Episode 78: Hardee Boyz

On this episode we celebrate Steven Cannady!

Steven was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at age 13, 21 years ago. Steven is a graduate of the North Carolina Central University!

He has been married for 5 years, loves traveling with his wife (Nia) all athletics, hanging with his crew and ran the NYC Marathon in 2024 and is prepping to run the Chicago Marathon in 2025 and NYC Marathon again in 2025!

When Steven got to college, he said that is when he truly became who he is. He's a true people connector and

loves to conversate with everyone.

During his diagnosis he lived with his mom, grandmom, older brother and two younger sisters in a 2-bedroom apartment off of Hardee Street in Durham. Before diagnosis he remembers laying out in the kitchen on the floor. During Christmas break he was home eating a family sized box of Froot Loops and began to get sick. Shortly after he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Two years later his older brother was also diagnosed with T1D. His family came together for his well-being during this diagnosis. They made sure he did everything he could to be his best.

Steve recalls back then catching the bus or walking to Hardees restaurant and him getting the low carb burger. This included a beef patty wrapped in lettuce. Steven shows great gratitude to his original medical team at Duke University because as he says, he probably wouldn't have made it without them. With him being the new kid at school, no one recognized him as the kid with diabetes. Other than the school staff, no one knew he had diabetes. Ahead of his brother's diagnosis Steven recognized his brothers' symptoms and told him that he might want to get checked out because it may be diabetes. In Highschool he ran cross country and track but ended up in DKA 3 times because

he wouldn't take his insulin. During those days he knows he avoided taking care of his diabetes. He admits that he doesn't know how he made it.

Steven's greatest advice to someone newly diagnosed or needing to press a reset on their diabetes is to TAKE INSULIN! NEVER SKIP YOUR INSULIN!

Big shout outs to Steven's wife Nia and his homies from Durham for being there for him and always showing up for him even when he is unable to understand the situation when he's suffering from hypo's.

Follow Steven on instagram @steven.cannady

Donate to his Chicago Marathon campaign for Breakthrough T1D

Donate to his NYC Marathon campaign for Beyond Type One