Sarah Franklin: T1D Patient to Provider

Sarah was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) at six years old.  A nurse practitioner (NP) on her diabetes care team became her hero and role model, and Sarah decided at age six that she wanted to be a nurse practitioner when she grew up.  Her fifth-grade yearbook mentions her dream to become an NP.

“I respected her deeply and knew I wanted to become just like her,” she said.  “I remember her being so reassuring and making me and my family feel comfortable, emphasizing that T1D isn’t a setback and that I could still do everything I wanted in life.”

That NP worked with her until she was 17 and transitioned to the adult care clinic.  Sarah’s family was no stranger to T1D as her mother’s two brothers and father had type 1, and her father’s sister passed away at two years old from undiagnosed diabetes.

Diabetes Camp

The NP recommended she attend the Clara Barton Camp for girls with diabetes in Oxford, MA, where Sarah made lifelong friendships and personal growth. She began as a camper at age seven and continued every year until she was seventeen, working as a counselor for a few summers. She returned during college as a staff member and later in a healthcare role during nursing school.

The camp community fueled her sense of belonging, offering acceptance, and solidified her goal to help others facing similar journeys. She credits those summers with shaping her outlook, providing peer support, and supporting her career path.

Clinical Rotation in Granada

While pursuing a nursing degree, Sarah, who minored in Spanish, spent a semester in Granada, Spain, where she participated in a clinical rotation at a community hospital.  There, Sarah encountered a broad spectrum of chronic illnesses, including managing wound care and diabetes management among older adults. This experience not only advanced her language proficiency but also enriched her ability to connect with Spanish-speaking patients back home, providing culturally sensitive care.

"I will speak Spanish with patients, but for serious medical matters and situations where clarity is crucial, I use an interpreter to ensure proper translation."

UMass Memorial Inpatient Diabetes Care

Working as a nurse practitioner in the Inpatient Blood Glucose Management Program, Sarah says every day is different, challenging, and rewarding. She manages patients at the UMass Memorial Medical Center and Memorial Campus, specializing in acute cases: new diagnoses of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, complications requiring immediate intervention such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or severe hyperglycemia, and complex cases often involving comorbidities.

She educates patients with “diabetes survival skills,” aiming to empower them during their transition from hospital to home without overwhelming them. Whether seeing a newly diagnosed patient in crisis or helping someone adjust insulin regimens, Sarah relishes the opportunity to answer questions and clear up misconceptions to help hospitalized patients with diabetes, regardless of the circumstances that led them to be admitted. 

Sarah is particularly sensitive to the fears many patients have about their diagnosis or treatment, especially when insulin is introduced or their usual routines are upended. She reassures them, drawing on her own lived experience and fostering hope that diabetes does not have to dictate the course of their lives.

Sarah Franklin, MSN, FNP-BC

Education

• Undergraduate and master’s degrees in nursing from Simmons University in Boston

Hobbies and Interests

• Classically trained violinist, playing since childhood; performed with the Newton Philharmonic
• Musical theater, favorite roles include Maria in "The Sound of Music" and performing in "Little Shop of Horrors"
• Enjoys Zumba and yoga, former Zumba instructor
• Spending time with her miniature schnauzer, Annie

Favorites

• Movie: Legally Blonde (and loves the stage adaptation)
• Music: Indie folk but appreciates a diverse range from classical to contemporary hits