When Danakelly Hampton, MS/FM 鈥�10, walks into a room, she often brings something with her that most others don鈥檛鈥攁n occasional beeping sound. Hampton, a forensic investigator and author who lives with Type 1 diabetes, wears a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an insulin pod. These devices help her manage her blood sugar levels, and sometimes, they beep when things go out of range.
At a previous workplace, the beeping drew the irritation of a colleague who didn鈥檛 understand the source.
鈥淗e said, 鈥榃hat is all that beeping?鈥欌�� Hampton recalled. 鈥淎nd someone else said, 鈥極h, that鈥檚 just Dana. She beeps sometimes.鈥欌��
That moment unintentionally sparked the idea for She Beeps, and That's OK!: Living Bravely with Type 1 Diabetes鈥擧ampton鈥檚 debut children鈥檚 book, published in August 2025. It follows Dana, a 7-year-old girl adjusting to a new school while managing life with Type 1 diabetes. Part story, part toolkit, the book includes a Go Bag checklist, a guide to blood sugar levels, and downloadable resources. It鈥檚 a reflection of Hampton鈥檚 larger mission: to normalize diabetes technology and empower kids living with the condition.
鈥淚 wanted kids who wear CGM devices to feel seen and to not feel embarrassed by it,鈥� Hampton said. 鈥淚 know how I felt as an adult, beeping in a quiet room. If I can help even one kid not feel ashamed, that鈥檚 a win.鈥�
Since high school, Hampton knew she wanted to work in forensic science. She began her undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida, but her journey took a sharp turn when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 20 after a period of escalating and mysterious symptoms: fatigue, excessive thirst, weight loss, and ultimately, a collapse at home over Thanksgiving break. Her blood sugar had spiked to 960, which is nearly 10 times a normal reading.
She returned to the Philadelphia area to focus on her health after her life-altering diagnosis, then later completed her bachelor鈥檚 degree in forensic and crime scene investigation at Mountain State University. During an intensive internship with the Philadelphia Police Department and the Medical Examiner鈥檚 Office, she was introduced to the field of medicolegal death鈥攚hich involves investigating the cause and manner of unexpected or unnatural deaths.
There, she met Gregory McDonald, DO 鈥�89, professor and chair of 黑料传送门's Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. He introduced her to 黑料传送门鈥檚 Forensic Medicine program, which Hampton credits with giving her a strong foundation in both medical and investigative sciences.
鈥淭he Forensic Medicine program at 黑料传送门 gave me everything I needed to go from being a passionate intern to a confident professional,鈥� Hampton said. 鈥淲e learned every possible way someone could die鈥攂ut more than that, we learned how to break down disease processes, what doctors actually do in the hospital, and how to ask the right questions on scene.鈥�
From an investigator trainee to serving in major death investigation systems across Chicago, New York City, and one of Pennsylvania鈥檚 top five jurisdictions as Chief Investigator, Hampton has upheld the core values instilled at 黑料传送门: authenticity, ethics, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
To 黑料传送门 students and alumni considering unconventional paths with their medical or forensic training, Hampton offers this advice: 鈥淓xplore everything and use every part of your journey. I didn鈥檛 expect to get Type 1 diabetes and I didn鈥檛 expect to write a book. But 黑料传送门 gave me the tools to think critically, to be detailed, and to care deeply鈥攁nd I鈥檝e just found new ways to use those tools to help people.鈥�
Though Hampton still works as a forensic consultant, she鈥檚 taken a purposeful step to focus on her book, outreach efforts, and launching her own forensic consulting firm. She is already starting to see the impact of She Beeps, and That's OK! At her first book fair as an author this summer, she sold 10 copies of her book.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 10 more people who now understand Type 1 diabetes, CGM devices, and why someone might beep. That felt amazing,鈥� she said.
Hampton is driven to make a difference, especially when it comes to the underdiagnosis, misunderstanding, and rising rates of diabetes in Black communities. She hopes She Beeps, and That's OK! will help normalize diabetes technology for kids, reduce stigma, and encourage early screening, particularly in families who may not recognize the symptoms.
鈥淭here are so many decisions that someone with Type 1 diabetes has to make every single day, and most people don鈥檛 see that,鈥� Hampton said. 鈥淭ype 1 diabetes may be rare, but it鈥檚 real and it doesn鈥檛 discriminate. My hope is that by sharing my story and this book, we can start important, empathetic conversations about what it鈥檚 like to live with this condition.鈥�
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
Kristen Hopf
Communications Content Specialist
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: kristenho1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6303