(All You Magazine, December 2010)

Creating an online community for women with diabetes

Brandy Barnes, 35, Durham, N.C.

When I was diagnosed with type 1diabetes in high school, my life changed drastically. Not just medically but also because I couldn't commiserate with anyone close,to my age about what I was going through. College was equally lonely-I wanted to join in all the activities and parties, but I had health restrictions that nobody could relate to. Later, during my pregnancy with my daughter, Summer, who is now 5, I didn't even know another diabetic woman who could tell me if my experience was in the range of normal. I was beginning to feel my life would have an edge of loneliness-and risk. 

In 2007, after working as a pharmaceutical sales rep for years, I began to have a gnawing feeling that I should be doing something more with my life that God was saying, "Go find your purpose!" Then one September morning I was driving on the interstate when I had a kind of vision. It was so powerful that I took the first exit, pulled into a. parking lot and started writing down all the ideas that were pulsing through  my brain. I wanted to run an organization where diabetic women could learn how the disease affects us in particular. There would be a website with forums to share stories and ask questions; blogs for type 1, type 2 and pregnancy; and access to diabetes specialists who could address issuesspecificto women. I would hold an annual conference where patients and experts could come together in person.

Afterward, the enormity of what I'd written scared me. I put the notebook away and didn't say a word to anyone for two months. Finally, in November, I told my husband, Chris. I expected' to hear, "There's no way you can do this with a 2-year-old, a husband and a full-timejob." Instead, he was so supportive, saying, "You can't let this opportunity pass you by." I knew then than was going to make it happen.

We pooled $15,000 of our savings to get DiabetesSisters started. I ran it with a few volunteers in my spare time, cobbling together a website and holding monthly meetings. My intention was to tap pharmaceutical companies for funding so I could build up resources and begin to plan a national conference. But I was having trouble getting money, and by the summer of 2009, I was exhausted and losing hope that something would come through. Had I not believed that God put me on earth to do this, I would have given up.

Then, in the fall of 2009, a perfect storm of devastating events occurred. Some throat problems I was having turned out to be thyroid cancer, my father was also diagnosed with cancer, and I was laid off from my job. Instead of sinking into despair, I told myself that this was my opportunity to get DiabetesSisters off the ground. After undergoing treatment in January 2010, I used my severance pay to get the organization rolling, working harder than I'd worked at anything in my life. Cancer wasn't going to slow me down. All my time was spent consulting with programmers and website designers and trying to find experts and raise funds. Around that time our first major donor came through, and that led to more companies offering money, so I was able to hold our first conference in May. It was a huge success, with women and medical experts from all over the country. It also brought in more funding, so I've started earning a salary as an official employee of DiabetesSisters and am now planning our 2011 conference. I'm so grateful to be in remission and to get to spend my days doing what I love. But the best part has been the feedback I've received from women and even doctors. I'll never forget reading a comment on the website that said: "Whoever thought of this organization is a genius. It has been needed for so long." It lit up my heart. It was needed, and I needed it, too. And I'm so proud to have been able to bring it to life.

Brandy's tips

TAP INTO A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

• My husband has been on board with my dream since day one. He encouraged me, rearranged his schedule for me and helped me strategize next moves for the organization. You can't do it on your own.

DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

• Just because you have a perfect business plan laid out doesn't mean it will fall into place. Develop Plan B and Plan C-and Plan D. In other words, if one person saysno, look for other ways to succeed.

FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE.

• Don't get bogged down by small things that can burn you out. Ask yourself how something is going to affect the big picture. If the answer is "very little," move on to something that will.