TikToker Brings Awareness to ‘For You’ Page

PROFILE Junior uses platform to dispel stereotypes about medical conditions

Junior Addy Meadows doesn’t remember the opposite,” Meadows said. “I was 20 pounds why she was in the hospital the first day of underweight when I was diagnosed. We don’t know spring break, but she does remember filming a why I got it.” TikTok to Ke$ha’s “Cannibal” out of boredom People also underestimate the severity of celiac from her hospital bed. disease, she said. The immune reaction to eating

Meadows’ trips to the hospital are frequent due gluten causes inflammation, and the painful swelling to her Type 1 diabetes, celiac disease and juvenile damages the small intestine’s lining, leading to medical arthritis. complications.

That TikTok amassed more than 29,400 views. It People often try to relate to her by saying gluten was the first of many viral videos about her conditions. makes their stomach hurt, too.

She received comments asking questions about her “And then I’ll have a video of me in the hospital, conditions and requesting for similar content. and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, what happened?’ and

As she continues to document her experiences, her I am like, ‘Well, I accidentally had gluten,’” Meadows account has gained popularity. @addymeadows now said. has 98,000 TikTok followers, and her most popular She said juvenile arthritis, an inflammation video has topped 1 million views. of the joints that causes a painful stiffness, is also

Meadows hopes her content helps dispel stereotypes misunderstood. associated with her conditions. She said people “With arthritis, people are just like, ‘Kids can’t get often have a negative view of Type 1 diabetes, an arthritis.’ And I’m just breaking that stereotype as autoimmune disease that caused her body to stop well,” Meadows said. producing insulin. Although her conditions can be difficult to manage,

“A lot of people think diabetes is caused by Meadows has found an online community that eating too much sugar and not exercising, but it’s supports her and makes the experience more positive.

pages by Emily Zeller story by Emma Holscaw illustration by Gus Cordova photos by Emma Hardesty

Glancing at her glucose monitor, junior Addy Meadows checks her blood sugar levels before making a TikTok. Because of her autoimmune diseases, Meadows has to be wary of certain things others don’t have to worry about, such as dietary restrictions, cross contamination and blood sugar. “I have Dexcom, and that shows me what my blood sugar is and it goes to my phone, so the first thing I do when I wake up is look at that,” Meadows said.

Many TikTok users express their gratitude for her videos in the comment section.

“Thank you for teaching everyone. I love your videos so much,” one user wrote.

Meadows is also a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Ambassador. The program has teens share their story of life with Type 1 diabetes in an effort to raise awareness and funds for a cure.

JDRF Outreach Manager Marlo Martin said the organization connects teens with Type 1 diabetes.

“What I can say from talking to ambassadors, is half the things that they have gotten out of the program is meeting other people,” Martin said.

Through TikTok, Meadows has also met other teens with the same conditions. In a group chat called “Broken Pancreas Buddies,” Meadows and other TikTokers with Type 1 diabetes offer advice and support.

Meadows appreciates these connections because her friends at school can’t relate to her as her friends online can.

“I don’t have any friends that have an autoimmune disease,” Meadows said. “I can explain it to them, and they can try to understand, but they’re not going through it.”

Martin agreed that Type 1 diabetes is hard to understand if you’re not the one experiencing it.

“It can be very isolating when people that you’re around don’t understand that, even if they want to help or want to support you,” Martin said.

Despite most people in her life not having much personal experience with her conditions, they are still supportive.

“My family is my biggest support system,” Meadows said. “We do the Type 1 diabetes fundraiser walks, and we always do it as a family.”

Meadows’ parents and close friends monitor her glucose levels through an app. Her friends will often text her when she is at work and her blood sugar is dropping to ask if they could bring her a drink to help.

Meadows wants her TikTok followers to feel similar support and hopes her account can be a part of that.

Smiling at the camera, Meadow films a TikTok explaining a medicine she takes for one of her conditions to her almost 100,000 followers. Even with her large audience, the majority of Meadow’s comments are kind and uplifting. “Luckily for me, when it’s medical TikTok, you don’t get a lot of negativity,” Meadows said. Meadows adjusts her insulin pump, which delivers her small amounts of insulin throughout the day. The effects of chronic illness can be hard to balance with school, extra curriculars, a job and time with friends and family. “I think it has also given me really good stories,” Meadows said. “My dad is a college football coach, and I’ve gone to his football game with an IV in my arm because I just wasn’t gonna miss it.”