Christine Croteau: Living With Type 1 Diabetes Through Mind, Body & Soul
Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 31, Christine Croteau has continued to challenge herself through mind, body and soul. Teaching and practicing yoga and meditation help her cope with T1D. Christine has completed a marathon and a backpacking trek through the backcountry of Newfoundland while living with diabetes. She also creates sculptural artwork using found objects, recycled materials and diabetes supplies. She has repeatedly turned the tools, frustrations and realities of diabetes management into art.
Her newest work, on display at the Worcester Art Museum, was created with markers and an insulin pump infusion set. The mixed-media work reflects what Christine describes as the chaos of living with type 1 diabetes.
"Portrait of a Type 1 Diabetic"
Worcester Art Museum
October 1 - 28, 2026
Art of the Macabre community exhibition, free and open to the public
“The background coloring with markers exemplifies the chaos of living with this illness,” Christine explains. “The plastic insulin pump infusion set is placed directly in the middle, as if it were a portrait. I found this rather amusing. Living with this illness requires lots of humor noir.”
Christine says that while type 1 diabetes remains challenging, she credits endocrinologist Dr. Samir Malkani, nurse practitioner Nancy Sidhom and her care team with continually going above and beyond to make it more manageable.
"No More Gadgets, We Want A Cure - Type 1 Diabetes"
ArtsWorcester - Portland Street, Worcester, MA
Christine created this piece in 2024 using outdated insulin pump supplies and unused syringes without needles.
"I wear an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor 24/7. I hope to someday live without these. It is my hope, not just for myself but for the millions of others who are living with T1D, that we find a cure."
"The way Christine manages her diabetes is impressive and proves that when you put in the effort, results will follow. She continues to inspire others by example and through her creative artwork.”
Samir Malkani, MD
Clinical Chief, UMass Memorial Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Expressing herself through art
View the butterflies "in flight" and hear Christine in her own words
The butterflies were created using test strips, which people living with diabetes use multiple times each day to check their blood sugar levels. She used them to create a print plate, dipped it in red ink to make 80 double-sided prints, then cut them into origami squares, which her art class folded.
“That piece conveyed both my frustrations and sense of liberation from our country's health care system,” said Croteau. “Outside of living 24/7 with T1D, a huge portion of my life is spent at a medical appointment. I spend lots of time ordering diabetes supplies, scheduling appointments, and getting approval for supplies from health insurance, pharmacies, and medical suppliers.”
When hit by the air of a fan, the paper butterflies flew around the nets, although some were inside the nets.
“I find our health care system to be quite fragmented and nonsensical,” she said. “I often feel as though I'm caught in a net or swarming around in circles, getting nowhere. I must remind myself that I have a full life of hope outside of the nets, free and liberated from both this illness and the health care system!“
