By Haley Brickner - Boreal Community Media - September 12, 2025

Living with diabetes can often feel isolating, especially in a rural area like Cook County, but the Northland Diabetes Support Group is working to change that. The group was founded last November by local resident Kevin Flack, who has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1982. Today, he draws on years of lived experience to help others navigate the challenges of diabetes management. 

The group meets monthly at Cook County Higher Education Center in Grand Marais, with discussions ranging from travel tips, stress, and illness management to insulin pump technology and continuous glucose monitoring. “Doctors know the medical side of things,” Flack explained, “but many have never used an insulin pump themselves. Here, we share the tips and tricks that only come from experience.”

Meetings are kept flexible so participants can bring up their own challenges, sometimes setting aside the planned agenda to focus on a pressing need. “There’s no such thing as a dumb question,” Flack said. “Sometimes another person in the room has just the answer you need”

One of the biggest hurdles for people living with diabetes in Cook County is the sense of being on their own. Appointments can take weeks, and conversations about health can feel uncomfortable. The group helps fill that gap by breaking that isolation and offering connection, understanding, and practical information.

To kick off the fall season, the Northland Diabetes Support Group is hosting a picnic on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grand Marais Rec Park. The event is open to people with diabetes, their families, and friends who want to learn more. Food will be provided, and a local physician is expected to attend to answer questions. “We want people to just give it a chance,” Flack encouraged. “Come once, see if it’s something helpful. We’re nonjudgmental, we’re flexible, and we’re here to support each other.”