Brandon Picow was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 11 years old.
Picow, now a third-year global supply chain and operation management student and president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, is starting a group at USC for students with diabetes. He said since his diagnosis, he’s been very passionate about helping raise money and getting involved with JDRF, formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Picow, a Columbia native, said he's lucky to have his parents around should something happen or if he needs them. Because according to Picow, it's often difficult for students to manage diabetes, and it’s easy to forget that you’re runnning out of supplies on top of coursework and club meetings.
“College kids are so busy. I worry about my diabetes,” Picow said. “It should be high up on the list, but sometimes it’s not.”
Picow said that with so many out-of-state students, the program Diabuddies will serve as a buddy system for diabetic students who don’t have parents close by, in case they run out of insulin or supplies.
USC alumnus and JDRF board member Jonathan Barbrey and Diabetes Care Specialist for Novo Nordisk, will also be involved in Diabuddies. Novo Nordisk manufactures pharmaceutical services and products, such as diabetes care medications and devices. He will also be able to provide supplies to members of Diabuddies.
“It’s kind of an unknown problem,” Picow said. “If I wasn’t from here, I don't know what I would do.”
Picow also hopes that Diabuddies will act as a support group for students with diabetes in which they can get advice from students who face the same problems, such as worrying about telling a girlfriend about their diabetes or feeling like they can’t go drinking with their friends.
“A lot of times it’s hard for kids to talk with an adult about having diabetes,” Picow said. “I’m much more of an approachable person than a doctor or someone like that.”
According to Picow, his fraternity brothers have raised over $10,000 for JDRF after selecting the foundation as their philanthropy last fall. They hope to raise the same amount or more again this year.
Picow’s father is also diabetic and a USC alumnus who serves on the JDRF board along with USC AEPi’s alumni advisor and WACH Fox chief meteorologist, Henry Rothenberg.
Diabetic students that would like to join Diabuddies or help support JDRF can attend a Alpha Epsilon Pi's JDRF percent night at Wild Wing Café in the Vista on Nov. 5, the JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes Nov. 9 at Finlay Park starting at 2 p.m. and benefit concert featuring the Ying Yang Twins Nov. 14.