an insatiable thirst for knowledge,my initial experience with diabetes peaked my intellectual and emotional curiosity. Knowing very little about diabetes, I read everything I could get my hands on. Knowledge became my power. The more I knew, the more I could help myself and help others.

As editor of my high school newspaper, I wrote articles to educate my peers about diabetes. While in college at UNC Chapel Hill, I majored in Psychology to feed my interest in the human mind and how we train ourselves to overcome obstacles in life. In college, I also organized a group of my college peers with diabetes to meet for a monthly diabetes support group. It was through this 'peer experience' that I saw the impact people can have on each other just by providing support and knowledge. This strengthened me in my pursuit of helping others with diabetes. As a result, I attended graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work.

My concentration in Graduate School was "Social Work in Healthcare Settings." While attending Graduate School, I also worked full-time at the UNC Diabetes Care Center as a Clinical Trials Coordinator. I coordinated the North Carolina site of the American Diabetes Association's GENNID (GENetics of Non-Insulin Dependent diabetes) project. The purpose of the study was to isolate the gene that causes Type 2 diabetes. I also assisted with a number of clinical trials on diabetes medications that are currently on the market. I have also served on the North Carolina Diabetes Advisory Council since 2002. I began wearing an insulin pump in 1996. In 2005, I had my first child, a daughter named Summer. Currently, I am employed in medication sales in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. After many unsuccessful internet searches for answers and support related to my own diabetes experiences, my vision for this organization began to materialize. I hope that DiabetesSisters helps every woman with diabetes find the support and education necessary for them to reach their full potential in life!  Feel free to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A Special Thank You to Dr. John Buse and his staff at the UNC Diabetes Care Center in Durham, NC for all of their support and assistance in launching and maintaining this organization.

Click HERE to read about my 'Ah Ha!' Diabetes Moment

SENIOR PROGRAM DIRECTOR- Michele Huie

NEWSLETTER COORDINATOR- Shandra Botts 

Hi!  My name is Shandra Botts and I am a Newsletter Coordinator for DiabetesSisters. I am very excited to be a part of something that reaches out to help women with diabetes!  My journey started with my Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis at the age of 8 in 1977.  I remember the early years feeling different than the other kids.  I vividly recall sitting at a table all by myself in the lunch room at 10am to eat my morning snack of milk and raisins.   Then, the teen years came and my main focus became ignoring my diabetes and being mad about it!  More importantly, I also remember when I finally figured out that I felt much better when I took care of myself and my diabetes and that it was “MY Job” to do just that, and no one else’s!  Unlike most women here at DiabetesSisters, I actually have my own biological DiabetesSister who is 4 years younger and was diagnosed 8 years after me. Although our medical issues have been very different over the years, having someone to talk to about diabetes issues has been a blessing.  Who else knows what it truly feels like to be low except someone else with diabetes! This was the reason I knew DiabetesSisters was a great idea when I first heard about it!  I feel privileged to be a part of it!

My Mantra: You are Your Own Best Health Care Advocate!

NEWSLETTER COORDINATOR- Laura Ely

Hello! My name is Laura Ely and I am one of the Newsletter Coordinators for DiabetesSisters. First and foremost, I would like to say that I am both honored and extremely proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization! To me, DiabetesSisters has the power to have a positive impact on the lives of so many women with diabetes. Although we all come from a very diverse set of backgrounds, we all share the knowledge of knowing what it feels like to live with diabetes. And even though everyone’s experience with the disease is different from woman to woman, I believe that our strength lies in the fact that we can all learn something from one another. I know that already I have learned many things from your stories; here is mine, I hope you enjoy!

I was diagnosed with diabetes at age four, so diabetes has been a way of life for me for as long as I can remember.  Looking back on all of my experiences with diabetes, I know how important it is to have a strong support group of people who are familiar with the daily ups and downs of living with this disease. When I was younger I used to be painfully shy about being diabetic. I was embarrassed to eat snacks during class at school, check my blood sugar, or even treat a low. It was very hard on me because I felt like I had to deal with the disease on my own. That all changed for me when I was ten years old and my mother shoved me out the door and told me that I was going to diabetes camp. As much as I protested at the time, I now realize that going to camp changed my life in the best way possible. In literally one week I went from being a shy little girl who had a hard time dealing with her disease to a strong young woman who would brag to all of her friends at home about how “cool” it was to have diabetes. I can attribute this change to one huge lesson that I learned at camp. It was there that I learned all about having “PMA.” What is PMA, you may ask? Positive. Mental. Attitude. PMA is the most important thing that I carry with me on a daily basis.  Well, perhaps second to insulin!  If you take care of yourself and always try to see the positive in any given situation, you can conquer the world!  If you would like to suggest a story for our monthly newsletter, please email me at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

 Diabetes has basically always been a part of my life. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1985, at the age of 3. Thru experiences working with a Registered Dietitian thru the years, I decided to pursue my own career as a Registered Dietician. During my college years, I never thought I would focus on diabetes professionally, as I didn't want to eat, breathe, sleep, and "work" diabetes. However, it did not take long before I realized diabetes education was where I could have the biggest impact and make a difference. I am now a Certified Diabetes Educator working at an adult endocrinology clinic in Chicago. I am married to my best friend, Dan. I love to travel and enjoy any activity outdoors.

I first heard about and joined DiabetesSisters when I received an email from a friend.  It has been exciting to experience the awesome support system of DiabetesSisters!  As women with diabetes, we learn so much through our own experiences as well as through others!  I was thrilled to join this organization!

Hello!  My name is Donna.  I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in August 2007 at the age of 46.  I have known since I was a teenager, when my dad was diagnosed with diabetes, that I was at risk of developing diabetes.  As a result, I made sure to have my blood sugar checked yearly so that any problems would be caught early.  In my early 40s, I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes.  You would think that would have been enough to get me on the right track.  Maybe I would have gotten on the right track if I would have had access to better information.  I did lose a little weight and things got better for a while.  Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

When I found out I had diabetes, I felt like a real failure.  Going to a diabetes education class really helped me to feel some control and get myself going.  However, after a few months, I began to lose my motivation and feel very isolated and alone.  I was frustrated and I didn't feel like I had anyone with whom to talk, other than my doctor. One day I was searching the internet for diabetes information sites and stumbled upon DiabetesSisters.  I was lucky to find the site just as it was getting started.  It has made such a difference for me.  I can come and post my accomplishments and my failures.  No one ever judges, and someone always understands.  There is always encouragement and praise.  DiabetesSisters has provided the support that I need to get motivated rather than beating myself up.  I have developed some friendships that I know will continue to grow.  This site provides what women with diabetes need.  I am very happy to be able to contribute as the Women’s Forum Co-Manager.  If you visit the Forum, you are likely to chat with me!

BLOG TEAM MANAGER- Laura Bennett

Hi! My name is Laura Bennett, and I am excited and honored to be volunteering for such an amazing organization as DiabetesSisters. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 19 years old, during my sophomore year of college, and my world was turned upside down. Although friends and family were very supportive, I still often felt alone and isolated with the everyday care and dedication it takes to manage this disease.

When I became pregnant with my daughter, I felt even more isolated, scared, and nervous. I didn’t know any women with type 1 who had successful pregnancies. I longed for a friend during those 9 months who would understand all of my fears and anxiety. Then during my third pregnancy I came across DiabetesSisters and immediately I knew this was exactly what I needed! Other women were here who understood where I was coming from without having to explain myself. Many of them told stories that sounded so much like my own! Finally a place to go for support, to have questions answered, to know that I wasn’t so alone after all.  Feel free to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to ask any pregnancy-related questions.  I'll be glad to share what I learned from my (three) successful pregnancy experiences.

I am so grateful to DiabetesSisters for the invaluable support system and community of women it has brought into my life.