Age: 9
Hometown: McMinnville, OR
Diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes
Shoe: Nike Air 180
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live with type 1 diabetes (T1D), Ja’Kai has you covered. This budding social media star frequently appears on his mom’s TikTok account to share all the intricacies of his condition, from changing his insulin pump to monitoring his blood sugar. He’s even used his platform to garner naming suggestions for the family’s new kitten. (The winning name was Juicy, in a nod to the juice boxes he loves.)
“Ja’Kai has been an inspiration to other children with T1D, both virtually and in person,” says Charlene Lai, M.D. “There are documented racial, ethnic and income disparities in technology use for children with T1D, and I believe that Ja’Kai’s social media presence and advocacy for diabetes technology is very important.”
When he’s not making content this outgoing, athletic kid plays competitive soccer as well as basketball and football. Someday, Ja’Kai hopes to become a professional soccer player or
turn his love of video games into a career as a pro gamer.
Ja’Kai’s vibrant personality is channeled directly into his very own Air 180, which features
an energetic color palette, reflective lightning bolts and glow-in-the-dark outsole. You’ll find his soccer number on the back heel, a bubbly swoosh and a bold T1D logo on the tongue.
Be sure to flip through the multiple soccer crests that can hang off his shoes, some of which mimic the decorative stickers that overlay Ja’Kai’s continuous glucose monitor.
While Ja’Kai will continue to manage his condition for the rest of his life, he’s grateful that he has such a strong support network to help him do it.
“My mom is my hero, because she does so much for me. The doctors at Doernbecher are great too — they keep me healthy so I can do all the stuff I love.”
Ja’Kai
