Our Story
How Diabetes Buddies started
For years Karen Sisselman and Jeffrey Savit watched the magic that happens when lived-experience mentoring meets childhood challenges.
As leaders and volunteers at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) they saw shy Littles blossom, grades climb, and confidence soar just because someone who truly understood was in their corner.
When Karen was diagnosed as an adult with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in 2019, she suddenly found herself longing for that same sense of “someone gets me”. It wasn’t long before she and Jeffrey asked the obvious question: What if we matched kids with T1D to mentors who live with it too?
In conjunction with JBBBS, they launched a T1D mentoring track in 2022. Each match paired a child (age 6-18) with an adult (21+) who also rides the glucose roller-coaster. The results were immediate:
- Less isolation: kids felt seen and heard.
- Better self-advocacy and independence: families reported kids speaking up at school and doctor visits.
- Unexpected bonding moments: even infusion-site slip-ups become opportunities to relate and learn together.
To keep the model at scale Diabetes Buddies was launched first in Greater Boston and most recently in Greater Chicago. We’re currently working with members of the local T1D communities to grow Diabetes Buddies with the plan to expand nationally.
Our Vision
To ensure that every young person with T1D feels supported and strong thanks to the guidance and mentorship of an adult who truly understands.
Our Mission
To champion one-to-one connections between T1D children and adults through positive mentorship while sparking confidence and independence.
Jeffrey Savit, Co-founder
If you ask Jeffrey what gets him up in the morning, he’ll tell you it’s the spark he sees when a child with Type 1 Diabetes realizes, “My mentor really gets me.” For more than 30 years Jeffrey has woven that kind of connection into every role he’s held; from leading Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) to serving on hospital and community boards.
As President & CEO of JBBBS he oversaw 400 active matches and 900 families, making sure every child (no matter their life situation, background, or zip code) had a champion in their corner.
In 2021 he and longtime board colleague and friend Karen Sisselman, launched the first T1D-specific mentoring cohort on the JBBBS program, pairing kids and adults who both live with Type 1 Diabetes so they could share their tips and the load of daily management.
The pilot’s success lit the fuse for a national vision: Diabetes Buddies.
About Us
At Diabetes Buddies, we believe no child should face the challenges of T1D alone. As a national T1D organization, we connect children living with T1D to adult mentors who share their lived experience. Together, they build powerful, one-on-one relationships rooted in empathy, understanding, and resilience. In conjunction with local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies, all mentor and mentee candidates are carefully matched using best practices to ensure safe, supportive, and lasting connections.Because every child deserves a buddy who truly understands.
Our Story
How Diabetes Buddies started
For years Karen Sisselman and Jeffrey Savit watched the magic that happens when lived-experience mentoring meets childhood challenges.
As leaders and volunteers at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) they saw shy Littles blossom, grades climb, and confidence soar just because someone who truly understood was in their corner.
When Karen was diagnosed as an adult with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in 2019, she suddenly found herself longing for that same sense of “someone gets me”. It wasn’t long before she and Jeffrey asked the obvious question: What if we matched kids with T1D to mentors who live with it too?
In conjunction with JBBBS, they launched a T1D mentoring track in 2022. Each match paired a child (age 6-18) with an adult (21+) who also rides the glucose roller-coaster. The results were immediate:
- Less isolation: kids felt seen and heard.
- Better self-advocacy and independence: families reported kids speaking up at school and doctor visits.
- Unexpected bonding moments: even infusion-site slip-ups become opportunities to relate and learn together.
To keep the model at scale Diabetes Buddies was launched first in Greater Boston and most recently in Greater Chicago. We’re currently working with members of the local T1D communities to grow Diabetes Buddies with the plan to expand nationally.
Our Vision
To ensure that every young person with T1D feels supported and strong thanks to the guidance and mentorship of an adult who truly understands.
Our Mission
To champion one-to-one connections between T1D children and adults through positive mentorship while sparking confidence and independence.
Jeffrey Savit, Co-founder
Every child deserves a champion who truly understands their journey. Our Diabetes Buddies mentors bring that understanding to life.
If you ask Jeffrey what gets him up in the morning, he’ll tell you it’s the spark he sees when a child with Type 1 Diabetes realizes, “My mentor really gets me.” For more than 30 years Jeffrey has woven that kind of connection into every role he’s held; from leading Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) to serving on hospital and community boards.
As President & CEO of JBBBS he oversaw 400 active matches and 900 families, making sure every child (no matter their life situation, background, or zip code) had a champion in their corner.
In 2021 he and longtime board colleague and friend Karen Sisselman, launched the first T1D-specific mentoring cohort on the JBBBS program, pairing kids and adults who both live with Type 1 Diabetes so they could share their tips and the load of daily management.
The pilot’s success lit the fuse for a national vision: Diabetes Buddies.
Supporting the Next Generation
T1D mentorship matters now more than ever
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Inspiring the T1D Community: Barbie® Makes History on Instagram
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