Amanda and Olivia Fitzer share a love of drawing, but the sisters don't share everything.

Amanda was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was two.

Five year old Olivia is at a high risk for developing diabetes because she has the same antibodies that indicate her own immune system has started to attack cells that make insulin.

"I have something in my blood not many people have," says Olivia.

So Olivia volunteered to participate in a new NIH study at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford University Medical Center.

"I’m here cause I want to help the whole world, so they don't get diabetes," says Olivia.

Every six months she visits the hospital to take an oral glucose tolerance test and have her blood tested to see if she is developing diabetes.

As part of the study, Olivia has to take one tablet of oral insulin a day, but she doesn't know if it's the real thing or a placebo. The study is looking at kids at risk of developing diabetes and seeing if oral insulin can delay the onset for at least two to three years.

"It seems to have the possibility of interacting with the immune system to kind of quiet down or slow down this, your own body's immune system attack on the cells that make insulin," says Pediatric Endocrinologist, Dr. Darrell Wilson.

Dr. Wilson says it's possible oral insulin may even prevent some patients from ever developing diabetes.

"That would be wonderful if that could happen," says Olivia’s mom, Stacy.

Today Dr. Wilson gave Olivia this award for her bravery, but the real reward will be if oral insulin can prevent her from ever being diagnosed with diabetes.