Nancy Gaudet

Founder and President at Type One Families 617-448-2910, typeonefamilies.org

Nancy Gaudet will never forget the day her son was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes when he was just 9 years old. That life-altering news had the Plymouth resident seeking hope and support from others who were also coping with this lifelong condition. As a result, she decided to host a monthly support group “until there was no interest.” To her surprise,that day never came–and what started as a small gathering eventually grew into the nonprofit she now leads as president, founded in 2023.

Based in Plymouth with expanded support groups on the North Shore and Cape Cod, Type One Families has helped more than 400 families navigate the news of a new diagnosis. Their mission is to not only raise awareness but also offer support to families and be the lifeline Gaudet once needed. “When I meet with families, I offer more than information,” she says. “I offer presence, perspective, and the kind of support I wish I had when my own son was diagnosed. I remember what it felt like to be scared and alone. No one should have to go through that without someone by their side.”

In two short years, Gaudet has been awarded the 2025 Red Sox Foundation Impact Award (2nd Place, Massachusetts) and the 2024 Grace Hill Impact Hero Award. This fall, she will also receive a $10,000 grant after being named the 2025 Sun Life Health Access Hero. “It was an incredible affirmation of the impact we’re making in the community,” she added. While Gaudet says the acknowledgments are “incredibly validating,” she admits it’s the personal connections she has made and the gratitude she has received from families going through the same thing that are the most impactful. “That reminder, that one conversation, one connection, can change everything is what keeps me going.”