Meet Diabulimia Helpline's Board of Directors
Erin M. Akers; Founder and Chairman of the Board
After struggling with Diabulimia off and on for a decade, Erin created the oldest and longest-running support group for diabulimia in 2008. This became the backbone for what grew to become Diabulimia Helpline in 2009, the world's first non-profit organization dedicated to support, awareness and advocacy for those struggling with diabetes and eating disorders. Trained in NEDA's 'The Body Project," Erin has spent 14 years in the mental health field; working with the emotional and behavioral aspects of diabetes and how they connect to food and body issues. Erin launched the Healthcare Professionals Education series in January 2013 to target diabetes professionals, and their lack of understanding about eating disorders. She consulted for Duke University on a research project investigating behavioral triggers around food and insulin in type 1 diabetics. Now Erin helps train eating disorder center to implement diabulimia programs across the country, as well as speaking at diabetes clinics all over the U.S. Erin can be found in numerous publications, such as Diabetes Forecast, Diabetes Health, Diabetes care, and PLAID. She has also appeared on Huffington Post Live, NBC News, and Discovery Health Channel. She also partnered with WebMD to film a short documentary highlighting the real life story of a life lived with diabulimia. Erin is a member of Diabetes Advocates, Binge Eating Disorder Association, a National Eating Disorder Association partner and an Americans for Access Board member.
After struggling with Diabulimia off and on for a decade, Erin created the oldest and longest-running support group for diabulimia in 2008. This became the backbone for what grew to become Diabulimia Helpline in 2009, the world's first non-profit organization dedicated to support, awareness and advocacy for those struggling with diabetes and eating disorders. Trained in NEDA's 'The Body Project," Erin has spent 14 years in the mental health field; working with the emotional and behavioral aspects of diabetes and how they connect to food and body issues. Erin launched the Healthcare Professionals Education series in January 2013 to target diabetes professionals, and their lack of understanding about eating disorders. She consulted for Duke University on a research project investigating behavioral triggers around food and insulin in type 1 diabetics. Now Erin helps train eating disorder center to implement diabulimia programs across the country, as well as speaking at diabetes clinics all over the U.S. Erin can be found in numerous publications, such as Diabetes Forecast, Diabetes Health, Diabetes care, and PLAID. She has also appeared on Huffington Post Live, NBC News, and Discovery Health Channel. She also partnered with WebMD to film a short documentary highlighting the real life story of a life lived with diabulimia. Erin is a member of Diabetes Advocates, Binge Eating Disorder Association, a National Eating Disorder Association partner and an Americans for Access Board member.
Dawn Lee-Akers; Executive Director, MS (pending)
Dawn came into her position as Family & Friends Liaison with first hand knowledge of the frustration and feelings of helplessness that come when trying to help a loved one struggling with the co-morbidity of diabetes and eating disorder as her daughter battled diabulimia on and of for a decade. For the last six years it has been her mission to use that experience to support and provide guidance for other family members and friends. She has researched and developed resource materials, forged connections in both the eating disorder and diabetes communities, and leveraged her business background to become an expert on obtaining insurance authorization for treatment. In addition to her position with Diabulimia Helpline, Dawn works as a Programs Manager for Starbucks Corporation.
Dawn came into her position as Family & Friends Liaison with first hand knowledge of the frustration and feelings of helplessness that come when trying to help a loved one struggling with the co-morbidity of diabetes and eating disorder as her daughter battled diabulimia on and of for a decade. For the last six years it has been her mission to use that experience to support and provide guidance for other family members and friends. She has researched and developed resource materials, forged connections in both the eating disorder and diabetes communities, and leveraged her business background to become an expert on obtaining insurance authorization for treatment. In addition to her position with Diabulimia Helpline, Dawn works as a Programs Manager for Starbucks Corporation.
Alison Sullivan, RN, CDCES, NPH (pending)
Alison graduated from UAS LVN program in 2015 with Honors. She's ADN RN in progress, anticipated graduation spring 2018. She has an AS in Health Education emphasis in Kinesiology and is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She currently works at Rocky Point Sub Acute Rehab as a Rehabilitation Nurse. She previously worked at Mendocino Community Health Clinic as a Diabetes Case Management Nurse, responsible for coordinating an outreach and education program for all diabetics within a defined clinical population, identifying and intervening at risk diabetics, coordinating the roll out of the Pump Program for Rural Residents, identifying patients who would benefit and connecting patients within the diabetic population with resources within the community. She says "My passion for changing the face of diabetes care has lead me to where I am today." Alison is also a Type 1 diabetic and in recovery rom ED-DMT1.
Alison graduated from UAS LVN program in 2015 with Honors. She's ADN RN in progress, anticipated graduation spring 2018. She has an AS in Health Education emphasis in Kinesiology and is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She currently works at Rocky Point Sub Acute Rehab as a Rehabilitation Nurse. She previously worked at Mendocino Community Health Clinic as a Diabetes Case Management Nurse, responsible for coordinating an outreach and education program for all diabetics within a defined clinical population, identifying and intervening at risk diabetics, coordinating the roll out of the Pump Program for Rural Residents, identifying patients who would benefit and connecting patients within the diabetic population with resources within the community. She says "My passion for changing the face of diabetes care has lead me to where I am today." Alison is also a Type 1 diabetic and in recovery rom ED-DMT1.
Melissa Achura
Melissa comes to us with more than 10 years of experience in the marketing communications industry. Melissa attended the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) receiving her bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in marketing. Her experience includes implementing strategic media relations plans and promotions as well as integrated marketing communications experience implementing and executing marketing campaigns. Since becoming part of the eating disorder community, Melissa has had the privilege of working with every level of care available to those suffering from "traditional" eating disorders to those with diabetes and eating disorders. Melissa is acting CMO on Diabulimia Helpline's Board of Directors over the last 5 years; she has helped the organization further its mission by partnering and educating treatment programs, creating outreach opportunities and events, and handling media affairs. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys her home in the Reno/Tahoe area, from hiking on the weekends with her furry child, Lola, to spending time on the slopes over looking Lake Tahoe with her husband, Marc, she's always on the move.
Melissa comes to us with more than 10 years of experience in the marketing communications industry. Melissa attended the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) receiving her bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in marketing. Her experience includes implementing strategic media relations plans and promotions as well as integrated marketing communications experience implementing and executing marketing campaigns. Since becoming part of the eating disorder community, Melissa has had the privilege of working with every level of care available to those suffering from "traditional" eating disorders to those with diabetes and eating disorders. Melissa is acting CMO on Diabulimia Helpline's Board of Directors over the last 5 years; she has helped the organization further its mission by partnering and educating treatment programs, creating outreach opportunities and events, and handling media affairs. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys her home in the Reno/Tahoe area, from hiking on the weekends with her furry child, Lola, to spending time on the slopes over looking Lake Tahoe with her husband, Marc, she's always on the move.
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Emanuala Araia, PGDipPsych Emanuala Araia is a psychologist from Melbourne, Australia who completed a Doctor of Psychology (Health). Emanuala is a passionate advocate of increasing awareness in health and has focused her research on better understanding risk and protective factors in individuals with type 1 diabetes, disordered eating behaviors, and body dissatisfaction. Through her work, she has explored the challenges associated with the duality of having both conditions in adolescents and the general public. Emanuala has presented her research findings in both international diabetes and national eating disorder conferences; as well as at the Diabulimia Helpline International Conference on Diabetes and Eating Disorders. Her work has been published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. Emanuala divides her time between her own scholarly pursuits and sharing her knowledge as a clinician, teaching at Deakin University.
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Chris "The Grumpy Pumper" AldredI was diagnosed in 1994, aged 25. I had been unwell and was showing the signs of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. I was admitted to hospital and stayed there for seven days. At diagnosis, my diabetes kit bag consisted of mix insulin, which I injected twice daily by syringe, a blood meter that took 120 seconds to give a reading and the results needed to be written in a diary. I was on fixed carbohydrate meals and fixed insulin doses. It was very inflexible. Almost 25 years later, in February of 2019, my son is suddenly unwell. I recognise the signs. I ask him if I can check his blood level and sure enough, it is high. I take him straight to hospital and he is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16. His diagnosis was much swifter and the knowledge of the condition much greater than 25 years ago. Technology has moved on a lot and he is able to use a continuous glucose monitor and multiple dose injection therapy with long-acting insulin to live a much more flexible life than I did
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Sara MobäckSara Mobäck has type 1 diabetes – and on top of that, she also suffered from severe disease Anorexia Nervosa. Today, she talks about her experiences of going from an unhealthy calorie count to a healthy lifestyle. Through the blog saramoback.com, she wants to inspire and motivate people with type 1 diabetes to not stop dreaming despite chronic illness. Sara Mobäck got her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes at age 13. A few years later, she bumped into another roadblock. Her focus on food and showing the best blood sugar curve made her stop eating carbohydrates, and daily training became a must – in 2016 she was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. In her deepest struggle, she decided to change her way of living. In 2013, she founded Diabeteskvinnan.se. She was tired of all myths and the huge lack of knowledge of her illness. She wants to encourage a positive perspective and way of living with Type 1 Diabetes. Today, she have a daily reach of thousands of people all over the world. Through talks, blogs, meet-up events and much more – Sara has dedicated her life to share her extensive experience of challenges that can arise for people with diabetes.
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Dawn Chance
Dawn is a Native American activist, scholar, and single-mother. She is an insulin-dependent Type II diabetic, diagnosed in 2008. She is passionate about working with under-served populations, especially those that live with the combined stressors of mental health issues and long-term/lifelong illness intersections, and particularly in Native communities. Dawn graduated University of California, Santa Cruz in 2017, with dual Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Cognitive Science. During her undergraduate studies, Dawn studied abroad and attended Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand where she worked on projects involving indigenous communities and the integration of indigenous holistic health models with westernized health models. She also holds three Associate's degrees in Natural Science, Social Science and Accounting, all with honors. She plans on returning to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the next few years.
Dawn is a Native American activist, scholar, and single-mother. She is an insulin-dependent Type II diabetic, diagnosed in 2008. She is passionate about working with under-served populations, especially those that live with the combined stressors of mental health issues and long-term/lifelong illness intersections, and particularly in Native communities. Dawn graduated University of California, Santa Cruz in 2017, with dual Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Cognitive Science. During her undergraduate studies, Dawn studied abroad and attended Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand where she worked on projects involving indigenous communities and the integration of indigenous holistic health models with westernized health models. She also holds three Associate's degrees in Natural Science, Social Science and Accounting, all with honors. She plans on returning to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the next few years.
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