"Life doesn’t always follow the map we planned, but life's detours often lead to the most powerful destinations. It’s how we choose to rise above the obstacles that defines our true strength and purpose. Embrace your North of Normal Journey."
--Wyatt Adams, Co-Founder North of Normal
10% of all Profits Donated to finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes
North of Normal is a Type 1 Diabetes education & wellness brand that empowers Type 1 adults, kids and their families with the knowledge and tools to master living with Type 1.
What We Do At North of Normal
​North of Normal Book: Our book North of Normal is a complete guidebook for new and experienced Type 1 Diabetics.
Cheat Sheets: downloadable cheat sheets and charts that help Type 1s, their family, teachers, coaches or friends have the instruction or guidance to manage Type 1.
One on One Sessions or Group Sessions: We help and coach Type 1 diabetics and their parents using what has worked for me. We customize these 1 on 1 or group sessions to fit the needs of the individual or group. More info.
Online and Live Training Courses & Events: ongoing education for newly diagnosed and experienced Type 1s to continue to grow and master how to best manage their Type 1 in everyday life. More info.
Speaking: Wyatt does inspirational speaking about his story and how he's overcome obstacles related to Type 1 diabetes, loss, grief and other life challenges. More info.
Type 1 Products and Gear: We offer tools to help make Type 1 diabetics and their families lives easier. Like "go bags" and more.
North of Normal™ Apparel: We offer apparel that helps support the North of Normal mission of inspiring Type 1 Diabetics and finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
Our
Story
Founders
North of Normal was born out of a deeply personal journey shared by Wyatt Adams and his mother, Shari Kingston Adams. After Wyatt was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 11 years old, the two navigated a maze of challenges—managing symptoms, deciphering complex information, and struggling to find products and education that truly made a difference. Frustrated by the gaps in support and education, they decided to create the solutions they wished had existed from the start. This started by them writing a book together, North of Normal, and then starting the company, North of Normal.
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But North of Normal isn’t just about Type 1 diabetes. Over the years, they both faced loss and resilience, which made them realize that everyone faces moments when life takes an unexpected turn—when things go North of Normal. Their mission is to help Type 1 diabetics (and others) navigate those twists in the path with better resources, real education, and a community that understands. In the end, we all have to create our own way forward when life veers us off course.
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Read Wyatt's full story below and Shari's story here.
Wyatt's
North of Normal
Story
Today Wyatt is a certified personal trainer, integrative health coach, diabetes health coach, and entrepreneur helping Type 1 diabetics, athletes and people ready to overcome & embrace their own North of Normal stories. However, his journey to where he is now started way back when he was 10 years old, when his life turned North of Normal and his new normal began.
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"At ten years old, my life was transformed when my mom and I found my grandma dead from a fatal heart attack in her kitchen. Then a year later, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes after spending four days in Intensive Care at Children's Hospital. I had near fatal Ketoacidosis and a blood sugar of over 800mg./dl (normal is around 100mg/dl). My life had completely changed again.
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A few years later, I unexpectedly lost my grandpa to an infection and lost two high school friends in two separate car accidents. My life was turned upside down again. In the midst of my grief and these challenging times it was hard to also stay focused on my own health. As a Type 1 diabetic, you don't have the luxury of taking a "break" from it when the rest of your life gets hard. It's a disease that you have to focus on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In some of my hardest moments, I still had to focus on successfully managing my Type 1 Diabetes. This seemed nearly impossible at times. During this time, I was also a competitive athlete and high-achieving student, which made managing Type 1 even harder because all of these factors can impact blood glucose management. I credit my parents for helping me get through this hard time in my life. My parents were my biggest supporters & teachers. They empowered me to grow, learn & figure out how to overcome even during these very difficult times.
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About a year after I graduated high school, my other two grandparents got sepsis and were in the ICU for a week. Happening only months apart. My grandpa recovered well but my grandma had complications. My grandma has been a Type 1 diabetic for 60 years. After she was discharged from the hospital she encountered complications with her condition, poor cognition and little hands-on support from her doctors. Because of this, I knew I had to use my own experience and knowledge to start helping to manage her diabetes--because she no longer could do it on her own. With the help of my parents, we were doing 24/7 diabetes & health monitoring for more than a year.
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All of these events of loss, stress, and change forced me to a place in life very different from normal kids my age (even normal adults). Most of my peers had no idea what I faced on a daily basis. The obstacles and challenges I've faced in my short life have forced me to become comfortable living somewhere North of Normal. However, these unusual circumstances have also helped me discover that living North of Normal hasn't been a hindrance in my life. Instead, I understand now, everything that happened to me was a catalyst for giving me strength and building a more optimistic and resilient mindset. I now feel so much stronger and resilient when challenges do arise. All of this has also helped me appreciate the life I have, the people in it and accept none of us have any guarantees of tomorrow...so I appreciate the value of the small everyday moments in life. North of Normal began my journey of finding strength, deeper meaning and purpose in my life.
Through all of these experiences, I've discovered I want to show other people that when life forces you into a new normal, you can still choose to create your own path and DECIDE to thrive despite your obstacles, because North of Normal is what makes you stronger."
Thanks for wandering North of Normal with me, Wyatt
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"Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing.
You get to choose."
— Wayne Dyer