Meet Alex Brown | President of a non-profit & Ph.D. candidate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born and raised in Yuma, CO, a small agricultural town on the eastern plains of Colorado. I grew up on my family’s farm and ranch that has been in my family for over 114 years producing corn and raising cattle. Living on a farm and ranch truly set my foundation for work ethic, discipline, and patience. When I was 16, I was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes (an incurable autoimmune disorder). That flipped my world upside down because living in a rural town, the diabetes resources available are limited, and I felt alone and afraid most days and frustrated. Being an athlete in high school, I quickly learned that I was responsible for my diabetes and that blaming others (even the doctors) was not fair or best for me mentally. My foundation of a good work ethic, discipline, and patience fit perfectly for managing my diabetes and has allowed me to start Diabetes Support Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Our mission is to provide diabetes resources to rural communities in Colorado through exercise education courses, conferences, and one-on-one (or group) sessions. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in nursing research at the University of Utah, which will support my non-profit and mission by improving the standard of care for people with diabetes.

What should our readers know about your business?
Diabetes Support Network was founded in 2020, right when the pandemic started. That was a challenge in itself because most conferences were shut down, in-person networking sessions didn’t exist, and healthcare professionals were focused on COVID patients (rightfully so!). I learned patience and how to lean more on social media to get my story out to the general public. My non-profit is different from others because we solely focus on rural communities in CO; we understand rural communities because I grew up there and have diabetes, which allows for deeper connections with people. Even though we are a startup non-profit, we plan to make a significant impact in rural communities and provide the best diabetes resources that are available.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is tough! Colorado has so many great places to offer I would pack in a trip to the mountains for hiking, the hot springs in Pagosa Springs, and BBQ in Nederland. Of course, hit up some of the great breweries in town such as Renegade, Denver Beer Company, and Crazy Mountain.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Honestly, I believe everyone I meet in life has a purpose and can offer something, even if we only chat for 30 seconds. With that being said, many people have supported me through my journey, including coaches, my family, friends, and even critics. However, this shoutout is dedicated to my wife (and soon-to-be mother!). She has supported me every step of the way while creating Diabetes Support Network and pursuing my Ph.D. She has accepted me for who I am and loves me unconditionally. I could not have asked for a better life partner!

Website: www.diabetessupportnetwork.org

Instagram: diabetessupportnetwork