GMG eight-grader Brianna Ferch pictured Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Waverly after capturing the junior high girls championship at the Iowa Star Conference Cross Country Meet. Just days before the meet, Ferch was hospitalized and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

GARWIN – GMG eighth grade phenom Brianna Ferch’s cross country season was on a record-setting pace this past fall when an unexpected diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes suddenly and quite literally stopped her in her tracks. But despite the bump in the trail, the Wolverine harrier, who also competes at USA Track & Field meets, wants folks to know a diagnosis like hers does not have to define you.

“On Monday, Brianna was rushed by ambulance to Blank (Children’s Hospital) where she was admitted to the ICU and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes,” Brianna’s mother, Cara Ferch, told the newspaper in an email sent in early October. “(On) Saturday, she participated in her junior high cross country meet (and) placed first.”

Brianna ran her way to a gold-medal finish that Saturday at the South Hardin Invitational where she competed in the junior high girls two-mile race, finishing in 13 minutes, 24 seconds – more than a minute faster than her nearest competitor.

Less than two weeks later on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Iowa Star Conference Cross Country Meet held at Wartburg Max Cross Country Course in Waverly, Brianna again ran her way to gold, capturing the junior high girls division to bring home a conference championship.

At the conclusion of the 2026-27 cross country season and in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, the newspaper is featuring an interview (slightly edited for space) with Brianna who has made diabetes education and awareness her new mission in hopes of one day having a cure.

Brianna Ferch pictured competing this past year as a member of the GMG junior high cross country team. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

1. When did you first take up running distance and why?

My mom signed me up for the Corn Carnival 5K in Gladbrook when I was 6 years old. She thought we would walk it and she would probably carry me most of the way. I started running with the group and didn’t stop. I believe I finished second. I have run every day since.

When I was 7 years old, my mom signed me up as an unattached runner under USATF (USA Track and Field) and I continue to run USATF today. The USATF circuit runs through the summer.

For USATF, I have qualified and run regionals every year. Iowa is in Region 8, which (includes) Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. From regionals I have qualified for nationals but due to distance and cost I have not gone to nationals.

Last year was my first year eligible to run junior high track at GMG. I was undefeated in the 1500-meter and my team was undefeated in the 4×800. Last year was also my first year eligible to run junior high cross country at GMG. I finished top-3 each race.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

I love running! When I am running I almost feel like I am flying. It makes me happy. I can set goals and push myself. My biggest goal right now is to get my mile time under five minutes – I am only a few seconds away. I would like to be able to participate in the USATF time trials for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

2. Please share what you can about the experience of being rushed to the hospital.

About two weeks leading up to my diagnosis, I had some symptoms that my mom started to put together. I was so thirsty, I was very tired, and I lost over 10 pounds in two weeks. My mom got a glucometer and tested my blood sugar at home. The monitor read “high.” The monitor stops reading at 600. A normal reading for my age is 70-125. My mom took me to the emergency room. At the emergency room they did blood work and determined my blood sugars were close to 900. I was rushed by ambulance to Blank (Children’s Hospital) in Des Moines and admitted to the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit). Before they put me in the ambulance I let them know I needed to be back by 4 o’clock for cross country practice.

While in the PICU they gave me a lot of IV medicine that started lowering my blood sugar. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Once my sugars were lower they moved me out of ICU. They continued monitoring my levels and taught me how to check my blood sugars and how to calculate and give myself insulin. I also received a lot of diabetic education because everything I do affects my sugar levels.

Because my initial levels were so high, other organs in my body started to get affected, specifically my heart. I have had several heart tests and each one has shown an improvement so my doctors are hopeful my heart will make a full recovery.

3. Did you ever expect a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis? What is the prognosis going forward? Can you continue to compete in cross country and everything else as before?

I did not think I had diabetes. I didn’t even know what that was. I have no family history and am very healthy otherwise. This diagnosis came out of nowhere. When you have diabetes your pancreas is not working properly. Your pancreas is responsible for making insulin. For the rest of my life I will have to depend on insulin. I am still able to do all things, I just have to plan everything around my diabetes. Managing my diabetes takes a lot of work but as long as I keep it managed and listen to my body I can keep being me.

4. How has your life changed (or not) since the diagnosis?

A lot has changed. I have to constantly monitor my sugar levels. If they are high or anytime before I eat, I have to give myself insulin. If they are low, I have to eat food that will bring them up. I have to count carbohydrates, monitor my activity, my body temperature, my stress level, the amount of sleep I am getting. All of this affects my numbers. I can’t go anywhere without my glucose monitor, insulin, emergency glucose in case my numbers drop too quickly, and snacks. It is a lot of work.

5. What would you like people to know about your diagnosis?

My mom and I spend a lot of time in the car driving to meets. We talked about what we should do with my running talent. We didn’t really know. Now we do. This is my platform to bring awareness to diabetes and hopefully one day find a cure. Diabetes may have changed my world but it didn’t change my fight or who I am.

6. Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

I have the best friends and family. They have all been so supportive and helpful. You can do hard things, you just have to try!