Type 1 Diabetes, and Bentley, Taught Cooper Farrall How to Build Something Bigger Than Himself
Cooper Farrall ’27 is an NCAA athlete, advocate and entrepreneur. But there’s more to his story. He’s also someone who shares his Type 1 diabetes (T1D) journey with thousands of social media followers. Here, he shares more about some of his most meaningful moments, and how those experiences have shaped his sense of purpose.
You recently returned to the Diabetes Training Camp as a guest speaker after attending at age 13. What emotions did you feel walking into the room this time?
The first time I went to the Diabetes Training Camp, I didn’t want to be there at all. I was 13, two years after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I was scared, frustrated and honestly a little ignorant about what I was dealing with because I thought I was an invincible kid who didn’t have to think about or pay attention to my chronic, incurable condition.
Walking back into that camp was absolutely surreal. This time was completely different. I wasn’t nervous the way I was back then. I had a decade of experience managing the disease, a successful college basketball career and a story I was proud of. But what hit me the most was that while so much had changed for me, nothing had changed for the kids sitting in those seats. They were probably feeling what I had felt back then — and I could see it on their faces. But I told my story, approaching it with patience and understanding. My biggest goal was to be as relatable as possible, so that long after camp ended, they would know they could always reach out to me, and I think I accomplished exactly that.
You told youth campers that “this disease doesn’t get to decide your ceiling.” What influenced that mindset?
A lot of that mindset came from within me, but I can’t take full credit for it because every decision I’ve made and path I’ve taken has been shaped by my environment and the people around me: my family, coaches, teammates and mentors.
At the end of the day, though, I believe life happens through us and it’s up to you — and only you — to decide what you do with it. When I was diagnosed, one of the first things I heard was that I should probably step away from sports. If I had let that moment decide my ceiling, I never would have played college basketball, let alone earned First Team All-Conference honors.
People talk about seeing the glass as half full or half empty. I like to think there’s a third option: Look at the glass; it’s a beautiful glass either way. Diabetes is part of my story, and I can’t change that. What I can control is how I respond to it. That’s why I tell kids never to settle for what they’ve been given and to always reach for more. Diabetes will make some things harder, but it doesn’t get to tell you how far you can go. That part is up to you.
What inspired you to start sharing your experience with type 1 diabetes on social media?
I’m incredibly grateful that I’ve gained over 12,000 followers since I launched my platform a year and a half ago, and it’s all thanks to the people who have supported me along the way. It really goes back to a video interview I did with Joel Goddett — who also lives with Type 1 and is director of strategic communications and digital media for the Northeast 10 Conference — about my journey with T1D as a student-athlete. Seeing how people responded made me stop and reflect. For years, I had treated diabetes as a burden I needed to hide, but after that video I realized I could turn it into a source of hope for other people who feel the way I once did.
I always say there are two options when it comes to making a life-changing personal decision: the pain of staying where you are or the pain of growth. I had been living with the first one for years, hiding my sensors and avoiding the conversation. Sharing my story online meant choosing the second. It meant putting myself out there and being vulnerable in a way I never had before, challenging myself for the betterment of others. So, I stopped worrying about what people might say and just started sharing. What happened next was more than I could have imagined.
What has Bentley taught you about using your platform for a purpose larger than yourself?
Bentley has taught me that good business is about more than profit. It’s about shaping people’s lives. The decisions you make and the direction you choose can have a real impact on the people around you. I’ve learned that in my classes and from my mentors, coaches and peers — and it’s changed how I think about my platform.
Bentley has given me practical tools, too. I’ve learned how to market myself, build a community and tell a story in a way that connects with people. One lesson that has really stuck with me is that there’s no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs, one step at a time, one failure at a time. That’s how I’ve tried to build my platform.
Most importantly, Bentley has taught me that a platform should never be about you. I try to use mine to lift others up. If it ever turned into something selfish, it would lose its purpose.
Looking back, my time at Bentley has shaped me into the man I am today. Basketball taught me how to lead, handle adversity and be accountable to the people next to me. The education I’ve received has helped me apply those lessons to my career, my advocacy and my personal life. I’ll leave the university as someone who understands what it means to build something bigger than myself.
How have experiences with healthcare companies such as Insulet Corporation and Eli Lilly influenced your goals?
When I first started my page, I had a goal to somehow partner with Omnipod (a wearable insulin delivery pod made by Insulet) and Dexcom (a wearable continuous glucose monitoring system). Those are the devices I wear every day, the ones that let me play the game I love.
When I finally partnered with them as a brand ambassador, it felt like a dream getting to live out those companies’ missions every day. I get to show kids and families what’s possible.
My summer at Eli Lilly gave me a whole different perspective. As a cardiometabolic health sales intern, I got to see healthcare from the inside, working with physicians across my territory and seeing how much care, science and effort go into getting the right treatments to the right patients. I’ve been a patient my whole life, but that was the first time I saw the people working behind the scenes to make life better for patients like me.
Those experiences have helped clarify my goals. I don’t just want a career or a job. I want to see the impact of my work and where my story fits in. The healthcare industry and the diabetes community gave me so much, and I want to give back.
